Strolling through Cass Scenic Railroad State
Park, visitors are able
to see the remains of
what was once a thriving
community of great economic significance.
Visitors
here are able to glimpse
at the lively past of a
lumber town called Cass and see a
future brimming with wonderful possibilities.
The History of Cass
This historic town in beautiful Pocahontas
County was originally owned and operated by the West Virginia Pulp
and Paper Company in the early 1900s for the purpose of logging the
abundant timber in the Cheat Mountain area.
It was named after Joseph Cass, chairman of
the board for the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company.
The lumber community of Cass quickly grew as
men employed by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company came to
harvest timber.
At the height of operations, the company
employed more than 2,000 men. The mill was running two 11-hour
shifts, six days a week, to produce 1.5 million board feet of lumber
per week.
As the logging industry continued to grow,
rail lines were constructed to access timber in the mountainous
area.
Massive Shay locomotives were then used to
haul heavy timber to mill and market. These steam-driven locomotives
were specially designed to be able to climb the steepest grades,
navigating around sharp curves on frail temporary tracks.
The Mower Lumber Company
acquired the Cass operation in 1942. Loggers began to cut second
growth timber on the Cheat and Back Allegheny and continued to do so
for another eighteen years, until production declined. The Cass
operation quickly halted on July 1, 1960.
It was acquired by the W.R. Grace Company
who subcontracted a scrap dealer, Midwest Raleigh Corporation, to
dismantle the line.
The once powerful empire was collapsing. Visionaries,
rail enthusiasts, and local businessmen saw the potential of the
logging town as a tourist attraction and attempted to save the
railroad. They formed the Cass Planning Commission and approached
state legislators.
The state legislature’s Joint Committee on
Government and Finance toured the area and in early 1961 an
appropriation was approved for the state acquisition and operation
of the railroad as a state park.
In 1962, the train operation was transferred
to the Parks and Recreation Division of the Department of Natural
Resources. Although
the state acquired the operation in 1962, Shays Nos. 1 and 4 didn’t
start running until1963.
Through a great deal of hard work and
dedication, that first short season was a success. It brought in
more than 23,000 persons riding the rails.
The state then obtained the town of Cass in
1976, and began its work to restore the town.
Restoring a Dream
Today, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
averages 70,000 visitors a year. Restoration and preservation
efforts still persist. Visitors can see the sights of the historic
community, stay in an authentic turn-of-the-century company house,
and ride the rails on a steam-driven locomotive.
Sixteen original company houses have been
restored as cottages and are available to the vacationing public for
reservation on a year-round basis. These two-story houses are
entirely furnished and offer many modern conveniences. Kitchens
offer cooking utensils, flatware, dishes and dish towels. Visitors
need only to bring food and their personal effects.
The Mountain State
Railroad and Logging Historical Association, a volunteer
organization, works closely with park officials on various projects
in the park. Some notable achievements of this group include the
construction of a restoration shop for locomotives and cars, and
Whittaker Camp #1, a recreated loggers camp siding at Whittaker
Station.
Future restoration projects already underway
include the doctor’s house and a 1919 Climax Steam locomotive.
Potential ventures may include the restoration of other historic
structures within the town.
A Journey Aboard A
Steam-Driven Locomotive
Cass Scenic Railroad
State Park is home to the largest roster of operating geared steam
locomotives in the world, including several Shays and a Heisler.
The sound of a train whistle still invites
visitors to take a journey on a steam-driven locomotive up heavily
forested Cheat Mountain. As
the intricate gears of the Shay locomotive sets in motion, an
adventure begins in an open passenger coach built on a vintage log
car. This journey will take passengers through the heavily forested
Cheat Mountain, bringing them closer to the elements, with the wind
gusting around them and the sights of nature everywhere they look.
The clickety-clack of the tracks and the
belching of the black smoke as it trails from the stack of the
locomotive remind passengers of a bygone era.
The two hour run to Whittaker Station
departs from the station, taking passengers past the old water tower
and the Cass Shop, continuing along Leatherback Run and through two
switchbacks, while gaining altitude up to a grade of 11% before
reaching the destination. A vast wilderness welcomes passengers at
Whittaker Station. Here they are able to visit the reconstructed
logging camp and experience what life was like for the lumberjacks. From
Whittaker Station, passengers who have elected the option of
continuing up the mountain will proceed on to Bald Knob, the highest
scenic railroad summit point east of the Rockies or to the site of
the abandoned mountain top logging town of Spruce, which includes a
side trip to the Big Cut, the highest point on a main line railroad
in the east. The full trips from the Cass station to Bald Knob or
Spruce are five hours. Visitors to Cheat Mountain are able to
glimpse at the high mountain terrain of West Virginia often referred
to as a little bit of Canada gone astray.
Special Activities
Many activities are
planned for visitors. The regular public schedule runs from Memorial
Day weekend through October. Rail enthusiasts are able to enjoy the
Cass Showcase, a slide presentation and miniature diorama showing
the early lumbering days of the town. During the summer, special
activities are featured such as the dinner train series and town
walking tours.
Visitors can tour the Cass Historical
Museum, and can even ride a hand powered rail car where they provide
the power.
Several options are in place for the 2006
season. Visitors have the option of reserving a private caboose by
the trip or for overnight stays atop Cheat Mountain. This is
suitable for small groups only with a day trip occupancy of 12 or
less. Visitors are able to reserve a wilderness cabin at Bald Knob.
The train will take passengers to their cabin atop Cheat Mountain,
and they can ride the train back to civilization on a later day. Special
trains offer a variety of entertainment for the summer season. The
special Fiddles and Vittles Train includes a ride to Whittaker
Station, dinner, and live bluegrass music on various days from May
through September.
Another exciting option is the Murder
Mystery Train, which includes a ride to Whittaker Station, dinner,
and the fun of solving a crime. This special starts in May and runs
on various days until September. The Harvest Special includes a
train ride to Whittaker Station, dinner, games, live music, and
entertainment. More information on these events can be found at www.CassRailroad.com.
A visit to Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
will enable visitors to glimpse into the past of a once prosperous
logging town and see a future built upon a dream of restoration and
preservation.
