Pikes Peak Cog Railway or Bust

We rode the Cog Railway to Pikes Peak back in 2005. There are three basic ways to make it to the 14110' peak. Drive, hike or take the train. The train is the way to go. It takes about 3 hours to make the round trip. They give you 45 minutes on top. That doesn't seem like a lot but the air is rare up there. You just hang out, check out the views, peruse the gift shop or hit the oxygen bar. 45 minutes is a long time. If you're lucky you can see some wildlife from the train. At least some marmots. But definitely the hummingbirds at the station.  Safest way to travel the 9 miles to the top. Plenty of safety improvements. Three different braking systems. First there is the hydraulic brakes, then the manual brake. Last but not least there are the springs that will stop you.. Manitou Springs... Colorado Springs...