Springtime at Cass 2011 Edition

[mSummers]

Its that time of year again... ; Last weekend I was in Cass for a photo charter and I'll be back this weekend for the annual Railfan Weekend for what will probably be the last time to photograph the log train for a long time due to a new FRA ruling that will prohibit their use until costly upgrades can be made to the cars. ; Given the fact that the log cars are only used 4-6 days out of the year, the park is not inclined to spend the money to fix them. ; I have my fingers crossed that the Mountain State steps in and raises the money for the repairs soon after they complete the restoration of the Climax in a couple of years. ; Here's the pictures:

The Three Train Race, a Cass Tradition:

Big Six rolling out of the tail of the Upper Switchback:

A member of the train crew waits for Shay #11 to take the passenger train up the hill so he can align the switch for the log train:

Big Six rolls past the photo line at Whittaker Water Tank:

Big Six at Leatherbark Overlook:

Shay #11 navigates the Bald Knob Wye in a driving rainstorm:



Last but not least, Big Six does her volcano impression going up the grade to the Bald Knob Overlook:

More next week...

 

[Tim]

strong, bro. ; we might need to do "trainmania" some year.

 

[ELinder]

Wow, your love of the subject certainly comes out in your photos. Awesome!

What's the third rail in some of the photos, electric, or different types of cars?

Erich

 

[Scottwdw]

All that green really makes those trains pop off the screen!

 

[ddindy]

Man, I wish there was audio to go along with these great photos!

Erich, the third rail is a guard rail. ; In case of a derailment, the wheels are trapped between the outside and inside rails, preventing them from straying too far off the track. ; At least, that's the theory.

 

[mSummers]

Thanks guys! ;

Man, I wish there was audio to go along with these great photos!

I'll see what I can do with the iPhone this weekend.

What's the third rail in some of the photos, electric, or different types of cars?

Dennis is correct on the guard rail. ; You typically see them on bridges on normal railroads. ; Occasionally you will see them along steep embankments so if a train derails it isn't as likely to fall over a cliff (for example the D&SNGRR has guardrails along almost the entire Highline). ; Since Cass is a logging line, they have some extremely sharp curves, so they have added the guardrails there as well. ;

Cass also has an interesting slip joint installed to allow the rails to relieve the pressure created by a heavy train rolling down hill. ; I don't think I've ever seen one anywhere else. ; If I get a chance I'll try to take a picture of one this weekend.

 

[HW]

fantastic photos Michael

 

[jbwolffiv]

Awesome shots! ; I really like the one with the rain storm!

 

[PolynesianMedic]

Awesome shots Michael, thanks for sharing.

 

[Scottwdw]

The iPhone video does very well with audio. ; I was surprised when I did the Taughannock Falls video how well it picked up the ambient sounds.

 

[mSummers]

Thanks guys!

Here's the slip joint that I mentioned earlier. ; They are located on steep grades and curves to keep the track from kinking under the load of the train rolling down hill.

 

[Craig]

WOW! That first one is awesome! (they are all awesome)

 

[WDWFigment]

Awesome all around. We camped a lot in state parks in WV, MD, PA, OH, KY, etc., when I was young, so a lot of these names ring a bell. I recall the name of the Cass Scenic Railroad, but I don't actually recall what it looked like. These photos take me back!

 

[mSummers]

Thanks guys!

In case anyone missed it, Gary started a thread for the Cass Railfan Weekend here: ; http://www.themagicinpixels.com/forum/non_disney_photos/cass_railfan_weekend_2011_8048.0.html