Steam & Excursion > Cass Steamer Makes Test Run

 Steam has returned to the Cass Scenic Railroad with Shay No. 5 making a test trip last week between Cass and Durbin, West Virginia,
The test run was overseen by the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, which said the 30-mile round trip with No. 5 was the first for a steam locomotive since most of the line was damaged by flooding in 1985.

Locomotive No. 5 picked up former Meadow River Lumber Company three-truck Heisler No. 6, which will be restored to operating condition by the Cass shops.
No. 6 has a badly eroded smokebox floor. Officials said restoration work is expected to take six months.
Another test run with No. 5 with passenger equipment is expected to be conducted this week. From the akronrrblog

What happened to the repairs/rebuild to the 2 truck Climax #5 that was at Durbin running on excepted/insular track without papers and was to receive full FRA papers and then return to Durbin?
Thanks for getting Cass back in the news as it is only 2 hours down the valley from Cumberland to Durbin..



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/17/23 04:21 by PlyWoody.

PlyWoody Wrote:
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> Thanks for getting Cass back in the news as it is
> only 2 hours down the valley from Cumberland.

Yeah right, all 2 lane road, with mountains, small towns with traffic lights, twists and turns....
Mapquest gaves 3 options:
Shortest is 124 miles @ 2:45
Next is 130 miles @ 2:49
Longest option is 142 miles @ 3:01
Mix in the above challenges along with possible school buses, construction, unknown factors, and your claim of 2 hours is as "flimsy" as a lot of your other claims...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/08/23 03:04 by bigsavage.

After having driven to Cass in a midsize pickup with a small RV trailer in tow, I can attest that the expression "you can't get there from here" originated in that part of the country.

Jeff Johnston
thesugarpineshop.bigcartel.com

Driven to Cass pulling a 31' Airstream with my 1986 3/4 ton 454 suburban.  The road out of Cass to the ski area is like going up a roller coaster initial hill.  
Steve

Don’t forget the acute lack of cell phone service due to the radio telescope or something like that. Is that still an issue? Regardless Cass is worth the drive. Looking forward to riding the repaired line.

Randy in PHX

Posted from iPhone

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,5621934

Sorry my experience was from Frostburg to Durbin, Cass is just down the road. 
From Frostburg go south on US 220 through Keyser,(early in the morning) and 8 miles further you leave all traffic by turning off on 93 to Scherr where it become 42 for 5 miles.  Turn right to Jordan Run as that is a full speed good road. That ends with a left turn and right turn onto Route 28, the best road to Durbin.  Follow 28 to Durbin although other road number join and leave this valley route such as 55 and US 33.  At Judy Gap stay on 28 as this is where the road stays high speed as it goes up the side of a mountain and over the ridge and down to Thornwood and then leave 28 at Barlow for the 5 miles to Durbin.  112 miles and almost all 65­+ mph  I did not give times to Cass, but to Durbin.  Only one coal truck as this is not coal country.  There are no small town and all down a valley when every other route climbs and turns on some mountain to get to Durbin. Try it sometime as you will be happy.    Maybe this year you can ride the train from Durbin to Cass, stay in the state's cabins and ride to Bald Knob and back and return by train to Durbin.  Then you can take US 250 to Elkins for other train rides on the Spruce Line. 
 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/12/23 05:23 by PlyWoody.

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