Hi all:

My father and I are planning a once in a lifetime trip from California to Cass, and we are having a difficult time deciding whether the CALS's Cass Photo Charter (http://www.calslivesteam.org/cass.htm) or Mountain State Railroad & Logging Historical Association's Cass Railfan Weekend (http://www.msrlha.org/railfan.htm) would be better. We would like to see as many locomotives in steam as possible. We are just casual photographers so the quality of the photo lines are not of the utmost important.

Also, the MSR&LA trip does not go to Bald Knob. Is that a major loss?

I greatly appreciate any information you can provide.

Thanks,
Ben Quirk

I'm going to Cass next month on a Carl Franz photo charter. From what I've heard, both events you mention, plus Carl's trips, are well woth it. Just pick the one that fits your vacation week, and go for it.

Assuming you want as much Cass exprince as you can have, I'd go for the MSR&LHA. The crowds are bigger than the other two chaters but if your not in it for the pictures you proably won't mind. With the MSR&LHA you get the shop tours and open houses, the town tour, and whistle blow. I am not sure what the others offer, but there is something about walking the streets of Cass while all those whistles are going off in the back ground, with the inherent echo, it's a spectical that's not to be missed.....

The MSR&LHA trip goes to Spruce and Whittaker, but does not include the Bald Knob line. From reviewing the track profile, it looks like the steepest grades are on the Bald Knob line so is missing out on this portion of the railway a major loss?

It's entirely your call.

As I recall, the difference in grade is something on the order of 9% on the switchbacks below Whittier versus 11% on the last lurch up to Bald Knob. You'll get enough stack talk to drive you deaf either way. Personally, if I had my recommendation between going up to Bald Knob versus going out to Spruce, I'd recommend Bald Knob, if only for the spectacular view (or, for that matter, the chance of snowfall!).

Personally, I doubt you can go wrong any way you go. I prefer the intensity of the Carl FRanz trips, but I can see much to recommend themselves in the CALS and MSRRHA trips. Just go and enjoy.

The MSR&LHS, CALS and Carl Franz trips cover the entire spectrum from fun social event with lots of engines to hard core photo charter with lots of engines!

If you just want a fun trip, a chance to see all the engines in steam, meets lots of fellow enthusiasts, tour the shops, see slide and movie shows, hear the whistle blow and learn a lot about Cass, take the MSR&LHA trip. If you want to go up to Bald Knob and are focused on quality photo runbys without people in your way, take the Carl Franz trip. I've not been on a CALS trip, but understand it's sort of in between the two.

As far as the grades on the line, there has been lots of misinformation spread over the years. According to the official West Virginia Pulp & Paper line profiles, the grades don't exceed 8% anywhere on the line. I walked the line with George Dieke one time, carrying a 50 foot tape and a hand level and we found this to be the case. The steepest section on the original line is actually a few hundred feet before Whittacre. However, on the short section of track that goes up to the top of Bald Knob, we found one rail length at 8.9%. This is not the original lumber company alignment.

Something else to consider is the Climax at Durbin and the West Virginia Central at Elkins. I think Carl Franz has something planned on both lines and I expect the Climax will be running on the MSR&LHA weekend. I don't know if this will be the case on the CALS weekend.

Enjoy! It's a fantastic line. Be sure and take winter gear and rain gear. They don't call it West Virginia Liquid Sunshine for nothing! That said, I never had a 100% rain out in 15 times, although I didn't go last year and heard that it rained both days.

Michael Allen

DUh!, I completely forgot about Durbin being a place to hit while your in town if you have the time.....

As for Bald Knob, from a railfans pov, there's not much up there. The track dead ends, there are restroom faclities, and an over look. Unless you luck out, almost any time in may could be any thing from simple fog to snow. In general I wouldn't count on much of a view. Spruce has a nice horse shoe curve, and little bit of history to learn. (if you can get your self oriented). I don't know about the other trips but if history is something your coming after, MSR&LHA is the trip to be on most of the experts will be there.