USA: The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway reopened on May 20, following a $100m modernisation programme which has included the delivery of a new fleet of push-pull trainsets and conversion from the Abt to the Strub rack system.
The 14·3 km standard gauge mountain railway in Colorado opened in 1891, with its summit station being the highest point of any rack line at 4 302 m.
Following a review of the infrastructure, in 2017 a decision was taken to launch a modernisation programme instead of reopening the line for the 2018 season. Manitou Springs City Council approved tax incentives to support the project which began in early 2019.
The tracks were completely renewed by contractor Stacy & Witbeck, and the Manitou Springs depot remodelled.
Stadler was awarded a contract to supply three Hm4/4 locomotives powered by a pair of Cummins Tier 4-compliant diesel engines, along with nine aluminium–bodied coaches for use in three push-pull formations offering 250 fixed and 13 folding seats. The locomotives have four cog wheels for traction and braking, and the coaches built at Stadler’s Bussnang plant have one cog wheel per bogie for braking.
The vehicles are designed according to Swiss regulations, with the locos having a maximum power at wheel is 760 kW at an altitude of 2 000 m and 560 kW at 4 300 m. The maximum speed is 25 km/h uphill and 18km/h downhill.
Four SLM Bhm 4/8 diesel railcars have also been updated for continued passenger use, with another to be used on works trains.
Swiss company Zaugg has supplied a two-axle snow blower. This is designed to be propelled by a locomotive, with the driver controlling the loco from the snow blower cab when in snow clearing mode. The diesel-hydraulic snow clearing mechanism has two snow cutting reels which can be separately extended horizontally and provide a snow clearing width from 3 400 mm to 5 950 mm.
