Three
Days of Mountain Railroading
in Cass, West Virginia
Return
of the Freight Train
Multiple Locomotives Under Steam
Great Runby Locations
Friday Evening Presentation by Steve Barry:
A Tribute Legendary Railfan & Photographer Jim Boyd
Friday, May 18:
Spruce . . .
-- Multiple
locomotive runbys in Cass in the morning.
-- Freight and passenger trains to Spruce.
-- Visit the Cass shop in the evening for food, shop tours, and
MSR&LHA Annual Meeting.
-- Special program by Steve Barry featuring the photography of Jim Boyd.
-- Night photo session at the
water tank conducted by Steve Barry.
Saturday, May
19: Bald Knob . . .
--
Log
train and passenger train go to Bald Knob.
-- Multiple runbys throughout the day.
--
Operations include Oats Run and the wye.
-- Evening activities: Whistle blow,
tours, and night photo session at the Cass
depot.
Sunday, May 20:
Whittaker Station and Camp One . . .
--
Triple locomotive race in the morning light.
-- Trains to Whittaker with multiple photo runbys.
-- Return to Cass at 2:30 pm.
Be part of
this great weekend, make your reservations now!
Call 304-456-4300 or
toll-free 1-800-225-5982
(Ask for Railfan Weekend)
Friday,
May 18
Beginning at 8:00 am, participants will be treated
to a flurry of train activity to experience and photograph, including
switching and multiple locomotive line-ups between the Cass depot and
the water tank. By 9:30 am, we will be aboard the passenger train and
depart for the old ghost town site of Spruce. You will be given a box
lunch to be eaten at your leisure during the trip; soda and water will
be available on all the cars. A brief stop will be made to use the
restroom and to oil the locomotives at Whittaker Station. As we resume
our journey up Cheat Mountain, you will experience the breathtaking
vistas of the scenic overlooks and wondrous forests, as we wind our way
to Spruce.
Once at Spruce, passengers will disembark and the authentic
steam-powered freight train will perform a number of runbys for us at
the “S” curve. This spectacular location features a long, sweeping “S”
curve with the Shaver’s Fork of the Cheat River running in the
background that has proven to be a fan favorite photo location. At
noon, after taking on water, we will board the train and head back to
Old Spruce for photo runbys with the freight train. Once we finish at
Old Spruce we will reboard and head back to Cass.
For those who would rather not ride the train on Friday, there will be
a number of activities available in town, free of charge. The Cass
Showcase, Company Store and the Lumbering Museum will be open all day.
In addition, there will be locomotive shop and company town tours
available. A swap meet is also planned in the newly renovated Cass
Community Center. The passenger train will arrive back in Cass around
3:00 pm. Since no further train activities are planned after our return
(until 6:00 pm), you will have ample time to visit the railroad shop
complex for tours and to take photos.
Friday Evening:
Planned activities begin at 6:00 pm. There will be the annual Greenacre
Photo Contest. At 7:00 pm the Mountain State Railroad & Logging
Historical Association annual membership meeting will be held.
Preliminary plans for the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park’s 50th
Anniversary in 2013 will be discussed, and the winners of the 2012
Greenacre Photo Contest and the MSR&LHA election will be
announced. Food and refreshments will be available at the shop from a
local school group (this is not included in your ticket price).
Participants will then be treated to a presentation by Railfan
& Railroad magazine editor Steve Barry. He will be
showcasing
the photography of the late railfan photographer (and founding editor
of Railfan &
Railroad), Jim Boyd.
Friday Night
Photo Session: At 8:15 pm we will make the
short walk to the water tank where our first night photo session of the
weekend will be held, coordinated by photographer, Steve Barry. Those
who wish to remain at the shop and enjoy this historic place are free
to do so. The night scene will be lighted like a movie set so you will
be able to move around to create different scenes. The locomotives,
water tank, mill and surrounding trees will be lighted. The use of high
powered lights allows for great photos by videographers and digital
photographers, as well as the traditional 35mm cameras. The night photo
session will conclude at 10:00 pm.
Saturday, May 19
We will leave Cass at 8:00 am and start our ascent of Cass Hill,
through the double switch backs, and on past Whittaker Camp One. We
will continue our climb up to Old Spruce Junction and then head down
toward the former townsite of Spruce. At the old ghost town we will
take on water and have photo opportunities on the new siding track that
was installed by the Cass track crew in 2010.
 |
We will leave Cass at 8:00 am and start
our ascent of Cass Hill, through the double switchbacks to Whittaker
Station. After a short restroom stop we will proceed to Old Spruce,
where we will have our first photo runbys of the day with the freight
train. Next, we will head to Oats Run, where the locomotives take on
water and the freight consist will perform multiple runbys around the
photogenic sharp curve.
Runbys are also planned high on the mountain at the Emergency Water
Tank. We will then make our way up to the Bald Knob Summit, the third
highest point in the State at 4,842 feet, traversing the 11.5% grade,
the steepest on the railroad. While the engines are hot we will do
multiple runbys with both trains. The Bald Knob right-of-way has been
cleared back to its original tree line, making it possible for you to
get great photos as the locomotives tackle this amazing grade – true
Titans of the Mountain. We will serve lunch at Bald Knob, weather
permitting; if inclement, we will do it at a lower elevation. After
lunch we will make our way back down to the wye for runbys at this
rarely used site. We will start our descent of the mountain to arrive
at Cass at 5:00 pm, with the possibility of additional runbys at
Whittaker Station.
Saturday
Evening Activities
After the train returns to Cass and you have dinner, the evening will
feature many activities throughout the town:
Whistle Blow:
If you own a whistle, or can borrow one, or simply wish to blow one,
then this event is for you. Ear protection is provided and required.
