Chasing the Cass Scenic Railroad

Mark Spremulli · **Joined:** Fri Nov 29, 2013 11:14 pm **Posts:** 10

Forgive my ignorance but could the Cass Scenic Railroad be chased for video and stills? Could a two wheel drive Elantra do it?

Thank you
Stay safe

WVNorthern · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2020 11:32 am

The Cass Scenic Railroad is located in a very remote area in WV with no roads paralleling the right-of-way. You can get shots at the Cass station before the train leaves, then drive to the first of two public road crossings (Back Mountain Road), get a quick shot there and race to the last crossing on a narrow winding road (Gum Road). If you're lucky, you'll get there 30 seconds before the train gets there. If you get the chance, take the shop tour they normally offer before the first run of the day.
Photos:
1. Gum Road - just made it before the train
2. Back Mountain Road
3. Cass station preparing to leave
4. Morning tour of shop area and preparation for the day's runs

WVNorthern · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2020 12:14 pm

This map may help

Mark Spremulli · **Joined:** Fri Nov 29, 2013 11:14 pm **Posts:** 10

Thank you

bigjim4life · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2020 7:24 pm

Ultimately, your best bet is to attend one of the photo special events the railroad puts on - its the best way to get photos/videos of the railroad in action at places inaccessible by vehicle.

Kevin Gilliam · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 10:28 pm **Posts:** 292

bigjim4life wrote:

Ultimately, your best bet is to attend one of the photo special events the railroad puts on - its the best way to get photos/videos of the railroad in action at places inaccessible by vehicle.

That's about the sum of it. Also, the regular operations have the Shays pushing the cars up the hill. If you want the Shays pulling cars, you have to attend a photo event.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Apr 30, 2020 11:08 pm

Absolutely, positively, IF you can get on a photo special trip of any sort, that's the way to go.

Ages ago, I got permission to cross the Gum Farm to "chase" a photo special (where I had done some prep work for them and paid/ridden the day before) on foot by climbing vertically through the switchbacks as they went, with the condition that I "hide" from the photographers shooting from the back of the chase train in front as they shot the all-freight log train following them as they went over the best-lit spot between the switchbacks. Then the organizer wasn't satisfied and made them do that bit again......

Then the bulls found me as I was returning to the car to head home.......... Not the railroad police, REAL bulls............

If you did that with a regular train, as noted, the cars are pushed, not pulled, so it doesn't work.

Chasing the Cass Scenic Railroad

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