Yes you read correctly there are six engines currently under steam at Cass and recently i was asked to do a photo shoot of them all. Memorial Day was the big day everything went perfect from the weather to not many people finding out and getting in the way. Below is a link to a photo showing the results, Enjoy!

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=237046

Walter -

Very nice of you to list the various crewmen pictured. BUT, could you possibly list the locomotives in order from left to right? I can tell some of the ones up front of course, but not all six of them.

Thanks! And BTW, great photo!

Les

Thanks Les, from left to right they are Shay #2,#4,#5,WM#6, #11 and Heisler #6.

Looks like the logging shots of the days of old!
Congrats to the folks at Cass for this feat and to Walter for a new view of one of my favorite places on Earth.
Jim Wrinn

I remember the dark year of 1996. Cass was down to 2 operable engines, 2 and 4. Shay 6 may have come on later that year, but the line to Bald Knob was washed out, the new 1/2 million $ parking lot was washed away and things looked pretty bad at Cass (#4's staybolt problem was starting to be an issue as well).
To see 6 engines in steam speaks to the hard work and dedication of the people of the CSRR! Congrats!!

Mike Stillwell
Buena Vista, VA.

PS - anyone know if GCRR #1926 is on property yet?

Walter -

Thanks very much. BTW, maybe I should know this, but does Cass own a Climax?

Les

Yes those where the dark days I was 5 at the time so I really dont remember it. I was 2 weeks old when i made my first visit to Cass also so I definitely dont recall that lol. 1926 is not on the property and Im doubting that it ever will. Cass does own a Climax I am currentyl helping in the restoration, more info can be found at msrlha.org. It is taking time but you should have seent he thing when we started.

I was there a few years ago when the Brimstone (?) Shay was in the shop. If I recall correctly it had a HUGE cab or am I thinking of something else? If so, what is the status of this engine?

Cass has long had a Climax on the property--Middle Fork #6, a 3-truck built in 1919--but it has also long been a contender for "worst-looking basket case of a steam locomotive ruin" every time I've seen it. The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley has an operable one mere miles up/down the road, however.

Raymond I beleive that that was probably the Agnew Shay you saw shortly after if arrived at Cass as it has a large cab. The brimstone doenst have a cab. No work has been done on the Agnew at this time.

Alexander you must have not been to Cass for a very long time as the Cass Climax has been under restoration for many years now. Alot of man hours have went into this locomotive. Information on the restoration can be found at msrlha.org like I said in my above reply.

Walter,

do you know off hand what the C/N of the Agnew (big cab) Shay is?

thanks,
Ray

CN# 3142 - An other Shay from the North West, with an all weather steel cab. It's not a Pacific Coast Shay, but it is an 80-3, so a little larger than #4.

Mike Stillwell
Buena Vista, VA