2013 Cass Railfan Weekend

Titans of the Mountains

May 16, 17, 18, & 19, 2013

Special Diesel Excursion

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Cheat Bridge to High Falls & Return! 

Photo Runbys at Durbin with the Climax! 

Concluding with Dinner and a Night Photo Session!

As a special prelude to our 50th Anniversary Celebration at Cass, we will journey from Cheat Bridge to High Falls and return, behind Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad’s first generation diesel motive power. The excursion will depart from Cheat Bridge, promptly at 8:30 am. Photo runbys will afford passengers the opportunity to document a freight train in rarely photographed locations along the picturesque Shavers Fork of the Cheat River. A buffet-style lunch of deli sandwiches is included in the ticket price.

Photo locations will feature the unique lumbering and mining communities of Pratt, Coal Rock, Harper, and the authentic Western Maryland section houses of Linan. There will be a brief visit to the High Falls of the Cheat River. We’re offering two trains, including a vintage freight consist and a passenger train to be photographed in both locations, going to High Falls and return.

This event is limited to a maximum occupancy of 130 passengers due to passenger car restrictions. The event will feature unique and rarely photographed locations that are otherwise inaccessible to the public. Be prepared for drastic weather changes and dress accordingly. The train will return to Cheat Bridge at 3:00 pm and passengers will reconvene at the Durbin Depot at 3:30 pm with a 3:45 pm departure downriver for photo locations along the former C&O mainline from Ronceverte. The consist departing Durbin will feature former Moore-Keppel Lumber Company Climax No. 3 and several passenger cars.

Returning to Durbin at 6:00 pm, a barbeque chicken dinner will be provided at the local Durbin Fire Department near the Durbin Depot. The buffet lunch and barbeque chicken dinner expense is covered in the single ticket cost, separate from the three day Cass Railfan Weekend event.

At the conclusion of dinner, a night photo session will begin promptly at 8:00 pm at the Durbin Depot featuring rarely photographed, Climax No. 3. The night photo session will conclude at 10:00 pm.

Don’t delay in booking reservations for this special excursion. These tickets will be sold to the first 130 participants

Trip to Spruce & Commemorative Event

Friday, May 17, 2013

Starting Friday with Multiple Locomotive Line-ups Between Cass Depot and the Water Tank!
 
Trip to Spruce with New Photo Locations!

Beginning at 8:00 am, participants will be treated to a variety of train activity to experience and photograph, including switching operations and a group photograph of as much available locomotive equipment as possible near the Cass depot and water tank. Departing from Cass at 9:30 am, our train will begin the trip to the ghost town site of Spruce. A boxed lunch will be provided and available to eat at your leisure, while soda and water will be available on each car. A brief stop will be made to use the restroom and to oil the locomotives at Whittaker Station. Continuing our journey up Cheat Mountain, you will experience the breathtaking vistas of the scenic overlooks and wondrous forests. Experience a new photo location depicting the beautiful Appalachian Mountains in a large open vista scene near Old Spruce.

Once at Spruce, passengers will disembark and the authentic steam-powered freight train will perform a series of runbys for us at the “S” curve. This location will represent a perfect example of mountain railroading, as our freight train will climb through an “S” type curve, backdropped by the Shaver’s Fork of the Cheat River. At noon, after taking on water, we will board the train and head back to Old Spruce for photo runbys with the freight train. Once we finish at Old Spruce, we will reboard and head back to Cass.

Beginning at 3:30 pm, our Commemorative Address and celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park will take place in the Cass Shop, rain or shine. Presentations will include an address by Editor of Trains Magazine, Jim Wrinn in addition to various State Park officials. At the conclusion of the address, the commemorative evening meal will be provided by the Greenbank School at a separate cost. This will allow participants to socialize and network, visiting vendor tables and judging on the annual Greenacre Photo Contest. At 7:00 pm, the annual Mountain State Railroad & Logging Historical Association annual membership meeting will be held in the Cass Shop followed by a keynote address presentation by Editor of Trains Magazine, Jim Wrinn.

Following the keynote address, an 8:15 pm night photo shoot will be coordinated by Railfan & Railroad Editor Steve Barry, taking place near the Water tank and Cass Shops. The scene will be illuminated with studio lights that will allow you to move around, capturing your desired scene. The locomotives, water tank, mill and surrounding trees will be lighted and the use of high powered lights will allow for great photos by videographers, digital photographers, and traditional 35mm cameras. The night photo session will conclude at 10:00 pm.

Bald Knob

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Freight & Passenger Trains to Bald Knob! 

Multiple Runbys!

Whistle Blow! Night Photo Session!

We will leave Cass at 8:00 am and start our ascent of Cass Hill, through the double switchbacks to Whittaker Station. Following a short restroom stop we will proceed to Old Spruce for the first photo runbys of the day. Following Old Spruce, we’ll continue upgrade to Oats Run, where the locomotives will take on water and the freight consist will perform multiple runbys around the sharp curve. Runbys are also planned high on the mountain at the Emergency Water Tank. We’ll continue upgrade to Bald Knob Summit, the third highest points in the State at 4,482 feet, traversing an impressive 11.5% grade, the steepest on the railroad. While the engines are hot, we will do multiple runbys with both trains. The Bald Knob right-of-way has been cleared, enabling you to capture amazing photos as the train traverses the remarkable grade.

