Road Trip – Day 2
A Ride Pulled By Shay #6
Cass Railroad – Part 1
Thursday, August 19
We had tickets for the 11:00 a.m. ride on the Cass Railroad, so left the beautiful mountain roads behind and timed our arrival for about 10:15 a.m.
Train Depot
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park is the site of the nation’s longest-running tourist railway.
Cerwin thought this was some kind of engine, but we didn’t notice that it was used for anything the day we were there.
Here she comes – right on time – belching black smoke from its stack and emitting an ear-shattering whistle.
#6 was the last Shay ever built.
Built for Western Maryland coal service, Shay #6 was shipped to Elkins, West Virginia, on May 14, 1945, for use on the Chaffe branch. The locomotive’s commercial life was short, lasting only four years. She was then stored and finally donated to the Baltimore & Ohio Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, where it remained for twenty-six years.
In 1981 Shay #6 was carefully removed from the old museum. Today it is still like new, and a spectacular example of the fine technology of geared locomotives. The locomotive is about twice as large as any other locomotive at Cass – weighing in at 162 tons.
We chose an open car (converted, logging flat-car) to fully experience the mountain air, and because it seemed like the best opportunity for taking photos. The other choices are closed, passenger cars, and for a price you can ride the engine or caboose.
And we are off – with the engine pushing – ready to experience the eleven-mile ride to Bald Knob.
The announcer told us interesting facts along the way.
After a switchback, we could look back on the tracks over which we had just traveled.
Whittaker Station (a reconstructed logging camp) was our first stop. There is a snack shop and restrooms. Many people brought a packed lunch to enjoy during the twenty-minute stop. In this photo you can see all seven cars. We were in the middle car.
This is where we are heading – the top of Bald Knob – the mountain in the front.
We noticed a few fresh-cut trees or branches that must have been close to or on the track, and we wondered who takes care of keeping the track clear of lumber. These little train cars and wagon were our answer.
There were several men in the cars, waiting for us to pass.
At Oats Run the train stopped for water – a necessity for a steam engine. At this point we and the engine rested while the 6,000 gallon tank was filled with water.
The engine was fed the life-providing liquid by means of a steam-driven siphon and portable hose extending from an old mill boiler which continuously collects creek water runoff.
The engine’s water tank is located directly over the engine’s driver wheels, ensuring increased traction and greater rail adhesion.
The engine came to life again as it prepared for our final trip to the mountain top…
…but not before Gene (conductor) was back on the train.
A short time later, the announcer pointed out the abandonded town of Spruce, which used to be a logging village.
You can still see a few foundations when looking over the ghost town. Spruce was built in 1905 at an elevation of 3,853 feet and was rumored to be the highest and coldest town in the east. It featured a large bark-peeling mill for pulpwood, then later became a railroad shop town before it was abandoned in the 1950’s. Access to the town was by rail only.
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Tomorrow: Bald Knob
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