Durbin & Greenbrier Valley

Durbin Rocket


egyptian he Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad's Durbin Rocket tourist operation makes use of nearly 6 miles of former Chesapeake & Ohio secondary trackage, a branchline that connected to the C&O east-west mainline at Ronceverte, West Virginia, and extended northward nearly 100 miles through Marlinton and the lumber town Cass as far as Durbin. Much of the route followed the grades of the scenic Greenbrier River, rising nearly 1000 feet over a hundred miles -- hence the name of the railroad's division. The first tourist operations at Durbin in the 1990s made use of a 20-ton Whitcomb switcher and a few pieces of converted rolling stock. Later a 1910 Climax geared steam locomotive was employed and more passenger cars added -- including a refurbished Railway Post Office car. In recent years, a rare 3-truck geared Heisler on loan from nearby Cass Scenic Railway has been the principle tourist power on the 2-hour run downstream from Durbin and back again. Currently work is underway to rehabilitate the Greenbrier Division trackage between the end of the Durbin Rocket line and Cass, West Virginia. This will connect the previously isolated Durbin Rocket operation to the rest of the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad tourist system in the region.

co_header
co_greenbrier

1955 Official Guide ad / collection

rocket_bro1

collection

tag_quote

6_inset In century-old Durbin, the DURBIN ROCKET Excursion Train is powered by the unique Heisler No. 6 locomotive – a coal-fired steam engine with ties to West Virginia’s historic rail and logging industry. Departing the Durbin Depot April through December, you can ride in authentic 1920-era coaches and vintage wooden cabooses behind Heisler No. 6 as she steams along the free-flowing Greenbrier River in northern Pocahontas County. The ride covers 10.5 miles in 2 hours and offers many beautiful river and mountain views in the Monongahela National Forest. This adventure is popular for kids and anyone who has an interest in railroads and history!

The DURBIN ROCKET is a perfect choice for families with younger children. The combination of open and closed cars give children the option of free movement through the train as she chugs her way to and from Hevener Station. An open car directly behind Heisler No. 6 offer ample opportunities to see coal being shoveled into the tender and watch as she takes in water at a watering hole along the way. Advantages for more mature riders on this signature steam-driven locomotive are the options of open-car views perfect for photo taking and sightseeing, plus closed-car comfort in the coaches and cabooses.

rocket_tourist98

1998 tourist train guide ad / collection

rocket_tourist06

2006 tourist train guide ad / collection

rocket_postcard1

postcard / collection

Steam Power

Cass Scenic #6

  • builder:Heisler Locomotive Works
  • arrangement:3 truck geared
  • class:90-3
  • built:1929, Heisler #1591
  • fuel:soft coal / water
  • notes:
  • blt Bostonia Coal & Clay Products #20
    to Meadow River Lumber Co #6
    to Cass Scenic Railway #6
  • builder_heis
    tag_quote

    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.

    Philip V. Bagdon - Mountain State Railroad & Logging Historical Association

    cass6e1 cass6e2 cass6e5 cass6e3 cass6e4 cass6e6

    Durbin, WV / Jul 2016 / RWH

    icon_wikipedia

    The Heisler locomotive was the last variant of the three major types of geared steam locomotives. Charles L. Heisler receiving a patent for the design in 1892, following the construction of a prototype in 1891. Somewhat similar to a Climax locomotive, Heisler's design featured two cylinders canted inwards at a 45-degree angle to form a 'V-twin' arrangement. Power then went to a longitudinal drive shaft in the center of the frame that drove the outboard axle on each powered truck through bevel gears in an enclosed gearcase riding on the axle between the truck frames. The inboard axle on each truck was then driven from the outboard one by external side (connecting) rods.

    In 1897, Heisler received a patent on a three-truck locomotive. As with Class C Shay locomotives, the tender rode on the third truck. Unlike the Shay, Heisler's design did not have a continuous string of line shafting running the length of the engine. Instead, the tender truck was driven by a line shaft above the shaft driving the main engine trucks, connected to it through spur gears. This patent also covered use of a 4-cylinder 'vee four' cylinder configuration. The Heisler was the fastest of the geared steam locomotive designs, and yet was still claimed by its manufacturer to have the same low-speed hauling ability.

