Cass Scenic Railroad Cass, West Virginia

They are building like crazy, there was a photo posted here of the Durbin line last fall. The rail had been rebuilt in that shot. Go to there web site and I think it was on the Face Book photo's. I don't do Face Book so I can't see them.

As of last week a co-volunteer at the RR told me they have received another mountain of ties. thousands of ties are currently on site. I forgot if he said they have gone 4 miles or they have four miles left to go.

I believe they are using in house track crews from the WVA central, Durbin and Cass to build the line. Repair of the wash outs I don't know who gets that job.

Jamie 

I've never been to Cass, so I have a stupid question: 

Is the Cass Scenic Railroad narrow gauge or standard gauge?

Cass is standard gauge. Have not been there in twenty years but worth the trip there...........Paul

If they connect Cass to Durban, won't that put the "Durban Rocket" Climax under FRA requirements?

Kent Loudon posted:

If they connect Cass to Durban, won't that put the "Durban Rocket" Climax under FRA requirements?

Why would it not be already??? 

Cass is in my neighborhood......even so news is tough to come by unless you go up there yourself. I talked to some principals involved last summer and they do have some BIG plans......the Elkins to Durbin restoration my favorite. About April or so I  will go and see for myself whats going on and report back. 

Anyone thinking of visiting I'd be happy to suggest places to stay, eat and see if needed. Thx

No. 6 at Spruce WV  

AMCDave posted:

Kent Loudon posted:

If they connect Cass to Durban, won't that put the "Durban Rocket" Climax under FRA requirements?

Why would it not be already???

Yes, it will.....and no, it's not already.  The Durbin line (as it has been up to this point) has no connections to the national rail network and no public grade crossings.  Once you rebuild the line from Cass, you will have both.  When one of those two happens, you will be under FRA and not state.

Kevin

Did not realize that. I doubt that will be an issue at all for the Durbin & Greenbrier folks.....after all they are managing a very large fleet now bringing the little Climax under those rules should be seamless. 

AMCDave posted:

Kent Loudon posted:

If they connect Cass to Durban, won't that put the "Durban Rocket" Climax under FRA requirements?

Why would it not be already??? 

Cass is in my neighborhood......even so news is tough to come by unless you go up there yourself. I talked to some principals involved last summer and they do have some BIG plans......the Elkins to Durbin restoration my favorite. About April or so I  will go and see for myself whats going on and report back. 

Anyone thinking of visiting I'd be happy to suggest places to stay, eat and see if needed. Thx

No. 6 at Spruce WV  

Dave, besides lodging and eating, what other things of interest are there in the area ?   

Green Bank Observatory is well worth the side trip. Go after the train ride so you don't have to hurry. Last time we were there, the science center was also free and had good exhibits for kids and teens. The cafe was surprisingly good.

Dan Padova posted:

Dave, besides lodging and eating, what other things of interest are there in the area ?   

What else IS there besides steam locomotive powered log & passenger trains, and eating?  Wait, I forgot Bourbon.

Agree on Greenbank, known as GBT here. GBT may have added a small charge for the bus tour after they lost some Fed funding. Lots of outdoor free things if you like such. Cranberry Glades, Bear Town, Snow Shoe even in summer is nice.  Lots of hiking and trails.  Cranberry Nature center is at the crossing of 150 and 39, it's a small but nice center. Highway 150 is a scenic road with great overlook spots and easy trail walks.  Pocahontas county is the most rural county East of the Mississippi, has the most active steam locos in the USA and has one of the most high tech facilities in the world......interesting contrasts! 

Dave, you forgot to mention the good fishing on the surrounding streams and rivers........I appreciate everybody's additions to my original post......I had my grandson up there about 10 years ago, and was hoping now, that he's out of High School, he would go up there and apply for a job at their engine shop.......If they get the rest of that line rebuilt as they have plans for, it should be equal to or better than the Cumbres and Toltec or the Durango and Silverton Railroads.......Of course that is all in the eyes of the beholder. Either will be a great, great experience......Another thing, if they haven't stopped it, last time there, it was extremely easy to get a Cab Ride!....If Western and Maryland #6 is running, see if Danny Seldomridge is at the throttle, he'd be a good one to ask...........Just Sayin!.

