drgw0579 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was extremely fortunate to have gotten a
> mini-ride behind steam (actually in front of
> steam) on Oct 29, 2012. After seeing how hard
> the fireman had to work, I think it would be
> appropriate to require anybody demanding they run
> steam to be invited to the cab and shovel coal
> until they collapse.
>
> Bill Kepner
>
>
Hi Bill,
I believe that since it's relatively recent restoration, Locomotive #4 at Pikes Peak was an oil-burner. That locomotive is currently stored at the Grand Canyon Railway (same ownership as the Manitou & Pikes Peak). When I was there last year, I heard talk of the possibility that the steam engine might be converted to the new rack system and might do future demonstration runs.....but none of that came from any official source. Of course, the biggest problem is that the infrastructure for steam (mainly water availability) no longer exists on Pikes Peak, so any steam would likely be just short runs. If folks want to ride a rack railway in front of a coal-burning steam locomotive, they may want to consider traveling to Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. There, during most of their season, they make 2 daily trips with a coal-fired steam engine and yes, they do go all the way to the summit. The Mount Washington Railway Company currently rosters two active steam locomotives, and they are probably better-maintained than they ever have been, largely because they no longer have to make the call for every scheduled run.
Here is Manitou & Pikes Peak #4 at the GCR:
Manitou & Pikes Peak #4
Here is Mt. Washington Railway Company #2, just a couple of weeks ago:
MWRC #2
I do hope that the Manitou & Pikes Peak folks bring back #4 and are able to run her. I would love to go out and see her in action.
/Kevin Madore
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/27/2020 11:17AM by KevinM.
