Other Locomotives

here were several types of geared locomotives eventually introduced to compete against the Lima Shay, including various Climax and Heisler configurations. Cass will one day be the only place where standard gauge examples of all three major geared steam varieties are operable and running on the kind of grade that makes them get down and work. In service for most running seasons since 1968, Heisler No. 6 is now sidelined with a bad boiler. There is also a Climax which, like her non-Shay roster mate, is slated for repair. For now it's a Shay-powered railroad. And that's certainly acceptable — during the total span of lumbering there were 16 Shays and a Climax.

Philip V. Bagdon / Essential Cass: An Overview of Cass Scenic Railroad State Park - 1997

Heisler No. 6 -- (Meadow River Lumber No. 6) -- C/N 1591, 1929; Class 90-3. Built by Heisler Locomotive Works (Erie, Pa.) for Bostonia Coal and Clay Products, New Bethlehem, Pa. as No. 20. Heisler 6Acquired by Meadow River Lumber Co., Rainelle (Greenbrier County) – arrived 1-29-39, first test run 4-10-39; equipped with Radley & Hunter smokestack (1939) and Worthington feedwater heater system (1941); mostly served as MRL’s transfer engine (making turns over the Nicholas, Fayette & Greenbrier to empty/load exchange points between woods mainline trackage); retired from regular service when diesel-electrics went into operation during 2-57; last geared steam locomotive used by MRL. Inspections kept current despite rare use; came to Cass on her own power via the NF&G and C&O Ry, 12-66; introduced into service during Bald Knob Inaugural Weekend, 5-68 (Sunday performance ahead of ex-MRL sister No. 7 as far as Back Mountain Crossing). Entered regular service to Whittaker, 5-69. Because of her speed in comparison to the Shays, served as power for off-line events; the Radley & Hunter was replaced with a diamond stack prior to the 1970 season; work on middle truck and other repairs occurred during 1992-93; rendered out-of-service with a boiler problem discovered in 5-95. Became first subject of a Division of Natural Resources (DNR, the government agency in charge of Cass) boiler replacement program; contract was awarded to Sistersville Tank Works (Tyler County), 10-97; new boiler delivered to Cass, 12-99. Engine was placed in service 5-04.

Mountain State Railroad & Logging Historical Association

Built in 1919 by the Climax Locomotive Works of Corry, PA, No. 9 a rare, Class C (3-Truck) model. Of the hundreds built, No. 9 is currently the sole operating Class C survivor and one of just three in existence.

The No. 9 was delivered new to the Moore-Keppel & Company, based out of Ellamore, in nearby Randolph County, WV. Then numbered No. 6, the locomotive augmented a fleet of smaller and older 2-truck Climax locomotives and provided the brute power needed to haul log trains from woods to mill. By 1946, with lumbering played out and the Ellamore mill shuttered, Moore-Keppel & Co. turned it’s attention to coal. No. 6’s new assignment was hauling coal trains from the Cassity Mine to an interchange with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Midvale, over the former 13-mile logging railroad. By 1958, after years of hard use over steep grades, No. 6 was put out to pasture. Sister Heisler No. 7 took over duties until the railroad completely dieselized in 1960.

After languishing in the Ellamore yard for over a decade, No. 6 was purchased by Robert L. Johnson. Movement to his “Whistles in the Woods” museum never materialized and the forlorn-looking locomotive was sold to the State of West Virginia. No. 6 arrived at Cass in 1970 with a bright future in sight. A restoration to service soon commenced in 1973 and an estimated 20% of work was completed before disaster struck. A fire devastated the Cass locomotive shop, leaving the No. 6 trapped inside during the blaze. Work on the Climax was put off indefinitely, until 1998, when the rusted locomotive drew the attention of Mountain State Railroad & Logging Historical Association volunteers. The organization put a plan in motion to completely rebuild the locomotive. From 2002 until 2015, volunteers worked to rebuild the worn-out carcass. In early 2016, the project was handed over to the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley shop crew for completion and the newly minted “No. 9” was officially debuted during September 2019’s Heritage Weekend. The Cass Scenic Railroad now has the title of having operating examples of all three major geared steam locomotive types.

Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad

postcard / collection

Baldwin 2-8-0 Rod Locomotive No. 612 -- (Fort Eustis No. 612) -- C/N 69858, 1943; 2-8-0 Consolidation type, 80 1/2 tons (engine weight), 19x26 cylinders, 57" drivers – a member of the largest-ever single steam locomotive class; built by Baldwin’s Eddystone Plant (Philadelphia) for the U.S. Army Transportation Corp; originally as No. 2630; although it is known that she never served overseas (like so many G.I. 2-8-0s), determining site of original operation is unlikely; assigned to the 714th Transportation Battalion (Ry Op), Fort Eustis, Va., 1952 as USA No. 612; operated to/at Hill Air Force Base (near Ogden, Utah) in conjunction with the Golden Spike Centennial at nearby Golden Spike National Historical Site (Promontory, Utah), 6-69; reported as excess to U.S. Army Mobility Command, 5-71; still in service on the Fort Eustis Utility Rail System, 2-72. Declared excess, 5-72; released to General Services Administration for disposal (via U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare’s Surplus Property Utilization office), [7]-72; acquired by the State of W.Va., arrived on flatcars, 9-72; rigid wheel base with maximum curve radius of 25 degrees precluded service before the West Virginia Rail Maintenance Authority (RMA), later known as the West Virginia Railroad Authority, took over the former C&O Greenbrier subdivision.; repair funds for operation were appropriated in 1985 but – as the result of flood damaged trackage which ended the run – this work never commenced. Engine was sold to Steam Services of America in 03-11 and moved to Sylva, NC, to be restored to operating conditions.

Mountain State Railroad & Logging Historical Association

Mountain State Railroad & Logging Historical Association -- [C/N unknown], [?]-43, 400-hp. Built by General Electric at Schenectady , N.Y. for the U.S. Navy. Acquired as surplus by RMA, [?]-78, but shipped directly from a Naval installation to the Wilmington & Western (Marshalltown, Del.); finally arrived on the SBVRR, [5]-84; sent to Cass as part of the 10-85 equipment movement; as it arrived, wore No. 34 (part of original USN seven-digit number). Used as the shop goat for 10 years before a major breakdown; returned to service in 5-97; received its blue and silver paint scheme with handrail striping in 8-97 (creating the nickname "The Circus Engine").

Mountain State Railroad & Logging Historical Association