Meet me at Spruce. Western Maryland power holds the company main at Spruce, WV, awaiting orders to head north, while the crew of a Cass Work Train waters Heisler #6 from a trackside tank.
The old logging town of Spruce, which once bustled with activity, is now little more than a junction between the Cass Scenic Railroad and the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley. All of the original buildings are gone now, although the foundations of the old engine house and locomotive servicing area are still there for visitors to explore. Until recently, the two railroads that meet here were independent operations, one of which was a West Virginia State Park and the other, a commercial tourist railroad with a freight business subsidiary. With the recent move by the State of West Virginia to outsource the operation of the Cass Scenic Railroad to the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley, all operations on these lines now fall under one set of leadership, which will hopefully lead to an more interesting and varied set of excursion opportunities for visitors in the near future.
For aficianados of geared steam engines, it's "almost heaven." Here are some scenes from the park's annual Railfan Weekends, as well as some private charters.
