Saturday 7/12 was the first day in 3 years that the D&GVR was allowed to run from Elkins WV to the old logging town of Spruce. The USFS had been 'fixing' the watershed in the area and had closed it to any and all traffic. We rode the train and it was a great ride. I had ridden the Cass railroad from Cass to Spruce 4 years ago before the closure but had never ridden the rails from Elkins to Spruce. It is the old WM tracks but is the sharpest, steepest and highest class one tracks East of the Mississippi. Just a few photos....I'll post the album after I get them all uploaded.
Our ride.....B&O GP9(E) Three 1917 era coaches, one converted to a food service, and a box car turned into a HEP car.
The NA Railcar operators were also there today. They left about 30 minutes before us and we all met at Spruce.
On the way down the mountain toward Elkins. The GP9 was run around the cars, we flipped our seats so we could ride forward, and settled in for a nice ride.
At Spruce Cass ex-WM #6 Shay met us within 5 minutes. 4000 ft elevation and we have a meeting of 36 rail speeders, the biggest and last Shay and a B&O GP9 with vintage coaches......WOW
After lunch was served there was a train 'Race'! Both locos and trains backed downhill from Spruce and run full steam up the hill in a somewhat staged but FANTASTIC photo op! Where else could you see this!!! This was a one time deal so I am happy we made the trip. You could almost think it was Spruce 1955!!!
A great trip...if you have the chance to ride any of the trip it's well worth the time and money!!!
