Cass Scenic Railroad: Cheat Mountain Gears (Rail Heritage Weekend 2020)

The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad hosted their annual Railroad heritage weekend on November 6-8, 2020. The first day of the event was held in Durbin with Heisler number 6, the following days were at Cass with Shays 2 and 4 and Climax number 9. I arrived too late to catch the first day's photo special but was able to get some good night shots and meet with some of the other participants. The following morning, everyone was up bright and early for an all-day excursion to the top of Bald Knob. The first set of runbys were done at Gum Curve with the Climax pulling a log train between the switchbacks. After this, 4 took the log train the rest of the way to the top. Arriving back at Cass just before sundown, we were treated to a night photo session with 4 and a freshly-restored Mower Lumber Co camp car. The next morning, 9 and 4 performed runbys with the camp car and log train in and around Cass itself.
Huge thanks to the D&GV and Cass Scenic Railroad crews for a great weekend of photography in the Mountain State.

[@kellyashfordtrains2642]

For a minute, I thought the engines were running a race. It would have been so much fun.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

The "race" is an annual tradition at Cass going back decades. Of course, geared engines are slow so it isn't a very intense competition.

[@SolluxTheGamer]

Man cass has changed so much sense the last time I went, yes I went recently

[@stevensainerailfanproductions]

Awesome video. Glad you could see climax 9 and get some good video of 2. Same goes for 4 as well.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thanks! It was pretty exciting seeing a true Climax running for the first time.

[@williamfischer5336]

Gotta love that Lukenheimer 3 chime on 2!

[@mattdotsonrailfanproductio266]

Shay 2s whistle isn’t a lunk, it’s actually a real Mann’s creek Crosby. Only 2 were made. And the one on 2 is real, it’s not a replica

[@williamfischer5336]

@@mattdotsonrailfanproductio266 Thanks for clarifying that. I do apologise though. I'm still trying to learn how to identify steam whistles

[@seaboardrailfan429]

West Virginia will have a special place in my heart as being the most beautiful state that I've been to. Absolutely fantastic footage, my guy!

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thanks! I always have a great time in the Mountain State.

[@seaboardrailfan429]

@@SmokyMtnSteam No problem. Someday I'll return to WV to take photos of the Fall scenery, and if I do, I'll post them to my channel.

[@ev0738]

Cass scenic was already one of my favorite railroads, and you just made it better! Its so great to see these beautiful engines in the fall time with the bright colors, gives it a very nice feel. Thats another place I would like to go sometime in my life!

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thanks, Cass is always a great place to visit

[@ev0738]

Yeah, its been a long-term goal and dream of mine. Who knows, maybe i'll get to go sometime soon!

[@mattdotsonrailfanproductio266]

Looks like the shays are eradicating the pandemic with the excessive smoke. Great vid!!!

[@mrhot6shot]

Better hope that AOC doesn't see that or she will want to shut the whole steam train business down. We'll have to figure some way to heat with solar HA HA HA.

[@PennsyPro]

Outstanding work! Great being able to officially meet you!

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thanks, same to you!

[@TheBigBananaRailfan]

What a fantastic video Sean! It was great meeting you!

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thanks Evan, it was great meeting you too!

[@book1957]

Great to see the Heisler and Climax running. I was there years ago. The Heisler new boiler had just arrived the Climax was just a pile of parts.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

The Climax was in real rough shape when the restoration started, the MSR&LHA and D&GV really did a fantastic job on it.

[@jacksonsdrones]

Love what your videos along the Greenbrier! Cass is actually opening a new excursion May 20th. It's called the Greenbrier Express or GBX for short. It's a 5 hour long excursion to Durbin from Cass. I thought I'd let You know about it. Anyhow, Keep Making these Videos! I just Love Them!

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thank you! I plan to be there for the first run from Cass to Durbin, it's great to finally see it happen!

[@SteamZRailfan]

Awesome video! This seemed like an amazing event! Hope you had a good time! Also, I love the L&N 3 chime on 4!

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thanks, it was a pretty great event.

[@brianrigsby7900]

@@SmokyMtnSteam I always wondered how shays move. I see up and down motion but not forward motion

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

@@brianrigsby7900 The vertical pistons spin a driveshaft along the engine's side which powers the wheels via gears.

[@SMichaelDeHart]

Mountaineer Proud!!

[@BMMEC6000]

Nice! I love how (scenic) it is lol

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thanks!

[@cassscenicproductions8888]

Beautiful!

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thank you!

[@greatsmokymtnsrailfan]

Awesome! I hope you had a good time!

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thanks, I sure did.

[@SantaFe19484]

Awesome video!

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thanks!

[@TNRailProductions_01]

Awesome video man! I've always wanted to visit both Durbin and Cass. Hopefully soon I can make it up there.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thanks Eli! I hope you can make it eventually, Cass is easily one of the top rail destinations in America. Next year when Durbin is reconnected it will be even better!

[@thewvnetwork]

Nice work! :)

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thank you!

[@thewvnetwork]

@@SmokyMtnSteam I love that you got the bear shitting in the woods...completely missed that shot haha! :)

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

I wonder how close they are to reconnecting the line between Cass and Durban

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

All that remains is the trestle over Trout Run, which should be completed this winter

[@Heisler91]

Do you happen to know what kind of whistle was on the Heisler? Sounds like some sort of 5 chime. Nice change over the usual Hancock.

[@cassscenicproductions8888]

Its a Sp 5 chime

[@electronicjoyride3444]

Star Brass 5 chime. Common on the UP, SP, and WM

[@vettebecker1]

Were the tracks ever repaired between these two railroads??

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Everything is complete except for one bridge, the whole route should be reopened next year

[@vettebecker1]

@@SmokyMtnSteam very nice, can’t wait to see that!!

[@sway68]

Hi, could someone tell me more about the 2 wagons that the Climax has on it. I mean the two skeleton wagons at minute 7:48 in the video: What is the correct name, where can I find more detailed photos? So far I haven't really found anything on google.

[@cassscenicproductions8888]

They belonged to the Medow River Lumber Company. That's where the heisler worked before it came to Cass.

[@judpowell1756]

pretty funny....a shay taped with Mower Lumber pulling cars they would never have pulled