In my youth, our family took the Manitou & Pikes Peak up to the summit and a limousine down as a package. You get more scenery that way. Unfortunately, it was the day after the Pikes Peak Hill Climb so any snow along the road was covered with dirt and dust.
It's not like if they don't do that project, they give Amtrak the money ...
Still in training.
The USA would loose jemns of importance if either the Pikes Peak or the Mt. Washington cogs ceased.
I find the headline opening this post most distasteful, in part because this broad brush could be applied to many other contributors to American civilization, incluing tourist rialroad operations. To me, personally, it is even a libelous headline.
A disclamer? Yes, I emjoued Pikes Peak and Mt. Washington, both more than once. And I worked for and stayed at the Broadmore (arriving via the Colorado Eagle and a lift from the Palmer Lake towerman, a story posted a couple-of-years ago), but long before the Broadmore owners (possibly not even the same) Bought the cog railroad.
A faster way up Pikes Peak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz-Llrb5FJc
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
ronrunner that serves no real legitimate public purpose when there are real passenger rail projects that need funding
that serves no real legitimate public purpose when there are real passenger rail projects that need funding
NOT ANY PORK!!!
NO TAX $$ INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION!!!
The $100 Million was entirely PRIVATE money, and totally rebuilt the track, purchased new trainsets & complete shop overhaul of some of the existing trainstes.
My wife and I are planning to ride it in late October....
from the Far East of the Sunset Route
(In the shadow of the Huey P Long bridge)
Planning to ride it in late October....
samfp1943 The O.P. Mr. ronrunner shows to have been a Forum member since July of 2021 {a tad over, Maybe(?), A MONTH[and a half, +- ] with 142 posts} might he be advised to slow down, and get comfortable; rather than building up his post 'count'...
Personally I think of him as one of the Oswald Cobblepots of this community, and unless you particularly like harp music you might be advised to avoid those tar-baby threads assiduously.
samfp1943Mr. ronrunner shows to have been a Forum member since July of 2021 {a tad over, Maybe(?),
That's just his latest screen name. He's been around for a while.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Murphy Siding Paul of Covington CSSHEGEWISCH Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. But then there's the other view: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again". If at first you don't succeed, perhaps skydiving is not for you.
Paul of Covington
CSSHEGEWISCH Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. But then there's the other view: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again".
CSSHEGEWISCH
Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
But then there's the other view: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again".
If at first you don't succeed, perhaps skydiving is not for you.
Couple of comments seem to be called for in this Thread.....
Colorado is a State that relies on its Tourism; Both Skiing, Sightseeing And their Tourist Rails play a major parts in getting major groups of populations to spend major bucks to travel there, and view their scenery....
The 'COG' is currently oawned by the folks that own the Broadamore Hotel in Colorado Springs. Trust me; they are NOT a fly-by night operation ! And they would never have spent that $100 million, if they thought they would n ot make it back in a reasonable time!
Issue#2 : Thge O.P. Mr. ronrunner shows to have been a Forum member since July of 2021 {a tad over, Maybe(?), A MONTH[and a half, +- ] with 142 posts} might he be advised to slow down, and get comfortable; rather than building up his post 'count'... just sayin'........
Paul of Covington CSSHEGEWISCH Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. But then there's the other view: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again".
CSSHEGEWISCH Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Try again but don't use the same tools and procedures that failed the previous time.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Maybe the Pikes Peak Cog gets more passengers than Amtrak routes?
You posted this same thing on another thread the other day, and you got no support for your post.
Now you post it again on a new thread.
I'll sign my comment, "A rich tourist with too much time on my hands". That's what you called people who will ride the cog railroad.
York1 John
Also, just because Project X costs $200m and there's also Projects Y, Z, N, Q, and so on that need money, it doesn't mean X can't or shouldn't get money.
If Project Z requires $4b, the government isn't in a real position to go "well we're going to pocket the $200m to save up for Project Z. Sorry Project X." That's not how governments work or can work. Project X has every right to funding that Project Z does too. And if they're like "our Project X requires $220m to complete," it is much easier for the government to spend that $200m now to get X most of the way there. Z will still get the $200m of their $4,000m they want, just in a different fiscal year when the puzzle pieces fit together better.
There's also "when do you need it." Project Z may not need that $200m until 2027, but Project X is behind schedule because it didn't come in 2018.
Near me is a State park called Starved Rock and 2 smaller ones. They are close to a small town that is dependent on the park. In 2020 they saw their budget for their town crashed by 75 percent when the governor of Illinois closed that park down due to COVID-19. Trust me the dollars matter to locals.
Here in Michigan, tourism is second only to agriculture. it is huge. Pre-COVID we took in about $25 BILLION a year. I'd have no issue with some group investing $100 million for a new large draw.
BaltACDWhile tourism may not be legitmate in your mind, it is to many others.
Industry without smokestacks.
A good number of businesses (especially restaurants) have closed recently because they lost their tourist base this past year.
And that hurts the local economy.
Trickle down does matter on a local basis. The restaurant owner pays the wait staff, who buy groceries at the local grocery store, which pays the wages of the staff at the grocery store, who use that money to buy furniture, etc, etc.
ronrunnerthat serves no real legitimate public purpose when there are real passenger rail projects that need funding
The Broadmoor Hotel and Resort own the Pike Peak Railroad as a tourist attraction and provided most of the funds to rebuild the Tourist Attraction that brings tourism money into the surrounding area.
While tourism may not be legitmate in your mind, it is to many others.
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