Press release from Mountain State's web site; see some of y'all there! jim

May 7, 2002, Cass, WV

The Mountain State Railroad and Logging Historical Association, announced today the dedication of a new Restoration Shop at the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in Cass, WV. The dedication will take place at 3:00 pm, Friday, May 17th 2002.

The Shop, completed in February, was built by Mountain State and its volunteers and is valued at over $300,000. The Governor and area legislators have been invited to attend. Tours of the new facility and explanation of the restoration work currently being done will follow the dedication. The public is invited to attend. The dedication marks the 20th anniversary of the organization of Mountain State and is being held on the first day of the 35th Annual Railfan Weekend at Cass.

"This was a major project for our volunteer organization and will help support our on-going efforts at preservation and interpretation of Cass and the railroad and timber history of state," said George Collins, Executive Director of Mountain State. The restoration work currently being done in the shop includes an 1883 caboose used in several West Virginia logging operations and a rare three-truck Climax geared locomotive built in 1919 and used only in West Virginia by the Moore-Keppel & Company of Ellamore, West Virginia. It was the last commercially operated Climax engine operated in the country. When completed, the restored Climax will make Cass the only location in the United States with operating examples of all three types of geared locomotives used in logging operations.

The Association also recently announced receiving a grant through the West Virginia Department of Culture and History to develop restoration plans for the DoctorÂ’s House located in the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park.

Mountain State Railroad and Logging Historical Association is a 5019c)3 all-volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of West VirginiaÂ’s timber history with primary focus on Cass Scenic Railroad State Park as its State Park Foundation .



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