Cass Scenic RR

[propmeup1]

We are riding the Cass Scenic RR Oct 26th. Hope to have good leaves by then.  Has anyone been on the Knob Hill ride ? Looks like a goof ride, 5hrs.   We'll be staying about 20 miles south at a B&B.  Anyone know of a good place for chow in the area. The woman at the B&B said there isn't much around her area.

[Rich_S]

We are riding the Cass Scenic RR Oct 26th. Hope to have good leaves by then.  Has anyone been on the Knob Hill ride ? Looks like a goof ride, 5hrs.   We'll be staying about 20 miles south at a B&B.  Anyone know of a good place for chow in the area. The woman at the B&B said there isn't much around her area.

I haven't been to Cass since the late 1990's but the woman at your B&B is correct, it's pretty much out in the middle of nowhere. The Shay's are a locomotive you have to experience in person. They sound like you're moving along at 100 mph, but in reality you're only traveling around 20 mph. I enjoyed all the little bits of information from the speaker on the train up the mountain. It was also great to walk up to the water tank and watch them water the locomotives before the trip up the mountain.





While you're at Cass, be sure to take a tour of the town, they did have a few of the houses open for tours.  Plus while at Cass, check out the The Last Run Restaurant.  I can't help much with the fall foliage as the last time I road the train, it was mid summer. I do remember when we left Cass the temp was 75 degrees and when we reached Bald Knob the temp was only 62 degrees. They say you can see Virginia, but trees look like trees to me.  If I remember correctly, we were the first train of the day and there was a second train that only went to Whittaker and returned. Whittaker is a neat stop, they have authentic logging equipment on display.  I enjoyed my time at Cass and in my opinion, this place should be on every rail fans bucket list.

 

[propmeup1]

Bald Knob, i said Knob Hill   Thanks for the info. We are looking fwd to it. We also have Bob Seager tickets the next Friday to look fwd to. Be a good week.

[nkalanaga]

Definitely middle of nowhere.  I don't know about Cass itself, but much of that area doesn't have cell coverage - on purpose.  It's a "radio-quiet" zone to protect the Green Bank radio astronomy site.

[propmeup1]

The B&B person told me about the no cell service. My girlfriend may not like that but me, I could give a rats a-s. That means no one to bother us for a full weekend.  Nothing but the smell of burning coal and steam, cinders and nature. What's not to love.

[bbunge]

As suggested by others, take sweater/coats as the mountain and much of the ride will be cooler than expected.  Your bored GF will be even more annoyed if she is cold for 2 hours.  Riding up in the car just in front of the locomotive lets you experience the sound (loud!) and smells.  Retreating to the far end of the car can provide some relief from the noise.   Riding down, if you can swing changing cars, farther back in the train will let you watch the crew as they work the hand brakes in the traditional style where they set the brake, lean out to see if the wheels are slipping and adjust. 

A few miles up the road, but the visitor's center at the Radio Observatory in Greenbelt is not only a neat place to visit, but the cafe in the center is open until 7pm and has pretty good food.  Greenbelt also has at least one small restaurant/store/gas station if you want some local fare.

[propmeup1]

Thanks for that. Board GF , that's funny. Yep I told her we need to dress warm and can always take it off.  She does pretty well but tends to fall asleep behind the bigger ones N&W 611 and NKP 765. However they are faster and closed cars.  not really any smell and noise.  I'm hoping the outside mountain air will keep her awake. But on the other hand the tickets aren't expensive so no big deal.   On the way there that Friday we're stopping at Harpers Ferry and she'll get to shop so it's payback time for me before we ride the train.  But we are going to hike up the hill on the other side of the river in HF.
     I drove 765 two years ago Sept 18th in OH. Life dream come true.

[propmeup1]

We just got back from our ride down to Harpers Ferry and then to Cass WV to ride the shays up to Bald Knob. It was everything I dreamed it would be and then some. Shays 2 and 4 shoved us up the mountain.  To be honest I've always been a conventional type locomotive guy with the rods and large drivers. But after seeing the shay type in action I have gained a new respect for these little engines. In fact shay #4 is what they at Cass Scenic RR refer to as "the little engine that could". That's a whole other story.
    So I want to thank those who chimed in with places to see and go, especially for chow.   We will remember this trip for ever.    Oh and if you do go and take the Bald Knob ride, when they stop at Whitker on the way back be sure to get a soft pretzel. Only one needed for a group of three or four, trust me.
Keith