You are correct.......and the fact my Dad wrote 'The Williams River' book I should be ashamed!!! Mountain biking is also big and canoeing on the Greenbrier as long as we have the water!! Lots to do for little cash! 

645 posted:

I don't know the specifics of contractor help versus DGVR personnel rehabbing the Cass to Durbin line but can tell you the line will be ready for (possibly limited) service next month. At last report the BL2 was at the Cass shops so I believe it got there via rail. This information is from a friend of mine who works for DGVR so it should be reliable.

While it is true that the DGVR is making progress to reconnect the line between Cass and Durbin, there is still much work to be done and it will likely take another year or two to complete. Currently, about three miles of track has been put back into service on the Cass end. This portion was used for the first time since 1985 when the railroad ran their Elf Limited trains last December. It will be used again for a special photo event next month which is likely what your friend was referring to.

The BL2 and GP7 travelled down the mountain with some freight cars and three Salamander heavyweight cars, last fall. The train was assisted by Shay 2.

Here are some photos taken last October of the progress.

https://www.facebook.com/media...e=1&l=183a9d6369

Thanks for those photos.....I'd love to do that myself but mobility issue keep me from it.....thanks for sharing. 

AMCDave posted:

Thanks for those photos.....I'd love to do that myself but mobility issue keep me from it.....thanks for sharing. 

Lots of rattlers along that stretch of grade also!

ScriptunasPhoto posted:

AMCDave posted:

Thanks for those photos.....I'd love to do that myself but mobility issue keep me from it.....thanks for sharing. 

Lots of rattlers along that stretch of grade also!

Yep....as kids my brother and I killed our share of Rattlers and cotton mouths.  We didn't go hunting for them....but if they crossed our path......they didn't have a good day......They tend to be the worst on the eastern side of the Greenbrier. 

Hard to believe that that line once supported a Reading T1 and train of heavyweights!  Hope I live long enough to ride a PV charter to Cass.

If the Climax comes under FRA will it need to be stripped down for the 15/1472 inspection ?

Kent Loudon posted:

If the Climax comes under FRA will it need to be stripped down for the 15/1472 inspection ?

 

Yes, Climax #3 is currently in Cass awaiting its overhaul to become compliant.

>>The Durbin line (as it has been up to this point) has no connections to the national rail network and no public grade crossings. 

The Durban Rocket cannot go past the Durban depot because there is an (unpaved) public  road there.  It's my understanding that you are under FRA if you even go OVER OR UNDER a public road, or another railroad. 

Kent Loudon posted:

>>The Durbin line (as it has been up to this point) has no connections to the national rail network and no public grade crossings. 

The Durban Rocket cannot go past the Durban depot because there is an (unpaved) public  road there.  It's my understanding that you are under FRA if you even go OVER OR UNDER a public road, or another railroad. 

 

Even if Climax #3 was compliant, it would be a challenge for her to cross the roadway considering the tracks were removed many years ago.. 

Cass Heisler #6 has taken the place of the Climax for now in Durbin, and is FRA compliant.

Kent Loudon posted:

Hard to believe that that line once supported a Reading T1 and train of heavyweights!  Hope I live long enough to ride a PV charter to Cass.

I was on one of those trips. I rode from Marlinton to Durbin and back.  After turning at Durbin and heading South we had a delay of 20-30 minutes when the tender of the T1 started to slip between the rails. So it was getting to the point then that it had issues supporting it. 

A retired C&O Rode Foreman told me that he worked that district/division, way back in the early to mid fifties......He also told me that the norm for engines were  K2/3 Mikados, K4 Berkshires, and H4/5/6, 2-6-6-2. Logging, coal,and freight was the main stay, and passenger. He showed me a picture a few years ago of him standing on the front pilot of a K3 w/short Vandy Tender, and they were turning it, at the Durbin "Y"......I wished that I had made some copies that he took, when he was working that C&O Division...........................Brandy 

Definitive book on the subject.