Origins of
the Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway Foundation
The Pikes Peak Historical
Street Railway Foundation is a non-profit corporation founded in 1982. Mr.
John Haney, one of the Foundation's founders and still a Board member,
co-authored a very comprehensive book on the history of the trolley
systems in the Pikes Peak area, and felt a Foundation could be of
assistance in further developing knowledge and appreciation of them.
Old Antlers Hotel in
Colorado Springs before demolition.
In 1990, an original Colorado Springs
streetcar, built in 1901, was donated to the Foundation. The focus of the
Foundation shifted to the restoration and operation of this one car in a
park or some similar setting. In pursuit of that goal, the Foundation had
the car declared a historic vehicle by the Colorado State Historical
Society.
A matching grant was
obtained for a feasibility study of a trolley system on the west side,
from the Colorado State Historical Society in late 1993, and the community
quickly responded with more than sufficient donations for the match
requirement. The study, conducted by the transportation consulting firm of
Kimley-Horn in Denver, was completed in 1995, and its conclusions and
recommendations are guiding the Foundation in its current
efforts.
PTC electric PCC
streetcar in Philadelphia, PA, 1997.
In 1995, the Foundation learned of the
availability of a number of post-World War II President's Conference
Committee (PCC) cars from Philadelphia, which was modernizing its fleet.
The Board of Directors realized that the Foundation might accomplish
something much more meaningful to itself and the community, than simply
operating a restored trolley as an amusement ride in a local park. It
realized that a very unique situation existed--three historic districts
lay within several miles of one another: downtown Colorado Springs, Old
Colorado City, and Manitou Springs. The Foundation's Board began to focus
on the idea of tying these areas together with the original form of
electric rail transit, a concept which was reinforced by the results of
the feasibility study.
In 1990, an original Colorado Springs
streetcar, built in 1901, was donated to the Foundation. The focus of the
Foundation shifted to the restoration and operation of this one car in a
park or some similar setting. In pursuit of that goal, the Foundation had
the car declared a historic vehicle by the Colorado State Historical
Society.
In 1995, the Foundation learned of the
availability of a number of post-World War II President's Conference
Committee (PCC) cars from Philadelphia, which was modernizing its fleet.
The Board of Directors realized that the Foundation might accomplish
something much more meaningful to itself and the community, than simply
operating a restored trolley as an amusement ride in a local park. It
realized that a very unique situation existed--three historic districts
lay within several miles of one another: downtown Colorado Springs, Old
Colorado City, and Manitou Springs. The Foundation's Board began to focus
on the idea of tying these areas together with the original form of
electric rail transit, a concept which was reinforced by the results of
the feasibility study.