Finally got to Cass. What a remarkable place. Took both the Sat and Sunday trips. Sat ran from Cass to Spruce and beyond w/ a heisler/shay combination on the passenger train (7 cars + 3 cabeese). Followed by shay #2 on the log train w/ 4 flats and the bobber caboose. Same consists on Sunday to Whitaker. If I recall correctly 7 sets of photo runby’s.
If you ever get a chance to go, I highly recommend it. The things that really stood out were:
Cass sits in a beautiful valley, somewhat isolated and remains largely historically preserved. Lots of old company houses and other company buildings from the lumber co that built Cass. Hearing those steam whistles echo back of the sides of the valley was a pretty cool sound.
Nice depot and platform area. Althought the depot was rebuilt after a fire, it still has an older feel to it.
The locomotives appear to be very well maintained. Not a spec of rust, clean, shiny and performed well pulling the train.
The Mtns around cass are beautiful as well. As you start the ascent from Cass, you’re in the woods pretty quickly. Lots of scenic crossings of the streams. The engines really bark pulling that train up the 6-10% grades. Heard the shay slip its wheels a few times in the moring on wet rails. Its a little different sound w/ a geared engine. The shove backwards up from the first switchback in an impressive climb. Steeper than steep.
There are some great overlooks on the way up the mountains. Broad, pretty panoramas. I was a little surprised when we were greeted by a little snow on the ground at Spruce on Saturday.
Whitaker station has been developed into a very nice, open park w/ displays including a high-line skidder and log loader. We had lunch up there Sunday - nice sunny afternoon, both trains parked up there chuffing away. Pretty cool.
The Mountain St