Cass Scenic Railroad Threatened! Now we may have better news.

Considering I live in Pocahontas county, have friends and family at the park and train....it has been a none issue so far.  Is it possible change will come to the day to day operations of Cass??? It could....but no one here is filled with the DOOM offered in that post.

If you look at the other 'tourist' railroads operated in the county, out of Durbin and Elkins(runs into Pocahontas) they are run well, maybe better than Cass. (not a slam on the people but governments do not always know steam rail better than private sector)   And the joint events that have been held between Cass RR and DGVRR have been very well received.  My family rode the 'train race' train to Spruce where we met a Cass train and had a very nice day of food and fun. More than likely DGVRR would get first crack at Cass. They have huge plans, some public some not, for the region and building a tourist railroad empire like no other.  And they are the only rail connection Cass has right now.

I'm in a wait and see mode. Change is never fun or easy....but I COULD see DGVRR running Cass and doing a GREAT job. Let's stay positive until it's proven otherwise.

So, rumors and speculation are not just the domain of model railroading!

Jim

I moved here because I wanted to.....my family has lived in the area for 200 plus years. But with no mall, movies, almost no cell service and slow net.... very little diversions.....rumor and gossip is KING! so it's everywhere!

hey AMCDave its nice to see somebody else on here from WV, I was born in fairmont

Yes....Jane Lew here....not too far!

not far at all, I have done some hunting in jane lew. I live in florida now, next time I come back home maybe we can meet up.

My wife and I vacationed in West Virginia a couple of years ago. When I first told her of my plans, she thought I was nutz. "Nobody" vacations in West Virginia! Well, we had a great time and our day at Cass was absolutely the highlight of the trip.

If you've never been, go. You won't regret it!

Gilly

I've driven past and even flown over Cass but never been there to ride the trains.

C'mon down and ride! Cass is one of five different lines, each with a unique flavor. Sample them here.

Per local news the DGVRR takeover I talked about at the top of this thread may be what is going to happen.......so maybe no more 'the sky is falling' panic....

I've spent a fair amount of time with the folks involved in DGVRR and they are good folks.

My friend just found this article which sounds much more positive.

I am from Hinton an hour away from cass

Pretty much how I laid it out......Cass is WAY to important to this region and state to just go away. Panic over....

This is one of those internet based undue panic attacks.

According to the article in Trains online today the Cass loses about 1.4 million a year.  The state is looking at ways to reduce the red ink.  No one is talking about closing up operations at this point in time.

I plan to pay a visit to Cass this summer.  Have never been there, but as a BIG fan of geared locomotives it certainly is a place I want to experience.  It's also not all that far away from where I live (about a five-hour drive).

If you'd like an amateur but enthusiastic local guide hit me up before you head this way.....I'd be happy to at least give some info on a visit!! Any one coming this way for that matter! 

Thanks much, Dave!  I'll certainly be in touch before I make the trip…probably late summer or in the fall (beautiful scenery as in your photo).  Will likely make it part of a stopover en route to Virginia (Blacksburg) and Charlotte, NC.

Thurmond and Hinton are worth the visit, too, although I preferred Thurmond before

the NPS took it over.  W. Va. has the New River Gorge and a LOT of scenery and

history, such as Sandstone Falls at Hinton, etc., etc.

I've been to Cass many times and always ride the Bald Knob train on the weekend when it 's always doubleheaded. I always sit on the right side of the last car next to the engine. This lets me watch the Shays drive train up close. If you love steam power then this is as close to the action you can get anywhere!

And John Henry Tunnel too!!!  And check out the GBT while you can....