A few months ago the WV Surplus Property office held an auction for several items currently stored at Cass. I decided to call today for an update out of curiosity. Not good news I am afraid,
or maybe a mix. Everything except the compressor sold. Final decision on who gets the steam locomotive has not been decided but apparently neither party is a scaper. So, that is fairly good news.

As to the diesel locomotives and rolling stock it was all awarded to Hub Scap of
Hagerstown, MD. All the locomotives and cars will be cut up.

I supposes if there were parts you might want, maybe a call to Hub might be in order.

Contact information for Hub is:
Hub Scrap Metals * 13056 Gordon Circle * Hagerstown MD* USA * 21742 Phone:
301-992-6411

I hate to see things cut up. The Alcos, the cars, the wood caboose. Rather
sad.

J.R.

You almost didn't see them cut up. It was only by your inquiry that any of us found out at all. this nearly got done in secret. I wonder how many others are done in secret?

Sale to the scrap company does not yet mean they are cut up, it only means nobody else bid. Perhaps there was "government red tape" which made it difficult for those unprepared to deal with the process to bid?

Anyway, anyone who wants - call the scrap company.

I am not trying to be argumentative, but how was this a secret? The auction notice was posted. The scrapper won. Anyone wanted to bid had the chance. I don't think Cass is on the hook to report who won the auction, are they?

Rob

I would like to respectfully suggest that you all take a look around the room at the age of the people at your next membership meeting of your respective organizations, and ask yourselves where the next generation of membership is coming from. In far too many organizations there are not enough people to keep things going now, and the probability is that there will be even fewer in the future. A lot more equipment is going to be sold for scrap and get cut up over the next few years, unless a lot of younger people who are willing to invest their time and money suddenly begin to show an interest. This is just the beginning of the equipment disposals.

PC

Is there a list of what Hub Scrap acquired?

From a lurker who sent it to me:

"Last week we were at Cass and I photographed the OLD deadline on the ex-C&O's Greenbrier Line at milepost 81, which is just across the trestle from the Cass shops.
These old diesels and other equipment were purchased by Hub Scrap. The diesel in the foreground is ex-South Branch Valley MRS-1 No. 26, which has been there for many years. To the rear are two other Alcos, plus some old, derelict cars."

....beyond the pictured items are a number of the old original Mower Lbr. flats. Some of which contain the parts (trucks, driveline, engine set and other parts) salvaged from Mower #6 before it was scrapped. These cars are very dilapidated, but I hope that they are not scrapped as well.

Mike Stillwell
Buena Vista, VA.

The auction list included several CNJ "steel coaches" listed with "poor condition, major restoration or use for parts" shown after each one. There are two C&O dinning cars with one shown as "fair condition for display or parts." The other one could be restored for operation according to the listing.

Army consolidation #612 was shown as "poor condition, restoration possible but costly."

Alcos MRS-1 #26 and #28 are listed. There are two more Alcos listed, the 16 and 17, which are S-4s. All are listed on the auction sheets as in poor condition.

The flats with shay parts were not included.

J.R.

JR - Thanks for the updated info.

On the bright side - and no offense intended to the fans of the items about to be junked - this will help the appearance of Cass, as the afore mentioned items have looked out of place and in bad condition for quite a few years. Hopefully someone will be able to get needed parts for their own projects if such an opportunity exists.

Mike Stillwell
Buena Vista, VA.

FWIW, the details were posted on the Classifieds Board on 5/13/09. Appears that many folks took a look.

For those keeping score, this will be four Alco MRS-1's cut up this year. In the case of the first two, the engines and ? were salvaged to eventually bring two RS-3's back to life.

DPK

Here's what I've been told...

The MRS-1s have BEAUTIFUL prime movers. One only has around 8 (??) hours on it, and the other one has less than 1000 hours, from what I have been told. Locos rebuilt by GE in 1979 for the SBVR, used there till the early 80's, transferred to state surplus, shipped to Cass.

If you need a prime mover for a ALCo, these are the ones for you. (not trying to sound like or be a salesman, but these puppies need to be saved by somebody)

Not sure the details of the 612...not sure of it's disposition, as I've heard a few stories.

Phil Martin

I think the Market Street Railway (the original) in SF actually showed a movie in one of their streetcars as a promotion in the 1920s. This may have beaten the C&O.

Did 612 arrive at Cass in such lousy shape, or was this a restoration gone wrong? Weren't the USATC 2-8-0's in operable condition when retired?

612 arrived in Cass is very good shape. It was to be used pulling excursions on the line from Cass to Durbin. When the line washed out in the flood, Cass had no use for 612 at Cass.

I just wanted to let everyone know that the "Stuart House" has been purchased by a private owner, but it still needs to be moved from Cass. However, it has been given a reprieve from the scrapper's torch for now.