Crossing the Shaver's Fork. Greenbrier & Elk River Shay #5....better known today as Cass Shay #5....crosses the Shaver's Fork of the Cheat River for the upteeth time on her northbound trek from Spruce, WV to Cheat Bridge with a train of really well-used gondolas. This particular image was captured at MP 83.0, a crossing approximately 4 rail miles north of Spruce.
Most photo charters at the Cass Scenic Railroad work the well-known, 11 mile line from Cass to Bald Knob, as it winds its way up West Virginia's 3rd highest mountain. But not many trips venture up this line, which runs north from nearby Spruce, all the way to Cheat Bridge....and eventually to Elkins, more than 50 miles away. This line follows the Shaver's Fork of the Cheat River, crossing it numerous times and offering some spectacular riverside vistas. I've been visiting Cass for 18 years now and this May, 2021 trip organized by Lerro Photography was only the second time I've ever had the opportunity to photograph the line north of Spruce. This trackage is operated by the West Virginia Central Railroad, which is the freight division of the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, and also the operator of West Virginia's Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. So, subject to certain restrictions imposed by the FRA, most of the steam and diesel equipment operated by the Durbin & Greenbrier at it's Cass, Durbin, Cheat Bridge and Belington-based operations can theoretically run on any of the associated track. It certainly offers some interesting possibilities for future excursions in "Wild Wonderful West Virginia."
For aficianados of geared steam engines, it's "almost heaven." Here are some scenes from the park's annual Railfan Weekends, as well as some private charters.
