I'm grateful for this video and these recordings of number four on the Manitou and pikes peak railway. Now that the railroad had to rebuild and change the cog system set up for the railroad number, four will never operate again on these rails now. These are all just precious memories, but we're fortunate enough that we got to see this in our lifetimes.
As a kid with my parents I did the trip up and back in 1957. It was a lot of fun. That engine is now on display at the Colorado Railroad Museum. I am glad they still keeping #4 in operating condition.
My first and only ride was also in '57. The railroad was 66 years old back then. So I figured 2023 would be 66 more years since that '57 ride, and I wanted to get back out there, but life intervened. Maybe I'll shoot for 2089, 66 years from 2023, when I'll be 142 years old. Not holding my breath for that to happen, though.😂🤣😂 We should just be satisfied with memories of those fun times, I guess.
It takes a half a ton of coal And a blast or two of air A little spark to light it up Tender loving care Add a little water and a pinch or two of time And long before you know it, steam's a-comin' through the line
It gives away my age but as a kid we did the steam engine run and that engine is now in the Colorado Railway Museum. It would be fun to take grandkids there when they re-open.
I love steam engines as well as Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak. I think I rode behind #4. ,around 1956. I was born in Colorado Springs. Still ride steam trains when I can.
worked on the cog RR for 2 seasons in the early 80's. didn't pay shit but was a pretty cool job. Well tie season (removing rotted or otherwise bad rr ties and installing new, all by hand no machines to help. and at 10,000 ft oxygen was a tad thin)wasn't much fun!!! What they should have showed you was their massive v12 diesel snowblower in action !!!!
this is my favorite american tank engine of all time....I hope the engine gets to run somewhere....the drivers are directly connected to the pistons, so it could run on standard gauge track without the need of the rack rail
Too bad the railroad is shut down now, because the equipment was worn out. The official web page says it's expected to be reopened in 2021. Let's hope nothing keeps that from happening. It's such a great attraction.
gmaneis Sadly heritage operation is over. The historic Railcar and diesel engine have already arrived at Golden, and most expect 4 and her coach to follow in the future.
Yes, it reopened two or three years ago. No steam engines now, but super looking trains that appear to be filled to capacity a lot of the time. So great to see that. @@west_side_9
Well you're in luck pal, it's reopening this month, the railroad themselves confirmed it. No date has been announced yet at this time, but they're aiming for an opening date this month
@@microbusss As of right now, #4 is currently temporarily stored at the Grand Canyon Railway on display outside of their station, she's still serviceable from what I've heard, once the PPCR reopens, she should head back down there in no time at all and steam up again for the near future
Crazy Harry the Muppet Needs 2 water towers. I always thought it would be worse the investment for the reward from tourist money, but now they are regauging so likely the opposite, no runs.
How do they go about going down the hill? I can't help but think they would leave the Johnson bar in forward and slowly give it a little steam for resistance, instead of using just the brake shoes.
I think all of the locos are still in existence but on display except for No. 4. They were built by Baldwin Locomotive Works with the new Vauclain compound feature which uses steam twice before being exhausted up the stack for draft. The small cylinder is the high pressure one and the other( on top) is the low pressure one. Both piston rods share a crosshead which is connected to the main rod. Water is sprayed into the cylinders when coming down the mountain to create steam by the compression of the pistons to provide a cushion and control instead of just brakes. So far as I know, there has never been a passenger fatality on the railroad. Several people have died hiking up or down the mountain.
That is just what those old boilers do when you're running them full speed ahead - shooting flames out the side is normal. Pretty impressive in person.
Will Horowitz The halfway house and summit water tanks are long gone. The most economic way to remedy this would either be tank car bodies, or the bladder type tanks the California Western has used. Sadly now they are regauging or reracking the line so 4 will likely follow the 1935 diesel and its streamlined coach to Golden, sadly ending heritage operation at yet another line due to regauging.
No, it broke while we were filming it on a test run and I'm pretty sure this was the last time it ever ran. It was shipped to Grand Canyon Railway to be on exhibit in 2019 while they rebuilt the main cog railway train, and I believe it is still there.
@@rogerlollar4325 I don't think so. Its on display now at the Grand Canyon, so it would take a lot to get it running, and most importantly, there aren't many men left who know how to run it.
Actually, the city recently approved a pair of tax incentives to fund restoration of the entire railway. If all goes to plan, they'll restart operation in 2020.
More often than not, its a matter of volunteers and who is willing to participate...the time I rode on the Pikes Peak railroad I had a woman conductor on our train and she did a GREAT job of making the ride enjoyable! She told jokes and pointed out interesting things along the route...I hope to one day return and ride again!
Oh, women drive engines all the time! I met a nice woman driver at the Durango and Silverton who drove a K-36 2-8-2 mikado to and from Silverton! alot of times with heritage operations, its really about who volunteers at the railroad, and who is actually willing to drive the engines! There are more women getting interested in steam locomotives, it's just a matter of them wanting to drive....I would give anything to get behind the regulator of a steam loco lol
@@thomastsangthomas1616 Not entirely sure, It would be awesome if they did, though! Either way, in the modern era there certainly are women engine drivers!
