The Durbin Rocket: A Heisler on the Greenbrier

On a cool and rainy October 14, 2018 I concluded my trip to West Virginia with a brief visit to the small town of Durbin, home to the Durbin Rocket. The Rocket runs along the old C&O Greenbrier line along the river of the same name to Heavener Station, about 5 miles from town. Work is currently underway to rebuild the remainder of the Greenbrier line to Cass, which will allow number 6 to return home. Usual motive power for the Rocket was once Moore-Keppel Co. 3, a two-truck Climax locomotive, but as it needed a rebuilt after the 2015 season it was temporarily traded for Cass Scenic Railroad's number 6, a three-truck Heisler. Once 3 and the tracks to Cass are rebuilt, both locomotives will return to their respective homes.
Just a few weeks before my visit the locomotive's Cass-style diamond stack was a replaced with a Radley & Hunter stack reminiscent of its time at the Meadow River Lumber Co., which in my opinion looks great.

[@lazy_genuisvalt1607]

I got the pleasure for me and my fellow boy scouts to ride this. They also dropped us off at a campsite that was right by the tracks. We got some flattened pennies and good memories. The next morning they picked us up.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Sounds like a great time, I wish I could've done a camp like that when I was a scout.

[@athhar3643]

Hard to find a day in Durbin when it isn't snowing or raining!

[@fluffnose3386]

I don’t know why, but shays have some of my favorite whistles.

[@TrainLordJC]

Magnificent filming especially in the rain which added to the atmosphere of the past. Great old station too.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thank you!

[@TrainChamber]

Awesome Video! She looks so awesome with her original smokestack!

[@focusstevezx3]

We were there a week before this video and seen she was wearing a Radley & Hunter stack again. Was very happy to see that. That diamond stack looked so out of place on her.

[@TrainChamber]

@@focusstevezx3 It doesnt look too horrible in my opinion, but i prefer her Radley & Hunter stack much more

[@Kongman492]

I just checked out the hiestler 6 in the MRLC in the 1950's video! its cool to see the original stack on her again! but im with you ALW productions! I wish she had her original 6 chime too! All credit to whoever put the original stack on the 6! #Blastfromthepast

[@leatherbarkproductions3061]

FREDDYMCDERP 492 ross harrision is the engineer there

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very nice video. Thanks for posting and have a nice day too.

[@RavennaRailfan4070]

Spectacular chase of Heisler 6! I rode on her this past summer. These are beautiful shots, professionally done!

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thank you very much!

[@jordonfreeman166]

Yet another tourist railroad that I want to go to sometime. Not only The Durbin Rocket, but also the Cheat Mountain Salamander and New Tygart Flyer. I find it interesting that the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad was started by a guy who worked in the railroad industry's rival, the trucking industry.

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

I like how she has her original stack. Would've been better if she had her original 6 chime from MRLC

[@lazarusscheetzsmith]

ALW Productions what did she have

[@thunderbird1921]

@@lazarusscheetzsmith I think it was a Nathan 6 chime. Shay 7 may have had one too, but I'm not sure.

[@Thomasboi01]

I think it is a southern railway 3 chime.

[@Bigjimvideo]

I really wish it were closer for me to get down there!!

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Same for me, Cass & Durbin are 30 minutes from each other but 4 hours from anywhere else. Although in my opinion the relative isolation does add to the character of the places.

[@a.z.pantera5577]

00:22 cat!!

[@kellyashfordtrains2642]

Steam-tastic is the only word I can find to describe the American cutie-pie steamy.

[@CoalChrome]

Yeah, ITS BACK BABY, THE RIVER LINE IS FINALLY BACK AND RUNNING

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Not quite, they still have another mile and a half to rebuild before Durbin is connected to Cass.

[@CoalChrome]

At least it’s close. Maybe then we’ll finally see a shay/Hiesler pull a train again

[@CoalChrome]

I actually had the fortune to see this engine a couple years ago, it’s big, a lot bigger than it looks on screen. On that same trip, we rode the Cass (powered by Shay #6 of all things) and ride the other line, powered by the WM 82, and a GP7/9. I got a cab ride in the Geep, it was great

[@SteamEnthusiastProductions]

@@SmokyMtnSteam then the 630 will run

[@haroldwilkes6608]

Simply beautiful, thanks. Had a girlfriend once who said, "you clean up nice"...#6 did it better.

[@thecarolinianrailfan8339]

I hope that #3 returns to service soon.

[@leatherbarkproductions3061]

The Carolinian Railfan same

[@TrainChamber]

@@leatherbarkproductions3061 TO my knowledge they're gonna work on her over this winter

[@leatherbarkproductions3061]

Train Chamber not sure because they have to rebuild shay 6 because the boiler permit is out but we will see

[@TrainChamber]

@@leatherbarkproductions3061 Thats right. I forgot about that... i hope big 6 isn't out for too long

[@roundhousewarrior2679]

That ain't the Original number #3 The real one is a oil burn locomotive

[@GR10Productions]

Does Moore Keppel 3 still run haven’t been there myself so I’m just curious

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Its been out of service since 2015, currently in Cass awaiting a rebuild.

[@GR10Productions]

Oh

[@didyou555]

that track connects to Cass Scenic Railroad

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Not quite, they still have another mile and a half to rebuild before Durbin is connected to Cass.

[@didyou555]

@@SmokyMtnSteam well, yeah, but you can see the roadbed

[@leatherbarkproductions3061]

They should be doing rides from cass to durbin by about halfway through the season next year

[@maxm4375]

I got to ride in her cab back in 2016

[@appalachianrails]

Did I speak with you that day? I’m part of the Durbin Rocket train crew.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

I think you did, very briefly while 6 was picking up the consist. I wasn't in Durbin very long though.

[@lazarusscheetzsmith]

Hey man! I’m just a kid that loves trains so I’m wondering wut u did to get a job at Durbin? Also wut could I do to work for a railroad of some sort?

[@mylesspear]

What’s wrong with climax #3 of cass #6 is taking her place?

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

The climax has been in Cass awaiting a rebuild in the shop since 2016.

[@jordonfreeman166]

So is that the Climax that appeared in your Cass Scenic Railroad video?

[@maxm4375]

He still the truth Myles I got to see her in the shop but, that was before enjoying your father’s program

[@maxm4375]

Jordon Freeman - No the climax that he showed in his Cass Scenic Railroad video is clinics number nine which belongs to the Cass Scenic Railroad, I believe Durbin & Greenbrier Valley #3 should be towards the back at the shop

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

The one that is currently in the Cass shop is Moore-Keppel number 6, which is owned by Cass. The one that used to run at Durbin is Moore-Keppel number 3, which is currently under a tarp in the dead line. Its almost last on the waiting list for a rebuild, behind the other climax and Buffalo Creek & Gauley 4.

[@stevensainerailfanproductions]

9:00 where is that?

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

River Rd, just north of where it dead-ends at the footbridge.

[@stevensainerailfanproductions]

Thanks for the info!