Cass ScenicRailroad
Deep in the remote highlands of Pocahontas County, West Virginia, the whistle of a century-old steam locomotive still echoes through the mountains. Cass Scenic Railroad State Park preserves a remarkable piece of American industrial heritage: a fully operational logging railroad, powered by the world’s largest fleet of geared Shay steam locomotives, that carries passengers on a breathtaking journey from the restored company town of Cass to the 4,843-foot summit of Bald Knob—the third-highest point in West Virginia.
This isn’t a replica or a museum piece. These are the original machines, running on the original tracks, through the original forests they once helped to harvest. It’s a living, breathing time machine, and one of the most unique state park experiences in the entire country.
Table of Contents
From Logging Empire to State Park
The railroad was built in 1901 by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company to haul timber from the mountain slopes to its enormous mill in Cass. The company built an entire town to support the operation—houses, a school, a company store—and for decades, the railroad was the lifeline of a booming logging industry. But by 1960, the timber was gone, the mill closed, and the railroad faced the scrapyard.
It took a determined group of local businessmen and a Pennsylvania railfan named Russell Baum to save the line. They convinced the state legislature to transform the railroad into a state park, and in 1963, the first tourist excursion train departed Cass. The railroad was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, and the entire company town of Cass became part of the state park system in 1977. Today, the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad operates the trains.
The Bald Knob Excursion
The signature experience at Cass is the Bald Knob excursion—an 11-mile, 4.5 to 5-hour round trip that climbs 2,390 feet from the town of Cass to the windswept summit of Back Allegheny Mountain. The ascent is extraordinary: the locomotive navigates grades as steep as 11 percent, passing through a dramatic transition in vegetation from Appalachian hardwoods to a hemiboreal spruce forest that resembles the Canadian taiga—complete with snowshoe hares.
At the summit, passengers step out onto Bald Knob for 360-degree panoramic views of the surrounding mountain ridges. On clear days, the vista stretches across an endless sea of green and gold Appalachian peaks. A shorter excursion to Whittaker Station is also available for visitors with less time.
The Locomotives: Giants of the Rails
What makes Cass exceptional among heritage railroads is its fleet. The park is home to the world’s largest collection of geared Shay locomotives—steam engines specifically designed to grip the steep, twisting mountain grades that would defeat conventional locomotives. The passenger cars themselves are converted logging flatcars, fitted with bench seats and open-air windows, offering an authentic and exhilarating ride. Heisler and Climax locomotives also operated here historically.
The Town of Cass
The restored company town of Cass is a destination in itself. The original company houses have been converted into vacation rental cabins, allowing visitors to sleep in the same homes once occupied by mill workers. The Cass Country Store, originally built as the company store, now serves as a gift shop, restaurant, and information center. Walking through the town feels like stepping into the early 1900s, with the rumble and whistle of the steam engines providing the soundtrack.
Essential Visitor Information
- Location: 242 Main Street, Cass, West Virginia 24927.
- Season: Excursion trains run from late May through October. The Bald Knob trip operates on select dates; check the schedule in advance.
- Tickets: Advance reservations are strongly recommended, as popular departure dates sell out weeks ahead.
- Lodging: Restored company houses are available as vacation cabins. Some are pet-friendly.
- Nearby: Green Bank Observatory and Snowshoe Mountain Resort are within a short drive.
FAQ: Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
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