Understand that this may be a sore subject, but is there any news on the Climax restoration at Cass? Last thing I heard was that the locomotive was to be finished in the Cass shops by DGVR employees. Any progress?

Which one? There are two....

1551, the one that the Mountain State Railroad & Logging Historical Association guys were working on. Last post says it was almost 80% complete before they got the boot. Is there a plan in place to finish it? Not really interested in the D&G #3.

Did a Cass shop tour two weeks ago, the 'big' Climax is still being worked on, boiler on frame, looks like active project. The original D&GV Class B is now stored outside under a big tarp. Heisler 6 is up at Durbin in operating condition.

4 Shays were hot as well, including 11, which was being test run and had just come off the 1472. Getting 11 out the door was the primary mission but got no indication that there was any less interest in finishing up the Climax, just not job 1 until 11 done.

Thank you.

1) Was the boiler just sitting on the frame or had the boiler been bolted to the smoke box saddle?

2) Has the crankshaft been mounted?

Those two items were next on the list for the MSR&LHA.

I was in Durbin riding the rocket on Friday. The guys said that getting the shay's out of the shop and track work were the biggest projects. Said that both Climax's were lower on the list.

Track work between Durbin and Cass should be completed by Spring of 2018, but if winter is mild it could be done as early as the New Year.

Trains had an article in one of their latest issues saying that Climax 9 should be out of the shop next year, then followed by Climax 3. Then when they are done and done with WM 6, BC&G 4 will go in the shop, or have all focus put on it.

Was at Cass, WV today and joined a shop tour. Was able to talk to some shop employees that were actively working on 1551. The boiler was bolted to the saddle, steam pipes in place from saddle to cylinders. Brakes were finished including air lines. The employ I talked to said they have been on the Climax full time for the last few weeks and they were working on the steam/boiler piping and the crankshaft.
I was pleased to see work being done and I was told the goal is now for it to be running for the 2019 season.

Great news then on the 1551. Have they finished the roadwork on the Durbin - Cass section then? Huge fan of the Cass operation , and hope nothing but the best for them

Here's a July 2018 update from the D&GVRR on the Cass to Durbin line rehabilitation.

http://mountainrailwv.com/dgvr-moving-f ... ilitation/

Less than three miles to go!! That sounds pretty good to me!!

If you look beyond the bridge in the left-side photo on their web site, you will notice there is NO bank left beyond it. That one's gonna need a massive fill job to overcome. I heard they were even considering another bridge beyond that one to get to solid ground.

My son and I took the shop tour at Cass on 8/5/18 and it was led by none other than John Smith himself. He gave a great tour and we spent quite a bit of time at the Climax. He was very complimentary of the MSR&LHA and the work they had done on the Climax.

As I understand it, the original bridge at Trout Run was washed 25-30 feet from the ROW out into the Greenbrier River. John stated that he had asked for some guidance from the state on a proper replacement and that has led to significant delays.