I had a 5:45 AM wakeup call so I could be down at Brandi's Restaurant when the buffet opened for breakfast. I had French Toast, bacon and sausage. I then drove back over to Cass avoiding the deer which were out on the road this early morning. I descended through the clouds to the Cass Railroad parking lot and parked ready to finally ride the Cass Scenic Railroad. Everyone meet on the Cass Station Platform where rest rooms and hot drinks could be found. At 7:45 AM the Cass Shay 2 and Heisler 6 backed the passenger train into the Cass Station and we all boarded the train with me taking a seat in one of the covered open cars number 7.
Our route would be following Leatherbark Creek as we started up the grade.
We crossed Back Mountain Road where some photographers were waiting for us.
Our train with the cabooses bringing up the rear as we climbed the 4.55% grade at this point of our trip.
The engines were working hard on this steep grade climbing hard towards the Lower Switchback.
Our train was climbing hard towards the Lower Switchback. Once we reached the Lower Switchback, a switch would be thrown and our train would be pushed all the way to the Upper Switchback.
We are now on a 6.3% grade as we start up the Lower Switchback.
Our engines now pushing us hard up the grade.
Looking down at the track we came up from Cass on.
Our engines now pushing us hard up the grade as the track we came up on to the Lower Switchback.
The cabooses are in the lead as we climbed up this steep grade.
The engines were pushing us up the 6.3% grade.
At Gum Curve there is a fantastic view looking down towards Cass.
The train then was working through Limestone Cut.
Our train then has reached the Upper Switchback.
A look to where our engines would once again be pulling our train up the grade.
The engines continuing to pull hard up the steep grade.
At Milepost 3.8 our train passed through Whittaker. Our train ran by Austin Meadows before an eight hundred feet of 6% grade.
A look down through the trees.
The train was nearing Gobblers Knob.
Our engines continued the climb up the steep grade.
The engines were working up the last mile of steep grade.
Fantastic steam and sound as our engines thundered up the grade.
Our train was nearing the top of the grade.
There was a fantastic view from Overlook. A great view from a perfectly named place. We made a brief stop at Old Spruce. It was announced here that our first Photo Runbys would be held just before Spruce Junction. The original grade to Spruce could be seen along the stream below us. Our train passed the junction with the line to Bald Knob. This line I would have to come back and ride on another trip.
Our train curved into the location for the Photo Runbys.
We all detrained and climbed up the side of the hill. The passenger train cleared and we all waited for the Log Train to show up which had followed us up the grade.
The Log Train did Photo Runby.
The log train did the backup move.
The log train did the Photo Runby 2.
The log train did the backup move.
The log train did the Photo Runby 3.
The log train did the backup move.
The log train did the Photo Runby 4.
They backed down the grade then pulled up to wait to take water at Spruce. I went down off the hill to the rail to walk to Spruce.
The train waiting to take water at Spruce.
Our Heisler 6 was resting at Spruce.
Shay 2 and Heisler 6 at Spruce.
The Log Train taking water at Spruce.
Lunch was served from behind the caboose as the Log Train watched over us.
After lunch I decided to walk the hillside to see the view overlooking Spruce.
Heisler 6 at Spruce.
Overlooking Spruce. The line to the left came from Cass, the line going to the right heads to Big Cut and the line below heads to Elkins and beyond. Most of the passengers posed for a Panoramic Photo and I sat on top of a log car. Once that was done, we all reboarded and took off north along the Shaver Fork of the Cheat River.
Starting down grade leaving Spruce.
Our train started down grade leaving Spruce. The train was rolling down the grade along the Shaver Fork of the Cheat River. We pulled north along the Shaver Fork to Beaver Creek where we detrain for our next Photo Runby.
Our passenger train backed across the bridge.
Our passenger train did Photo Runby 5.
Our passenger train backed up once more.
Photo Runby 6 with passenger train which would keep going in order to clear out of the way for the Log Train to do some Photo Runbys.
Photo Runby 7 with the Log Train.
Back up move with our caboose, log cars and crane.
The engines backed across the bridge.
Photo Runby 8 with the Log Train.
The Log Train backed across the bridge and got ready for one more.
Photo Runby 9 with the Log Train.
The clearing back up move and the Log Train would head south. Our Passenger Train returned to pick us up and we headed south to the Twin Bridges for our next Photo Runbys.
The train backed up the grade along the Shaver Fork of the Cheat River. When we got to the North Bridge of the Twin Bridges the rear four car load of passengers detrained for the Photo Runby there. The front part of the train would go to the South Bridge for their Photo Runbys.
The back up move at the North Bridge.
Photo Runby 10 with the Passenger Train.
Next Photo Runby 11 with the Log Train.
Back up move with the Log Train.
Photo Runby 12 with the Log Train.
Back up move with the Log Train.
Photo Runby 13 with the Log Train. The Log Train then backed to Spruce to take water. Our Passenger Train picked us up then picked up the group at the South Bridge. Our Passenger Train then backed to Spruce to take on water.
Later my future route to Bald Knob then the view from Overlook.
The view from Overlook.
The cabooses led us down the grade as our car men applied the brakes on each of the cars to keep us under control as we descended.
We made a bathroom stop at Whittaker and a rare sight an extended men's line due to the lack of urinals in the bathrooms.
Our train at Whittaker. When the people took so long to use the bathrooms and the clouds returning, it was decided to head straight back to Cass. We arrived backed down at Cass at 4:45 PM ending another excellent day of train riding and photography at the Cass 40th Railfan Weekend. I bought a Cass T-shirt from the store before I headed to the Cass Community Center {A former Church} for the all you can eat Loggers Dinner. After dinner I drove back to the Inn at Snowshoe and worked on this story. I showered before I called it a night.
5/20/2007 I woke up again at 5:45 AM and was down at Brandi's for another breakfast. I checked out and headed back to Cass. I put my bag in Coach 7 again, and relaxed as I figured out my rail mileage for the weekend. At 8:00 AM they announced the first Photo Runbys of the day. Our train trip would leave after all of the Photo runbys at Cass were done. I detrained for the start of Day 3 of the Cass 40th Railfan Weekend.
