A local rail owner has put out a plan to create a 90 mile loop of tourist rail lines by connection some current in use and some abandoned rail lines in the Cass and Durbin areas. I been on most of these lines or walked others and hope this comes about. It would make the area even more of a tourist rail destination and allow more equipment to operate on lines some of which have not seen any type use for years. It would be a GREAT trip.
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John Smith has been working to reconnect Durbin and Cass for several years with a group of volunteers according to the helpful lady at information desk at Cass. It appears he has now set the bar even higher than before with this new plan. Hopefully the Greenbrier River will not flood and take the Cass-Durbin line out again as it did originally. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the next few years.
If you read the whole story I linked to.....you can get the idea of some of the political issues that have hampered many tourist rail efforts of late in the area. I'll stay away from them here...but lets just say some folks don't want anything 'new' here. I hope he has better luck with this one....and maybe some PR will help.
i hope this works out. never to many rails in wv
I did read the whole article. It's a shame that some people resist change even when it is for the better and would benefit many people.
I also hope it works out for him.
I should have said 'if you read between the lines'....as more correct!!
I kind of figured that was what you meant. You do get the feeling of resistance as an undertone to the story as you read it. 
Isn't that old Western Maryland Territory with some of the steepest grades in the area? I was told some track down there had to have trolley guard rails placed on some of the sharper curves.
You don't need ninety miles for "The Loop". These kids can do it in ninety feet!
Isn't that old Western Maryland Territory with some of the steepest grades in the area? I was told some track down there had to have trolley guard rails placed on some of the sharper curves.
The sharpest curve on the line is at High Falls. That is a 33 degree curve. There is also a 29 degree curve a couple of miles south. There might be a guard rail at High Falls, but it's been several years since I've been there.
For comparison, the N&W 611 is limited to somewhere around 13-15 degrees, if memory serves. 765 isn't quite as unforgiving as the J, but that should show the VAST difference between a large steam engine and the tolerances at High Falls.
Kevin
Digging out this old post as I rode the first train permitted to run from Elkins to Spruce in over 3 years. The line south of High Falls has been off limits while the USF has 'improved' the river. Work finished 7/1/13 and we were allowed to run back to Spruce. The 33 degree curve is TIGHT....our 77 foot coaches almost touched on the inside curve side and we were limited to about 10 mph.
Talking to the crew the restoration of the rail line from Elkins to Dubin is in the final stages before construction starts. This will be a great trip too. They also stated that there are plans to restore the C&O Greenbrier line from Durbin to Marlinton for a Mainline train ride from Marlinton to Cass or Durbin. WOW!!! Hope it all works out.
Given there are no motels and few services at Cass, which puts you in a motel back in
Elkins, to reach late in the evening after touring Cass and riding the train (my first
visit in the 1970's was spent camping near Cass), a train ride to and from Elkins, and
then a trip on the Cass, would be fantastic. Can't imagine why anybody would object
to that cash flow and jobs, but...people, I hear, want the D&S tracks out of Durango...
Interesting that they were able to navigate the curves with 77 footers. I don't have my information with me but I seem to remember that back in the days of WM passenger service out of Elkins the "normal" coaches were shorter -- sixty-five footers stick in my mind for some reason. Late in the steam era, that was H-8 Consolidation territory due to its relatively short wheelbase. The F-7's and GP9's were the mainstays after the end of steam.
Poppyl
Interesting that they were able to navigate the curves with 77 footers. I don't have my information with me but I seem to remember that back in the days of WM passenger service out of Elkins the "normal" coaches were shorter -- sixty-five footers stick in my mind for some reason. Late in the steam era, that was H-8 Consolidation territory due to its relatively short wheelbase. The F-7's and GP9's were the mainstays after the end of steam.
Poppyl
Here is a shot between cars on the 33degree curve........
About as close as you can get......we were limited to about 5 mph through these curves. A great trip. The state is also looking to restore tracks to Marlinton....so it will open things up as far as making things easier travel wise.
That would be nice, living in Virginia now it would be a short hope and a jump to go over there. I hear they had a bad fire at the WV governers mantion last week, it burned down to the axeles. 
My grandma lived in a box car at Spurce in the 1930's......you ain't far off!
Ran the line Saturday with the speeder, Nice to see it open again. Was talking to the guys over at the shop and they pointed out the 6 wheel trucks and that none of them will go around the curves. Seems to me a shay got tender damage trying to go around High Falls, the tender hit something. My speeder wheels howl going around that curve.
Surprised no one has posted the "Train Race" from Saturday.
Have not heard any progress on building the Loop, heard not to much funding available yet.
Is the round house project dead in Elkins?
Ran the line Saturday with the speeder, Nice to see it open again. Was talking to the guys over at the shop and they pointed out the 6 wheel trucks and that none of them will go around the curves. Seems to me a shay got tender damage trying to go around High Falls, the tender hit something. My speeder wheels howl going around that curve.
Surprised no one has posted the "Train Race" from Saturday.
Have not heard any progress on building the Loop, heard not to much funding available yet.
Is the round house project dead in Elkins?
I covered the 'race' in another post about the D&GVR.
Funding for the Elkins to Durban section is in place. An 'engineering' fly over will take place within a week. A number of bridges will need to be replaced so some on the ground work is due. They hope to lay SOME track this year.
The turntable at Elkins.....saw the TT bridge at Elkins was unable to ask anyone about it.
Which speeder were you with....I photoed a number of them,,,,,would love a ride some day!!!
It's going on in Lewisberg right now. Guy wanted to come in and build a 5 screen theater and the locals are fighting it all the way. They already chased off Toyota motor plant, WalMart Dist center and UPS Dist center....and all the jobs they bring....to keep their 'charm'.......BS
Hey, send them up here to upstate NY. I know of at least two large commercial/industrial parcels that are sitting vacant -- one with FGLK/NS service to the site and one on NS's Corning Secondary. Would be interesting to see if the governor's words about jobs and economic development for Upstate are real or just more of the same old political "hot air" that NYS has become known for over the past thirty years.
Poppyl
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