Cass’s two popular west coast Shays (2 from British Columbia and 11 from California) arrive at the junction of the CSRR and the West Virginia Central at Spruce.

Massive WM Shay 6 sits cold alongside Shay 5 in the Cass Shop. WM 6 is down for new flues. Note the Whiting 50 ton crane above the engine.

Shay 2 basks in evening light at the Cass depot.

The entirety of this log train can be seen across the wide valley at Spruce. Directly behind the engine is a WWI-era American Log Loader.

Riders in the "cinder car" grab a shot of Shay 2 hauling us up the side of Cheat Mountain. I particularly like the guy's jacket representing just about every railroad in the Northeast.

Pseudo pan shot of engineer Brad Hoover looking very relaxed while tackling the 9% grade nearing Bald Knob. He’s most likely eyeing the pressure gauge, and one can see thru the window that the Jo... (more)

The inside of the firebox of a model 80-3 Shay sitting on the deadline at Cass. The flue sheet gives away that this is obviously a saturated engine. A close look reveals the boiler is empty of fl... (more)

This former Brimstone & New River model 70-3 Shay sits forlornly on the Cass dead line with a pile of metal rubbish sitting on the frame where the cab and coal bunker should be. The engine has a g... (more)

A log train climbs into the lower switchback and will soon reverse onto the track to the right. One can easily see how this is an easy way to gain quick altitude with a minimum of real estate. I... (more)

Shay 11 rounds the big curve at Spruce on the former Western Maryland. It’s hard to imagine this remote valley was once the site of a bustling logging town.

One couldn't ask for a more beautiful day to be aboard a log train climbing the side of Cheat Mountain.

A log train crosses the third bridge over the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River on its way north.

The three train race: classic Cass. Shays 4 and 5 should join these three for the start of the operating season once their paperwork is filed. With five engines potentially under steam at any gi... (more)

Pacific Coast Shay 2 peaks out of Limestone Cut with a log train. Shay 2 was built in 1928, has 13x15 inch cylinders, makes 38,200 lbs. of tractive effort, and has burnt wood, oil, and coal over ... (more)

Shay 11 shoves around Gum Curve with a passenger train. 11 was built in 1923, sports 14.5x15 inch cylinders, makes 40,400 lbs. of tractive effort, and is a favorite with the crews at Cass.