The Highest Train Station In America
Most trains cannot climb a mountain, but the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway does.
The highest railway station in North America is the The Pikes Peak Summit Station in Colorado. It sits at a dizzying height of 14,115 feet (4,302 meters) above sea level. The station is the upper terminus of the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway and is connected to the Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center. The train runs throughout the year (depending on the weather), taking passengers right up to the summit of Pikes Peak, where
Measuring Altitude On North American Railway Stations
A railway station is an elevated platform next to a railway. Under the definition of the highest elevated platform (top-to-rail altitude above mean sea level), the Summit Station claims the top spot. At the same time, other sky-high stations also deserve a spot on the list, if the criteria shifts a bit.
If the measurement includes the highest standard-gauge heritage station, the Leadville depot of the Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad wins. It sits 10,208 feet (3,111 meters) above sea level. If the definition focuses on the highest Amtrak passenger station, the Fraser-Winter Park Station also in Colorado claims the title of highest national intercity rail stop. The station is 8,561 feet (2,609 meters) above sea level.
The Quest To Conquer Pikes Peak
The first structure on Pikes Peak was not a train station. It was a weather station built by the United States Army in 1873. The stone station stood only nine years before being torn down and replaced with a bigger building. Two observers lived in the building throughout the year, and it was a place for visitors to hide from the cold who made their way up to the summit. By 1888, a carriage road allowed visitors to hike or ride horses to the top.
A cog railway was eventually financed by Zalmon Simmons. It would run from Manitou to the top of the mountain. The railway also used the pretty-much abandoned Signal Station for its top terminal in 1891. Over the years, the building expanded and gained an observation tower. People could sleep in it overnight and send telegraphs from it.
The summit house was remodeled in 1938, but then destroyed by fire in 1953. After the fire, Colorado Springs built a new summit house and the project was completed in 1964. Unfortunately, one section of the building would not stay above the permafrost as it melted, and efforts to stabilize it were only temporary. Jacks were placed under the floor to keep it up, and in 1975, a building, known as "The Plant," was erected. A new building called the Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center opened in 2021, offering modern technologies and creature comforts.
Reaching The Top In 2026
Today, the trip up Pikes Peak is just as beautiful as ever. Taking in the landscape along the way makes it easy to understand how Katharine Lee Bates was inspired by the view from the top. So much so that she wrote "America the Beautiful."
The train makes a journey of nine miles, and as it chugs along, it travels through Pike National Forest. It also passes Ruxton Creek and rides through Deer Park. Passengers experience the drop in temperature in the Icebox and see what is left of the historic Halfway House Hotel. As the train climbs above the tree canopy, the views open up to water and mountains in the distance.
Speaking of trees, there are Bristlecone pines on Pikes Peak that have been estimated to be more than 2,000 years old. Along with this magnificent sight, people can also see bighorn sheep, elk, deer, and marmots. Once at the very summit, the Collegiate and Sangre de Cristo Mountains are in full view. It is said that if the day is clear enough, it is even possible to see as far as the Denver skyline.
After disembarking at the Summit Station, visitors can explore the Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center. There are immersive exhibits to see and world-famous Pikes Peak donuts to enjoy. The on-site gift shop is filled with mementos, including jewelry and keychains.
Rivals In The Clouds
As mentioned above, there are more high-altitude train stations that deserve a title of their own (under different definitions). Along with the Leadville Depot and the Fraser-Winter Park Station, the Cumbres Station holds its own as the highest steam-operated mountain pass station in America. The station sits at an elevation of 10,015 feet (3,053 meters) on Cumbres Pass, serving the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. It was built in 1880 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad.
The Silverton Depot is the northern terminus for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. At 9,318 feet (2,840 meters), it once held the distinction of being the highest town station to maintain coal-fired steam locomotive service since its opening in 1882.
Finally, the Alpine Tunnel Station, which was abandoned in 1910, is the highest historic tunnel portal building. The station was built in 1882 and was built at an altitude of 11,523 feet.
Standing Out Above The Rest
It is truly amazing to see what becomes possible when architects and builders plan around a mountain peak. Laborers laid tracks in freezing weather, working their way up impossibly steep slopes year-round. Today, it is all about comfort when riding a modern train to the top. But when you do, spare a thought for those who worked so hard to make it possible.
