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.
Putting on a great show for the photographers, the doubleheader roars over the top of the grade at Old Spruce junction.
Shay 2 basks in evening light at the Cass depot.
Wide angle shot of the derelict control stand of a former South Branch Valley Alco rusting away at Cass. This engine operated one winter many years ago as the shop switcher but damaged the track a... (more)
The expression on the engineer’s face here is great. Not sure who he was yelling at or what he was saying, but I wish I could’ve heard. This shot was taken at the wye on the mountain that wa... (more)
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.
Cass has quite a collection of defunct equipment on the property including two former South Branch Valley ex-US Army Alco MRS-1’s sandwiching a terribly fire damaged CN wooden caboose. Behind t... (more)
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)
In a fury of smoke and whistles, a doubleheader conquers an 8.7% grade while negotiating an S-curve.
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)
The rusted out cab interior of a derelict former US Army consolidation on the Cass dead line. 612 was built in 1943 and came to Cass in 1972 to be used on the C&O Greenbrier Sub. This line was w... (more)
Pan shot of engineer Gary Cassell bouncing along in the Heisler.
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.
Tripleheaded steam is an impressive sight, even when only moving at ten or so miles an hour.
One couldn't ask for a more beautiful day to be aboard a log train climbing the side of Cheat Mountain.
A double headed log train smokes it up on its climb towards Bald Knob, the second highest peak in West Virginia.
A log train crosses the third bridge over the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River on its way north.
Under some interesting lighting, the log train tackles the 9% grade on the approach to Bald Knob looking like a moving wildfire.
The three train race: classic Cass. Shays 4 and 5 should join these three for the start of the operating season once their paperwork is filed. With five engines potentially under steam at any gi... (more)
Pacific Coast Shay 2 peaks out of Limestone Cut with a log train. Shay 2 was built in 1928, has 13x15 inch cylinders, makes 38,200 lbs. of tractive effort, and has burnt wood, oil, and coal over ... (more)
Shay 11 shoves around Gum Curve with a passenger train. 11 was built in 1923, sports 14.5x15 inch cylinders, makes 40,400 lbs. of tractive effort, and is a favorite with the crews at Cass.
Coal smoke anyone?
The crew chats as a log train takes water at the Oats Run stop, which consists of an old boiler and tender tank. These engines are equipped with a steam powered siphon and are able to suck water ... (more)
90 ton Heisler #6 backs into town on a cool morning.
Shays 2, 11, and 6 as well as Heisler 6 perform for a crowd of railfans for the line's popular railfan weekend. Few things can beat seeing 4 engines under steam at one time.
As seen from the front platforn of the caboose, Shay 5 pulls a photo charter up the side of Cheat Mountain.
Old Shay 5 celebrates her 100th Birthday and becomes the official steam locomotive of West Virginia. #5 is an 80-ton model Shay but actually weighs closer to 90 tons. This location was the junct... (more)
The Cass crews prepare for yet another 3 train "race". From left to right are: #11, a 90-ton model Shay; #2, a Pacific Coast Shay; and #6, a 90-ton model Heisler.