    Wikipedia

    cass6f1 cass6f2 cass6f3 cass6f4 cass6f5 cass6f6

    Durbin, WV / Jul 2016 / RWH

    cass6v1 cass6v2 cass6v3 cass6v4

    Jun 2022 / RWH

    Diesel Power

    Durbin & Greenbrier Valley #5

  • builder:General Electric
  • model:44 ton centercab
  • type:B-B light switcher
  • built:Jan 1953, GE #31871
  • series:386 produced 1940-56
  • engines:Caterpillar D17000 (400 hp)
  • notes:
  • blt United States Navy #65-00344
    to Durbin & Greenbrier Valley #5
  • builder

    Rolling Stock

    icon_wikipedia

    rpo In the United States, a railway post office, commonly abbreviated as RPO, was a railroad car that was normally operated in passenger service as a means to sort mail en route, in order to speed delivery. The RPO was staffed by highly trained Railway Mail Service postal clerks, and was off-limits to the passengers on the train. From the middle of the 19th century, many American railroads earned substantial revenues through contracts with the U.S. Post Office Department (USPOD) to carry mail aboard high-speed passenger trains; and the Railway Mail Service enforced various standardized designs on RPOs. In fact, a number of companies maintained passenger routes where the financial losses from moving people were more than offset by transporting the mail.

    Wikipedia

    tag_pinLocation

    tag_pin

    Click to see this Durbin depot area plotted on a Google Maps page

    River Ride

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    ride2a ride2b ride2c ride2d

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    ride5a ride5b

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    ride13a ride13b ride13c ride13d

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    ride15a ride15b ride15c

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    ride17a ride17b ride17c

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    ride19a ride19b ride19c

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    ride24a ride24b ride24c

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    ride27a ride27b ride27c

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    tag_closeup Castaway Caboose

    rocket_bro2

    collection

    tag_quote

    wab2794f Visit Durbin and drift away in complete solitude onboard the Castaway Caboose! We’ve restored two original Wabash Railroad cabooses into comfortable efficiency suites on rails! Your overnight package includes a round-trip fare on the DURBIN ROCKET steam train ride, where you will be "cast away" at one of two remote settings. Located several miles from the nearest encroachment of the modern world, this secluded wilderness setting along the beautiful Greenbrier River is where you will spend the evening with only the rushing waters of the river to break the quiet of the night. At the end of your stay the train will pull your caboose car back to Durbin where you will be treated to your first glimpse of civilization!

    Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad

    ride31a ride31b ride31c ride31d ride31e ride31f

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    ride33a ride33b ride33c ride33d ride33e ride33f ride33g ride33h ride33i

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    ride35a ride35b ride35c

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    ride36a ride36b ride36c

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    tag_closeup Water Draw

    ride49a ride49b ride49c ride49d ride49e ride49f

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    ride51a ride51b ride51c ride51d

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    ride52a ride52b ride52c

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    ride58a ride58b ride58c ride58d

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    tag_closeup Railroaders

    tag_lagnLagniappe

    rocket_lagn5a rocket_lagn5b rocket_lagn5c rocket_lagn5d rocket_lagn5e rocket_lagn5f

    Smoke Signals at Greenbrier

    Jul 2016 / RWH

    tag_ellaExtra Board

    durbin_extra1 durbin_extra2 durbin_extra3 durbin_extra4 durbin_extra5 durbin_extra6 durbin_extra7 durbin_extra8

    Durbin, WV / Jun 2022 / ETH

    durbin_extra9 durbin_extra10 durbin_extra11 durbin_extra12

    Durbin, WV / Jun 2022 / ETH

    tag_jump

    See also Ella's complete Extra Board image collection in Lagniappe

    tag_snapSnapshots

    Links / Sources

    This page was updated on 2022-08-09