Mood:
caffeinatedNow Playing: Cass Railroad - Part 2
Topic: Cass Scenic Railroad
I know it has been several days since my last entry, and I apologize. The new house needed heat, as houses are want in the winter. The last three days involved putting in a new chimney liner, installing a woodstove in the basement to supplement the gas furnace (which is costing an arm & leg), and simply cleaning up the mess. The chimney was full of everything about birds, from nests to dead pigeons to the stuff that comes out the back end. And Soot! Don't forget that. When I get a chance to photograph it all I will put it up here for you all to see. I do want to get to writing about the house renovations, since there are so many going on. However, now I want to go on a bit more about Cass Scenic Railroad - in the thread of things to do when its warm.
This is the bridge that leads into Cass, which is currently being replaced. I thank my stars that I was able to document this bridge, not because it is anything special, but because it is a survivor.
Those of you who know me, know that the flood of 1985 is a central point in my being. I was eight years old in that year, when it seemed like the world was coming to an end. My entire county was ravaged by floodwaters that destroyed things I had known my entire life - schools, roads, homes, bridges - and I nearly lost my brother to the floodwaters. Had it not been for my Aunt Tam's good eyes and quick reflexes, he would have been gone with the waves. However he is, like the rest of us that remember that time, a survivor. So is in fact this bridge. There is a plaque on it that I can't find the photo of, but the bridge was built in the 1910s. I remember pictures of it standing strong among the floodwaters of November 4-5, 1985, and it has stood there since. I know old age and time gets the best of us, and tends to leave us cracked, ragged, and worn - but there is still a beauty, a simplicity in maturity, that makes it all seem worthwhile.
Now the bridge will be replaced, and I wonder if that bridge will stand as long, or as rigid. The floodwaters of 1985 brought the cliffs from the mountainsides and destroyed entire homesteads. Could this new bridge survive that? Time will certainly tell.
And the trains, like time, will continue at Cass.
It's a nice trip up to Whittaker Station on the railroad. There is a small station at the top (bring your own food or lots of cash). There's also a lot of old trains, railroad cars, and machinery to look at up at Whittaker. If you are into industrial metalwork, its a dreamplace. There's a quiet on the mountain, too, that we West Virginians know well - the quiet of solitude.
Here the train chugs up the mountain to Whittaker Station. Below you can see the sign of the stop:
Here are some of the scenes to be found up at Whittaker Station:
Then of course, we took the train back down to the town of Cass. I recommend that you take the walking tour, otherwise you might miss some really cool historic buildings. Make a trip of it - get some ice cream at the general store, grab a map of town, a bottle of water and go!
These are the ruins of the old machine shops at Cass - a rather grand ruin. Not safe to explore the interior, but the grounds around the outskirts are quiet interesting and full of photo opportunities. Then there is this:
This is a reproduction of the actual water tower at Cass, on its original site.
Then, there's more neat stuff like this to see:
The former company houses of Cass now make wonderful getaways. You can stay here in town, just like you lived there!
Then there's the old boarding house (you can't stay here):
The other town buildings:
The barber:
The Post Office:
And the Community Center:
So if you are looking for a day trip or a weekend getaway, why not check out Cass? I do suggest bringing all your essentials - while food and edibles are on site, the closest real store is in Marlinton, which is a good ways away from Cass. But hey, when in Rome! Or in this case, CASS!
