This is my favorite tourist railroad of all! That steam locomotive (@16.57) with the “604” tender is Buffalo Creek & Gauley no. 4 that will next in line for restoration.
If I ever were to visit West Virginia one day, this place would be the one place I'd go and visit. And while my Dad and Uncle Rob have told me it's not a great state to live in I'd still want to visit even if it's just once to see this outstanding tourist line and its collection of rolling stock and geared engines for myself or with a friend/family tagging along. In my honest opinion, I feel like Cass is the place to go if you want to see a Shay or more in action and maybe Heisler and Climax too but Shays are the main engines you'll always see running throughout the year. I'd probably say the same for the Roaring Camp Railroad in California aka my home state but I feel like Cass is the superior because all the engines have an interesting history of their own.
I agree that I’m not sure I’d jump to move to WV, but I love visiting there. Not just for Cass, but the mountains, rivers, waterfalls, canyons, thick forests, history, etc. WV never disappoints.
I have been to Cass 3-times, twice to Bald Knob and once to Whittiker Station but never stayed in a company home, wish we had. The 1st time I was went was with my dad back in 1976 and the old mill was still stand but the huge drying shed had been blown down in a windstorm. The drying shed and lumber yard are now the big parking lot. Also, when we first went, the original C&O station in Cass had been burned down in a vandalism incident and the ticket office was being run out of a temporary trailer, this was back when state of WVA. still ran the show and the ticket agent was kind enough to show me the blueprints for rebuilding a replica of the original C&O station. I asked him if there was any chance the state would fix up the old mill in order to be able to give tours inside and he said basically "fat chance" and of course a few years later an arsonist took care of it. Another interesting this was that just like 1 year earlier in 1975, the Cass shops complex caught fire and burned with #9 Climax caught inside and there was another loco #4 or#5 inside but they were able to drag it out before the building was consumed. #9 was sitting trackside with a collapsed cab and rusted all over and looked like it would never run again, so I was glad to see it fixed up now. And when we made out trip up to Bald Knob, we had like 11-13 passenger flats and they used 2 shays to take up and they cut off the 2nd engine at the wye before we made the last leg up to Bald Knob. The other time I took my son to Bald Knob and they used just #6 for the entire trip. In 1976 the C&O mainline was still active and they used to run Fall Colors passenger trains along the whole route from Ronceverte to Durbin and back. Now it's just a hiking trail. There is another steam line that runs out of Durbin using the old WM line, not sure if they are still in operation. Anyone who loves geared locomotives, this place is a bucket list trip 100%. Also, I think this is a dry county, so if you want a cold beer or a stiff drink, BYO.
The wet rails are from water being poured on the wheels of the engine. This is done to keep them cool from the brakes being applied while coming down the mountain.
And one of those shays in the deadline used to belong to TVRM. Ex. Brimstone & New River Railway (can be seen at the 17:15 mark). It’s the one that’s missing the cab but still has its smokebox.
I lived in Durbin, worked on the railroad and really appreciate this episode, Eric. Great job reporting, Carson!
This is my favorite tourist railroad of all! That steam locomotive (@16.57) with the “604” tender is Buffalo Creek & Gauley no. 4 that will next in line for restoration.
Yep, I saved that information for my next video in the Greenbrier Express.
If I ever were to visit West Virginia one day, this place would be the one place I'd go and visit. And while my Dad and Uncle Rob have told me it's not a great state to live in I'd still want to visit even if it's just once to see this outstanding tourist line and its collection of rolling stock and geared engines for myself or with a friend/family tagging along. In my honest opinion, I feel like Cass is the place to go if you want to see a Shay or more in action and maybe Heisler and Climax too but Shays are the main engines you'll always see running throughout the year. I'd probably say the same for the Roaring Camp Railroad in California aka my home state but I feel like Cass is the superior because all the engines have an interesting history of their own.
I agree that I’m not sure I’d jump to move to WV, but I love visiting there. Not just for Cass, but the mountains, rivers, waterfalls, canyons, thick forests, history, etc. WV never disappoints.
I have been to Cass 3-times, twice to Bald Knob and once to Whittiker Station but never stayed in a company home, wish we had. The 1st time I was went was with my dad back in 1976 and the old mill was still stand but the huge drying shed had been blown down in a windstorm. The drying shed and lumber yard are now the big parking lot. Also, when we first went, the original C&O station in Cass had been burned down in a vandalism incident and the ticket office was being run out of a temporary trailer, this was back when state of WVA. still ran the show and the ticket agent was kind enough to show me the blueprints for rebuilding a replica of the original C&O station. I asked him if there was any chance the state would fix up the old mill in order to be able to give tours inside and he said basically "fat chance" and of course a few years later an arsonist took care of it. Another interesting this was that just like 1 year earlier in 1975, the Cass shops complex caught fire and burned with #9 Climax caught inside and there was another loco #4 or#5 inside but they were able to drag it out before the building was consumed. #9 was sitting trackside with a collapsed cab and rusted all over and looked like it would never run again, so I was glad to see it fixed up now. And when we made out trip up to Bald Knob, we had like 11-13 passenger flats and they used 2 shays to take up and they cut off the 2nd engine at the wye before we made the last leg up to Bald Knob. The other time I took my son to Bald Knob and they used just #6 for the entire trip. In 1976 the C&O mainline was still active and they used to run Fall Colors passenger trains along the whole route from Ronceverte to Durbin and back. Now it's just a hiking trail. There is another steam line that runs out of Durbin using the old WM line, not sure if they are still in operation. Anyone who loves geared locomotives, this place is a bucket list trip 100%. Also, I think this is a dry county, so if you want a cold beer or a stiff drink, BYO.
I hope one day to visit the Cass Scenic Railroad in Cass, West Virginia to see their unique Shay steam locomotives.
Me too
The wet rails are from water being poured on the wheels of the engine. This is done to keep them cool from the brakes being applied while coming down the mountain.
I got to ride behind (or rather in front of) the Big Six in 2015. That big hoss is an impressive locomotive.
They do a gravity train ride at the ffestiniog railway in Wales, It's a 2 foot gauge line that is old enough it was horse pulled up and gravity down.
And one of those shays in the deadline used to belong to TVRM. Ex. Brimstone & New River Railway (can be seen at the 17:15 mark). It’s the one that’s missing the cab but still has its smokebox.
good work
Sweet video!
wtf wants crap on the walls other than paint?