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We pulled up and parked then we walked into ex Rock Island roundhouse and offices of the Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway. In the office I met Howard Noble, Vice President & Executive Director of the Peaks Peak Historical Railway Foundation, introducing myself and Chris Parker. We started our tour in the lobby with him giving us a very complete history and goals of this operation. The plan is to build from here along the Joint Line down to the former train station in downtown.
Pictures of trolleys that once served Colorado Springs.
The new home for Car 59.
Pictures of Car 22. After we saw all the indoor displays we went out into the roundhouse to see the collection of the cars under restoration.
The 1901 Laciede 59. The Laciede is the only 1901 double truck Laciede in existence.
1919 Former Fort Collins Birney Car 22.
The ON Track One project board
The other end of the Laciedw being worked on.
Another view of the Birney Car before we then walked outside to see more.
PCC 2129 used for rides.
Outside view of their 1947 PTC PCC Car from Philadelphia that the group gives rides in with the remaining two stall roundhouse in the background.
Former Southern Pacific Baggage Car 6777 houses a very fine Rock Island Museum.
An overview of the museum area.
Ex Rio Grande Box Car used for storage.
Rio Grande Caboose 1501.
Pikes Peak stands guard over this unique museum and operation.
Another PCC LARY 3101, one of only two War Babies still in existence, stands out by the front gate. The other War Baby 3100 operates at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, CA.
More PCC Cars wait their turn in the shop sitting outside in the snow.
The 1901 CS&I Brill Convertible 48, the only one in existence.
Chris and Howard about to enter the SP Baggage Car 6777.
MP 585 from Kansas City or the most western Rock Island milepost. I went inside the baggage car and was treated to the most complete Rock Island Railroad Collection that I have come across yet.
Inside the car and some of the displays inside.
Howard then offered us a ride and while he turned on the juice, I took a few more pictures.
The wire car.
A look at part of the route we would ride down. I went to the car to change film and then boarded the PCC 2129 for a ride down some former Rock Island rails.
Inside the PCC Car we took a ride down 600 feet of track and back.
We started going backwards down the tracks and had to stop until I went back to make sure the grade crossing was clear. We went down to the end of track and stopped and I asked to get off to take a photo then pose the PCC for a picture.
The first view of PCC 2129.
My best view of the PCC 2129. I climbed back into the PCC for the return trip to the roundhouse.
Views from the return trip. At the end of the run we thanked Howard for a great visit and returned to the car for a trip to Manitou Springs and our next rail adventure but alas, that is yet another story to be written.
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