Loaded logs wait to make the descent from West Virginia’s second highest peak.

Both engineer Danny Seldomridge and his fireman look quite obviously perplexed. They’re probably trying to figure out what Carl Franz is dreaming up for them to do next.

Cass acquired this 1920 class 80-3 Shay from Washington in 2002. Initial plans, which called for restoring this engine in short order because of the sound boiler, never happened. One can see that... (more)

A log train crosses the second Shavers Fork bridge north of Spruce.

Cass’s two popular west coast Shays (2 from British Columbia and 11 from California) arrive at the junction of the CSRR and the West Virginia Central at Spruce.

Massive WM Shay 6 sits cold alongside Shay 5 in the Cass Shop. WM 6 is down for new flues. Note the Whiting 50 ton crane above the engine.

Shay 2 basks in evening light at the Cass depot.

The entirety of this log train can be seen across the wide valley at Spruce. Directly behind the engine is a WWI-era American Log Loader.

Riders in the "cinder car" grab a shot of Shay 2 hauling us up the side of Cheat Mountain. I particularly like the guy's jacket representing just about every railroad in the Northeast.

Pseudo pan shot of engineer Brad Hoover looking very relaxed while tackling the 9% grade nearing Bald Knob. He’s most likely eyeing the pressure gauge, and one can see thru the window that the ... (more)

The inside of the firebox of a model 80-3 Shay sitting on the deadline at Cass. The flue sheet gives away that this is obviously a saturated engine. A close look reveals the boiler is empty of fl... (more)

This former Brimstone & New River model 70-3 Shay sits forlornly on the Cass dead line with a pile of metal rubbish sitting on the frame where the cab and coal bunker should be. The engine has a g... (more)

A log train climbs into the lower switchback and will soon reverse onto the track to the right. One can easily see how this is an easy way to gain quick altitude with a minimum of real estate. I... (more)

Shay 11 rounds the big curve at Spruce on the former Western Maryland. It’s hard to imagine this remote valley was once the site of a bustling logging town.

One couldn't ask for a more beautiful day to be aboard a log train climbing the side of Cheat Mountain.