On our approach to Colorado Springs we began to pass signs to Cheyenne Mountain plus a heavy emphasis on military bases.

Bells started to ring and I began to recall hearing of Cheyenne Mountain in a Cold War context.

This is the mountain which was effectively hollowed out to provide a secure Command and Control facility for NORAD in the event of a nuclear attack…oh, and is also home to the “Santa Tracker”.

Checking into our hotel for the night, the view from our balcony takes in Cheyenne Mountain front and centre.

Not sure how comforting it is to be spending the night under the cross hairs of Putin, Kim Jong Un and anybody else the “Orange Buffoon” has upset since we left home.

To conclude yesterday’s railway adventure, we travelled to Colorado Springs with the intention of riding the Cog Railway from Manitou Springs to the Summit of America’s Mountain, Pikes Peak…sadly not to be.

The Railway is not currently running as both the cars and the rail cog mechanism have worn out. Apparently both need to be replaced with a different type of mechanism, as it is no longer possible to repair or re-make to the original pattern. I find this hard to believe but that is the view being taken and the wholesale replacement of the historic Cog Railway is planned, subject to funding being found, by 2020.

Having made the journey we fortunately discovered that it is possible to drive most of the way to the summit, completing the last 4 miles of the journey by shuttle bus.

The 20 mile drive, takes in the back of the Mountain. The road gains 8000 feet in elevation and with each foot gained the views become more spectacular. From mile 13 to mile 16 the road is very steep and comprises many hairpin switchbacks, too steep to stop and requiring full attention on the road rather than attempting to take photographs.

Whilst the views are breathtaking, the summit of the mountain is a rather sad sight, Construction of a brand new 38,000 sq ft gift shop, due to open in 2020, and the mothballed railway give the peak the ravaged and barren appearance of a building site.

The ancient cog railway buffers remain precariously positioned, overhanging the precipitous drop…I hope they never need to be used to save lives!