We will serve lunch at Bald Knob, weather permitting; if inclement, we will do it at a lower elevation. The meal will be a box lunch with hot soup. After lunch we will make our way back down grade to the wye for runbys at this rarely used site. We will start our descent of the mountain to arrive at Cass at 5:00 pm, with the possibility of additional runbys at Whittaker Station, time permitting.

Saturday Evening activities will consist of the annual Whistle Blow, beginning at 5:00 pm at the Cass Shops. Ear protection is essential and will be provided. This event is open to any Railfan Weekend participant. The Whistle Blow will conclude at 8:00 pm.

Town tours will also be provided, meeting at 7:00 pm at the front of the Company Store. The tours will be a guided walking trip around the historic company town.

The Cass Showcase: There will be multiple showings of this video history of Cass and highly detailed model railroad representing Cass in heyday as a lumber mill town.

Kyle J. “Catty” Neighbors Memorial Lumbering Museum: The museum will be open all evening.

Restoration Shop Tours: See the significant progress that MSR&LHA volunteers have made in restoring the Climax locomotive at the Restoration Shop.

Saturday Night Photo Session:

Night photo sessions have been a fixture of Cass Railfan Weekend for many years and as we celebrate 50 years of preserving history, we’ll keep this tradition with a photo session beginning at 8:30 pm, at the Cass depot coordinated again by Railfan & Railroad magazine Editor Steve Barry. Using a total of 25,000 watts of high powered lighting, we’ll illuminate available locomotives, in addition to the Depot, Company Store, and trees. Bring your camera, tri-pod, and cable release if appropriate. The night photo session will conclude at 10:00 pm.

Whittaker Station, Camp One

Sunday, May 19, 2013

World Champion Wood Choppers Demonstration at Whittaker Camp One!

Runby at Whittaker!

The famous triple Locomotive race in morning light then a trip to Whittaker Station, performing photo runbys at iconic locations along the way, including Gum Field, “S” Curve, and more. Return to Cass at 2:30 pm.

At 8:00 am we will start our photo runbys with opportunities to capture the always spectacular, triple locomotive runby. After loading the passenger train at this location, we will proceed up Leatherbark Creek to do multiple runbys. Then, the trains will back down to the water tank at Cass and fill their tenders before we climb Cass Hill to Gum Field for more runbys. After that, we will proceed through the two switchbacks for a quick photo stop at the “S” curve, followed by our arrival at Whittaker Station for lunch and an opportunity to tour Camp One, the recreated 1940’s logging camp. After lunch, we will return to Cass at 2:30 pm to permit those who need to leave early to depart for a safe trip home.

Important Food Information

Friday Breakfast: On Friday morning, the Last Run Restaurant, located in the former Company Store, will be open at 6:30 am to serve a breakfast buffet. This meal is included in the ticket price, Friday morning only. No separate reservations are required.

Saturday & Sunday Breakfast: The students at the Green Bank Middle School will serve breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning at the Cass Community Center. The cost is $6 each day; the menus are shown on the ticket order form. Advance reservations are required and tickets may be ordered along with your Railfan Weekend tickets.

Friday Dinner: The Green Bank School will provide a dinner of Pork BBQ, coleslaw, chips, dessert, and a drink at the Cass Shop. The cost is $8.00 and reservations are required (see the ticket order form).

Saturday Dinner: A local school group will be serving the traditional all-you-can-eat Logger’s Dinner at the Cass Community Center when the train returns to Cass on Saturday evening; the menu includes ham, fried apples, green beans, corn, drink, dessert, and salad, served in a family style setting. The cost is $12.00 and tickets must be ordered in advance (see the ticket order form).

 
Other Important Information

Tickets & Information: Tickets and reservations are obtained through the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, PO Box 130, Green Bank, WV 24944. Or, called toll-free, 1-800-225-5982; ask for Cass Scenic Railroad. Credit and debit cards are accepted. Office hours: Monday to Saturday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Sunday 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.

There are two separate excursions. The Thursday trip will feature West Virginia Central all-day diesel excursion follow by a steam-powered trip on the Driubin & Greenbrier Valley along the Greenbrier River. A buffet lunch and BBQ chicken dinner is included in the single ticket cost, in addition to a night photo session on DGVRR. The price of a ticket is $140.00 and ridership is limited to 130 participants.

Cass Lodging Information: There are two primary motels within 10 miles of Cass:

	Inn at Snowshoe (9 miles from Cass)	1-877-441-4386
	Boyer Motel (10 miles from Cass)	304-456-4667

The Inn at Snowshoe is offering a discounted rate of $69 per night (plus tax). Ask for the “Group Code 50Y9QT Railfan Weekend May 16-18” rate. The Inn at Snowshoe will open on Thursday, May 16th. The Inn at Snowshoe will not be open on Wednesday evening (May 15) so participants in the Thursday trip should plan to stop on their drive for Wednesday night.

The Cass Scenic Railroad State Park has restored Company Houses available. These houses are ideal for several couples, or group occupancy, an economical way for several folks to lodge. Each house has all of the accommodations, and a full kitchen. (Note: make your reservations early).

Additional lodging information will be sent with your tickets, or you can contact the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-336-7009 or visit their website: www.pocahontascountywv.com

Policies: Trains run rain or shine. Schedules, equipment, and photo runbys are subject to change due to equipment availability, conditions of the railroad, safety, and weather. Please allow two weeks for ticket delivery. No refunds after May 14, 2013. MSR&LHA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All proceeds go toward the historic rail and lodging preservation and interpretation projects. Group discounts are available; please call the Cass Park at the number above for information. No portion of ticket price is considered tax-deductible by the IRS.