Cass Scenic Railroad is a West Virginia state park that offers excursion rides on steam-driven Shay locomotives to the top of mountains, tours of the restored company town of Cass and lodging at unique vacation cottages in the former residences. Other attractions include a diorama of the town of Cass at its peak, the local Last Run Restaurant, historical museum and behind-the-scene locomotive shop tours.

 

Constructed by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company in 1901, Cass featured the largest double-band sawmill in the world and could handle 35 million feet of lumber per year. Behind Cass was Cheat Mountain, which was criss-crossed with 81 miles of railroad track, accessible by massive Shay steam-powered locomotives. After operations ceased in 1960, the railroad and buildings were sold for scrap – but it was all saved at the last minute thanks to a railroad enthusiast and lawmakers.

 

The Cass Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

 

Full background and many more photos from Cass: http://www.americanbyways.com/?p=3386

 

Ruins of the mill

 

 

Pocahontas Supply Company Store

 

 

Company housing

 

 

 

C&O Greenbrier Division depot

 

 

 

 

I attended the Cass Railfan Weekend in 2011, and it was an amazing experience. It was quite expensive, but they did three runs per stop.

 

MP .7 on Old Spruce – Spruce alignment

 

 

 

 

 

 

MP 6.7: Climbing to Old Spruce

 

 

MP 4.1: A Lima-built water tender from Cass Shay No. 2. It is now used as a water storage tank.

 

 

Feeding the Shay locomotives

 

 

MP 1.4: Crossing Gum Road / County Route 1/2

 

That's some impressive machinery…wonder what its carbon footprint looks like!

There are some incredible photos in this set.

One of our favorite *summer* vacations. Dang you to heck!!! ;)

 

Seriously, agreed with Ink - incredible photos in this set.

wow those are beautifully cared for train sets. and what scenery for them to ride through, your shots are stunning.

 

the pocahantas shop bldg reminds me of similar in ohio amish country.

It's a reeeaallly gorgeous area. Cass is close to the National Radio Observatory grounds, so it's quite remote and literally off-the-grid (the NRAO was built there because of the mountain valley that shields the antenna array from EMI interference.)