The whistle blow is open to any Railfan Weekend participant. The event
will begin at 5:00 pm, lasting until 8:00 pm.
Town Tour:
Meet at 7:00 pm in front of the Company Store for a guided walking tour
of the historic company town.
Cass Showcase:
There will be multiple showings of this video history of Cass and
highly detailed model railroad representing Cass in heyday as a lumber
mill town.
Kyle J. “Catty” Neighbors
Memorial Lumbering Museum: The museum will be open all
evening.
Restoration Shop Tours:
See the significant progress that MSR&LHA volunteers have made
in restoring the Climax locomotive at the Restoration Shop.
Saturday Night Photo Session:
Night photos have been a part of the Cass Railfan Weekend for many
years. We will use 25,000 watts of high powered lighting to provide
spectacular photo opportunities this evening. Coordinated again by
Steve Barry, the session will start at about 8:30 pm at the depot.
Bring your camera, tripod, and a cable release if appropriate. We will
supply the lights and suggestions for exposure settings. The use of
high powered lights allows great photos by videographers and digital
photographers, as well as the traditional 35mm cameras.
Sunday, May 20
At 8:00 am we will start our photo runbys with
opportunities to capture the always spectacular, triple locomotive
runby. After loading the passenger train at this location, we will
proceed up Leatherbark Creek to do multiple runbys. Then, the trains
will back down to the water tank at Cass and fill their tenders before
we climb Cass Hill to Gum Field for more runbys. After that, we will
proceed through the two switchbacks for a quick photo stop at the “S”
curve, followed by our arrival at Whittaker Station for lunch and an
opportunity to tour Camp One, the recreated 1940’s logging camp. After
lunch, we will return to Cass at 2:30 pm to permit those who need to
leave early to depart for a safe trip home.
Friday Breakfast:
On Friday morning, the Last Run Restaurant, located in the former
Company Store, will be open at 6:30 am to serve a breakfast buffet.
This meal is included in the ticket price, FRIDAY MORNING ONLY. No
reservations are required.
Saturday
& Sunday Breakfast: The 8th grade
class at the Green Bank Middle School will serve breakfast on Saturday
and Sunday morning at the Cass Fire House, about 1/2 mile west of the
Cass depot on Route 66. The cost is $6 each day; the menus are shown on
the ticket order form. Advance reservations are required and tickets
may be ordered along with your Railfan Weekend tickets.
Friday Dinner:
The Green Bank school will provide a dinner of pork BBQ, coleslaw,
chips, dessert, and a drink at the Cass shop. The cost is $8.00 and
reservations are required (see the ticket order form).
Saturday Dinner:
A local school group will be offering the traditional all-you-can-eat
Logger’s Dinner at the Cass Community Center when the train returns to
Cass on Saturday evening; includes ham, fried apples, green beans,
corn, drink, dessert, and salad, served in a family style setting. The
cost is $12.00 and tickets must be ordered in advance (see the ticket
order form).
Photo Contest:
The annual Greenacre Photo Contest has a $100 cash prize for the best
photograph taken at the previous Railfan Weekend or other
MSR&LHA sponsored 2011 event. Check our Web site,
www.msrlha.org/greenacre.html, or contact the contest coordinator,
Chase Gunnoe, 514 5th Street, Nitro, WV 25143; E-mail
Chase55671@hotmail.com; Phone 304-553-9409 for full
information and
rules.
Tickets &
Information: Tickets and reservations are obtained through
the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, PO Box 130, Green Bank WV, 24944.
Or, call toll-free 1-800-225-5982; ask for Cass Scenic Railroad. Credit
and debit cards are accepted. Office hours: Monday to Saturday 8:30 am
to 4:30 pm, Sunday 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.
The price of a ticket is $ 250.00 for all three days. Ticket includes
Friday breakfast and box lunch, Saturday and Sunday box lunches, and
both night photo sessions. There are no
Saturday-only tickets. Consider
the great value! Where else can you attend a
three-day multiple train photo charter for just $83 per day (and 100
percent steam-powered!)?
If you wish to order tickets
by mail you can click here
for
a printable
ticket order form. If the form doesn't print correctly you
can click here for
an order form in PDF format.
| Friday
dinner in the Cass Shop |
$8 |
| Saturday breakfast
(starts at 6:15 am) |
$6 |
| Sunday breakfast
(starts at 6:15 am) |
$6 |
| Saturday Logger's
Dinner |
$12 |
Cass Lodging Information:
There are two primary motels within 10 miles of Cass:
|
Inn
at Snowshoe (9 miles from Cass) |
1-877-441-4386 |
| Boyer
Motel (10 miles from Cass) |
304-456-4667 |
The Inn at Snowshoe is offering a discounted rate of $64 per night
(plus tax). Ask for the “Group Code 50V9QD Railfan Weekend May 18-20”
rate.
The Cass Scenic Railroad State Park has restored Company Houses
available. These houses are ideal for several couples, or group
lodging, as this is an economical way for several folks to lodge. Each
house has all of the accommodations, and a full kitchen. (Note: make
your reservations early).
Additional lodging information will be sent with your tickets, or you
can contact the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau at
1-800-336-7009 or visit their website www.pocahontascountywv.com.
Policies: Trains run
rain or shine. Schedules, equipment, and photo runbys are subject to
change due to equipment availability, conditions of the railroad,
safety, and weather. Please allow two weeks for ticket delivery. No
refunds after May 16, 2012.
MSR&LHA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All proceeds go
toward historic rail and logging preservation and interpretation
projects. Group discounts are available; please call the Cass Park at
the number above for information. No portion of ticket price is
considered tax-deductible by the IRS.
Photos Courtesy Chase Gunnoe.
page
last updated or verified on January 20, 2012
