Had a real treat yesterday - visited the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in Cass, West Virginia. The railroad,, built in 1901 to haul timber to a large mill in Cass, now hosts scenic rail tours and lets you step back into the "age of steam" and learn about this "company town" and it's history. The park has the oldest operating Shay locamotive, built in 1905, and one of the largest collections of these unique locomotives in the USA - they use a innovative geared design that enables them to climb steep grades with heavy loads and negotiate the tight turns common in mountain rail lines. It was loud, lots of steam, smoke, bells and whistles - plus some great scenery.
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| Shay Locomotive #5 |
