Inaugural
Steam Trip between Cass and Elkins
Thursday, July
10, 2008
Cass to
Elkins, W.Va.
This is the Inaugural Steam Excursion
between Cass and Elkins. Only 175 passengers will be the first ever to
make this 12-plus hour, 67 mile trek behind steam over some of the most
rugged and photogenic mountain railroading in the East. The trip will originate in Elkins and return to Elkins.
Thursday,
July 10th, 2008 Starting
at 5:45 AM there will be a hot buffet breakfast at the Rail Yard
Restaurant (across the street from the Elkins Train Station which is at
Railroad Avenue and 3rd Street). Promptly at 6:30 AM we will depart for
Cass in restroom-equipped busses leaving from the Elkins Train
Station. The trip to Cass will take approximately 90 minutes.
At 8:30 AM the train will begin the ascent up
Cheat Mountain, through the switchbacks, past Whittaker and on to
Spruce. At the old ghost town, there will be photo opportunities while
Shay 6 is serviced. The train will then travel down the Shavers Fork of
Cheat River on the old Western Maryland line, past Beaver Creek and
Hopkins Mine to a service stop at Cheat Bridge and another photo
opportunity.
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We will then proceed down river; with
photo run-bys at locations never done before with a steam locomotive.
And, if you’re interested, keep an eye out for the Bald Eagles in this
wilderness area. Lunch will be at the old Linan Mine. Of interest are
two rare, original Western Maryland section houses nearby. Once we
leave, the remote terrain becomes very rugged as Shavers Fork drops
steeply with impressive rapids and huge boulders in the stream as the
railroad winds through tight curves past Harper Mine and on to the
spectacular High Falls of Cheat, where there will be a service stop and
photo opportunities. Continuing on, we will have a run-by at the High
Trestle over the Cheat River, one leg of the old Greenbrier, Cheat, and
Elk River Junction wye.
Then we will pass through the old logging
town of Bemis, on to Woodrow, and pause at Bowden for a service stop.
Here, we will exchange Shay 6 for diesel power to avoid any discomfort
from the smoke while passing through the 1,780 foot S-shaped Kelley
Mountain tunnel. Past the tunnel, we will set up a photo line and get
the first-ever photos of the No. 6 pulling freight cars and a caboose
as it exits the tunnel.
After this, Shay 6 will re-couple to our
train and we will proceed, arriving at Elkins Depot for an evening meal
at the Depot Plaza, making a great end to a great day! All of the above
is included in the price of your ticket. See below for ticket ordering
information.
Fares
July 10: Cass to Elkins, limited to 175 passengers:
$190.00 per ticket
Night Photo Sessions
Night
photo sessions will be held at the Elkins Depot starting at about 8:30
PM on July 10th, 11th and 12th. The set ups will feature Shay 6 with a
different diesel every night. We will use over 20,000 watts of quartz
lights to provide spectacular photo opportunities. Bring your camera,
tripod, and a cable release if appropriate. We will supply the lights
and suggest exposure settings. The use of quartz lights will allow
great results by videographers and digital, as well as traditional 35mm
cameras.
Tickets
for all trips are sold by the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley
Railroad
Elkins
Depot, Elkins WV 26241
Call
for toll free for reservations: 1-877-686-7245 (1-877-MTN-RAIL)
All
major credit cards accepted. When ordering, please specify the trip or
trips you want.
Policies: Please
allow two weeks for ticket delivery,
No refunds after June 15, 2008. Trains run rain or shine. Schedules and
equipment are subject to change due to availability and weather
conditions. The Mountain State Railroad & Logging Historical
Association (www.MSRLHA.org)
is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
All proceeds go toward historic rail and logging preservation and
interpretation projects. This event is sponsored by the
MSR&LHA,
the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, and the Cass Scenic
Railroad State Park.
Notes:
- These excursions run in a
rugged
mountainous area; be careful of your footing. Although it is July,
showers can cool the air quickly; come prepared for changes in the
weather. The train has an EMT on board for your assistance if needed,
and carries a satellite phone.
- Trains run rain or shine,
schedules and
equipment are subject to changes due to availability and weather
conditions.
- There is drinking water on
board the train
offered free for your convenience.
This
trip includes:
1. Round trip Elkins to
Elkins bus and train transportation.
2. Three(3) meals per trip.
3. Complimentary water and snacks.
4. Commemorative brass tag.
5. Excursion trip guide.
Trip time is approximately 12 hours +