This morning I was up as usual at 5:30 AM then went to MacDonald's. I called Enterprise to have them pick me up and the girl there said she would be there in a few minutes. Robin and I went to get the car. As the paperwork was done rather quickly but then when we were going to get the car, she left to gas up the car so that delayed us forty minutes. Once we got the car, a Nissan Altima, we picked up Bob and Elizabeth and headed toward Cass. This was a very interesting driving trip. It first started when I missed the turn to Highway 28 so Elizabeth got on her phone and guided me. This took us to a road that said toll bridge ahead. So, we pulled, the lady held a stick out with a cup on it and I told her to move it closer so I could put the dollar bill in that Elizabeth gave me. We then proceeded to the bridge and drove across it very slowly since I was not sure it would hold up. We made it across, much to our glee and delight, and continued down Highway 28, passing through such places as Moorefield, Petersburg, Seneca Rocks and finally Greenbank before we arrived at Cass at 11:26. Mapquest was completely correct saying it would take two hours and twenty-eight minutes to get there, so Mapquest gets a big plus from me. We stopped at the depot immediately to pick up our tickets for the noon train. Elizabeth, Bob and Robin were assigned to Car A and I was in G. At noon, the train started up the grade toward Bald Knob.
We left Cass depot and first headed by some of the rail cars used on Cass railfan weekends.
The old Cass mill that was damaged by fire.
The Cass water tower.
Next we passed the locomotive shop and the passenger cars waiting to be serviced.
We climbed the grade crossing Leatherback Creek and then crossed Back Mountain Road grade crossing on a four percent grade.
The Gum Road crossing on a five percent grade.
Next we came to the lower switchback.
Next the engine took us around Gum Curve.
Coming out of Limestone Cut.
The train them came to the upper switchback where we met the train from Whittaker so we had to pull all the way down the tail track, thus giving me a little new mileage.
Near the road crossing on an eight percent grade.
The train climbing the grade to Whittaker.
The train going through Whittaker.
The view from the first overlook.
The view from the second overlook.
The engine pushing hard up the grade.
I love the smoke in this picture.
The view from the third overlook. The train went through Old Spruce and started up the line to Bald Knob.
The engine climbing eight percent grade toward Oats Creek water tank where the engine will stop to be watered.
The Shay is being watered at Oats Creek.
Climbing the grade above Oats Creek.
Near Johnson's Run on an eight percent grade.
The train passes by the wye.
Going by mile post 10.
Climbing the twelve percent grade to the top of Bald Knob. In a few minutes, we arrived at the summit.
From the viewing platform looking down from Bald Knob.
The Bald Knob summit sign, second highest peak in West Virginia.
The viewing platform. We reboarded the train. Elizabeth came back and joined me and we rode down the mountain in a rain storm which made our trip even more memorable. We made it back down to Cass and I would like to thank Cass Railroad and Mountain Rail for having us here today. The trip was really interesting and Bob, Elizabeth and Robin all loved it as much as I did. The good news is that we get to go from Cass to Old Spruce tomorrow and ride up the mountain again. We drove back via Elkins so they were able to see part of the route along the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River. We stopped at a Subway in Elkins and picked up dinner to go and returned to Cumberland at 8:50 PM. We picked up NRHS convention badges and goodie bags and then worked on stories.
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