One of the more unusual railroads in Colorado was the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Railroad
that ran two miles from the Broadmoor Hotel to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo passing through
four tunnels in route. The narrow gauge cog railroad, owned by Spencer Penrose, owner of
the hotel and zoo, built the railroad in 1937. It opened the following year. The first
locomotive, using a gasoline engine, was a scale replica of the Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog
Railway steam locomotives. Penrose also owned the M&PP Cog Railway. In 1950, a modern
streamlined gasoline powered locomotive was built by Cadillac and operated over the
railroad until the line closed in 1974. The train was dubbed the Mountaineer. The
locomotive pushed the two 20-passenger coaches up the grade to the zoo and provided
braking for the train as it drifted downgrade back to the hotel. After the railroad
closed, the locomotive was sold, moved to several proposed or failed rail operations,
and finally falling into disrepair in an aspen grove near Central City, Colorado. It has
since been returned to the zoo and cosmetically restored and displayed on a short
section of the original track in the zoo parking lot. The railroad had been more than an
just amusement park ride; its purpose was to shuttle guests between the hotel and the zoo.
Larry Ditls photo and text
