Steam Locomotive #4 - update

Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway
STEAM LOCOMOTIVE NUMBER 4

GENERAL INFORMATION

Steam Locomotive # 4 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia and delivered to the M&PP in January of 1897 with builders’ number 15173. This is an Abt rack steam locomotive with cog wheels mounted underneath the boiler. This is believed to be the ONLY running Vauclain Compound locomotive (cog or adhesion) that is in operation in the world.

This engine weights approximately 30 tons and its boiler has been constructed on an angle so that when running upon a 16 percent grade (the average grade of the M&PP), the two water tanks will be horizontal and water will remain covering the crown sheet. These two water tanks hold 300 gallons of water each and a trip to the summit of Pikes Peak would require three stops to refill the tanks.

Steam Locomotive #4 holds the honor of powering the last steam passenger train to the summit of Pikes Peak on September 3, 1958. The engine was used again during the spring of 1961 and again in the spring of 1962 to open the line by plowing snow and ice (along with the flatbed wedge car). During the 1960's, the locomotive was kept on hand should she be needed again, but that call would never come. Finally on September 30, 1968 Steam Locomotive #4 was (ostensibly) officially retired and donated to the Colorado Railroad Museum, in Golden, Colorado.

However, because she was the only surviving Pikes Peak cog steamer that was operational, on November 16, 1979 the locomotive was returned to the Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway in exchange for the first locomotive on the M&PP, Locomotive #1 (formerly named “Pike’s Peak”) which is currently on display at the Museum.

During the winter of 1979/1980, Locomotive #4 was renovated and returned to operating condition. During 1980, steam again ran on the cog railway. Locomotive #4 made intermittent trips during the 1980’s. During the winter of 1990, the locomotive was converted to burn oil instead of coal, and the locomotive made regular monthly passenger trips one mile up the track for the Centennial Celebration during the 1991 operating season.

The steam engine saw a more complete overhaul during winter of 1994 through the spring of 1995 with the complete replacement of all the boiler flue tubes. The locomotive returned to the main line in the fall of 1997 to help celebrate its 100th Birthday.

More recently, a complete ultrasound test and hydrostatic test were performed to ensure boiler integrity.

The last time Locomotive #4 ran was on September 17, 2004.

TECHNICAL INFO - M&PP RY. - STEAM LOCOMOTIVE #4