Western Railroad Discussion > Pikes Peak Cog Ry; Royal Gorge Train

Would anyone care to share their opinion of the Pikes Peak Cog trip & the Royal Gorge excursion train? I was contemplating to try them both in 1 day, is that unrealistic? Also, I will be in company of the boss & our 2 kids, ages 8 & 9; is the Pikes Peak Cog trip something the kids & my non-rail (but extremely patient & tolerant) spouse would enjoy? Thanks & I appreciate your thoughts & comments.

My son and I rode the Royal Gorge train last year and enjoyed it very much. I highly recommend it for any age group, railfan and non-railfans alike.
Sorry, but I've never done the Pikes Peak trip so can't answer whether it is feasible to do both in one day or not. I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't enjoy riding to the top of Pikes Peak though.

Ride the Cog in the morning and then hop in the car, drive 40 miles and take the Royal Gorge's 3 p.m. train. It can be done but it would be pushing it.
You could ride the Cog, drive to Cripple Creek and ride the Cripple Creek & Victor on Day 1. Drive down the old Florence & Cripple Creek roadbed through Phantom Canyon and stay in Canyon City to end Day one. Take the Gorge train on Day two. (Cripple Creek's casinos do not allow children. For old time western town atmosphere, try Victor.)
You could also hit Buckskin Joe Frontier town and railway. The train is a 15-inch gauge that takes you to the rim of the gorge and back (3 miles).

I would highly reccomend the Pike's Peak trip. Make sure you take some warm clothes as the top of that mountain can be windy and cold even if it's hot down below. The Gorge trip is also well worth the time. I would allow the better portion of the day for the Gorge trip because you might want to visit the top of the Gorge before or after the train trip. To try to make both trips in one day might be a little tiring.

I'd say the PPC is definitely worth the time. Not that the drive to the top is bad, either, but there's just something about a rack railroad climbing 25% grades. Go in the morning, though, as the thunderstorms are starting in the afternoons now (hopefully they'll become more rain less thunder, though...) The PPC is known to cancel trains due to bad weather.

I was on the Royal Gorge run almost two years ago now, and one of the best parts of the CCRG train through the Royal Gorge is the open air car. It's great to have the opportunity to ride along outside on such a route...

Nathan
http://www.drgw.net

Thanks for all the advice. As someone suggested I think I will try to relax & do the trips over 2 days. Now I just need to convince my better half that these are fun activities!

Royal Gorge is beautiful, and the hanging bridge is interesting.

Pike's Peak is interesting, but be warned that it is kind of noisy. Gets tiresome after a while.