As some of you may know the Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway is closed for major track work. The track will be replaced including the rack. The new rack will be different and will not mate with the older rolling stock. This means new cars and converting some of the more modern equipment. So what of the older equipment?
Well the Colorado Railroad Museum acquired 3 pieces this week. Self propelled coach number 7, coach 12 and locomotive 9. Currently the equipment is on display at the roundhouse. However long term plans call for them to be moved to a different location and displayed in a more interpretive way. This equipment is a great addition to the museum collection and helps tell the story of a long lived and loved tourist railroad in Colorado.
Other equipment saved include the snow plow(to Pueblo Museum), and motors 8 and 11(local shop). As I understand locomotive 4 and the wood coach are to be placed in storage and hopefully converted to the new rack later.
12 and 9 back to back with 7 to the right.
Number 7 being unloaded. 7 was the first self propelled cog railcar and was originally powered by a Cadillac engine.
Diesel locomotive 9.
Jeff Taylor
CRRM curator of equipment and rolling stock.