Close-up shot of a Shay train engine. Three cylinders fronting the cab of this 1880 Model Shay engine dispatches power to all twelve wheels equally. When one wheel spins, they all spin, which is a rarity indeed.
Earl Palmer, "Blue Ridge Mt's Roamin' Cameraman," Cambria, Va. 'This decaying building was once the worlds largest double bandmills'. During the hey-day of operations at Cass, 2500 men worked here and in the woods round about, turning out a quarter million feet of wood products per day, working two 10 hour shifts. Nowadays the old bldg. is an object of curiousity amongst thousands of rail fans who pass by on logging train excursions to Bald Knob.
No. 4 takes on a tank of water, and it takes 1,500 gallons of it from nearby Leatherback Creek for each puffing trip up Cheat Mountain, with about 400 thrilled passengers, that is. The neighboring Chesapeake and Ohio Railway donated the water tank.
The 'Cass Symphony' plays spritely folk and logging camp tunes to the delight of a Sunday afternoon audience on the railroad station platform of the Cass Scenic Railroad. This informal group is composed of ex-loggers.
Engineer Walter Good and Fireman Paul Bradley Adjust Grease Cups
Date:
undated
Description:
Walter Good applies wrench to the grease cups lubricating the side rods of his engine before going up on the Mt. while fireman, Paul Bradley looks on. Both were veterans of log hauling days before passengers where hauled on Cass Scenic Railroad.
'Black and white print of Cass Scenic Shay #11 is posing along with Bret Evanich who is standing on the Collis P. Huntington Chapter, National Railway Historical Society of Huntington, WV's handcar. Photo by Herbert Parsons.'
'Built as Strouds Creek and Muddlety no.5. To Mower Lumber Co. in 1943, their No.4. Later to Cass Scenic R.R. No. 4. Type: 3 Truck Shay. Builder: Lima Loca, Works. Dec. 1922. Builder's No. 3189'
'Train climbing mountain to Bald Knob, part way up at rest stop. Type: 3 Truck Shays. Builder: Lima Locomotive Works. Builders No: 3373, 3189. Year: 7/28, 12/22.'