Mountain Rail Adventure releases summer schedule
CASS, W.Va. – If a unique family adventure sounds good this Independence Day weekend, consider visiting the Cass Scenic Railroad on Friday to ride the rails to Whittaker from historic downtown Cass on a three-hour round trip train ride that includes a weiner roast, fireside music and a nighttime return train ride.
On Friday, the steam-powered train departs from Cass Depot at 7 p.m. “Here, visitors can ride behind coal-fired steam locomotives that are more than a century old through the mountains where timber was king,” said a Cass representative.
The railroad, now operated by the Pocahontas County-based Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, is home to the world’s largest fleet of operating Shay locomotives.
The CSR opened its 2015 season on July 1 and is offering an assortment of Mountain Rail special adventures that include family-oriented events, nighttime train excursions, live music and picnic events, plus murder mystery train rides and dinner.
The schedule is as follows:
— July 18-19: “Depart historic downtown Cass on either Saturday or Sunday for a steam train ride to the old logging town site of Spruce to partake in the annual ‘Great Train Race of West Virginia’. Now in its third year, this unique rail event happens only once a year, every third weekend in July. You can watch an authentic mid-20th century diesel race against the coal-fired Shay for the title of ‘Most Powerful Mountain Climbing’ train in West Virginia. You can either ride back to Cass, or switch over to the Cheat Mountain Salamander on a multi-day adventure package to Elkins, part of Mountain Rail Adventures new ‘Wild Heart of West Virginia’ adventure package.
— July 23-24: “A Murder Mystery Train & Dinner event will be held in Cass on the evening of July 24 as part of a three-part installment that originates in Elkins on July 23. Discover ‘Who Dun It’ during a steam-fired train ride from Cass to Whittaker. A buffet dinner will be served at Whittaker Station. The four-hour round-trip train event departs Cass Depot at 5 p.m.”
— July 31: “Visitors might want to schedule for the nighttime full moon train to Bald Knob. This steam-powered train takes riders on a twilight ascent over the Appalachians from historic downtown Cass all the way to Bald Knob, up to an elevation of 4,843 feet. At the Bald Knob overlook, visitors can view a moonlit vista of the valley below, weather permitting. The 5.5-hour trip will leave from Cass Depot at 7:00 PM. Full moon excursion trains will operate again on Aug. 29 on the same schedule.”
— Aug. 14: “Looking for a relaxing Friday evening? Take advantage of this rare opportunity to take a short journey by rail from historic downtown Cass to Whittaker under the cover of darkness. A coal-fired steam locomotive will take passengers to Whittaker under the blanket of darkness. Train departs Cass Depot at 8 p.m.”
For more information on the CSR, visit http://www.mountainrail.com
About Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad:
The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad offers Mountain Rail Adventures in the east-central mountains of West Virginia. This premiere West Virginia rail excursion company operates historic coal-fired steam locomotives and vintage diesel-powered passenger trains that depart Elkins, Cheat Bridge, Durbin and Cass – April through December. Learn more by visiting www.mountainrail.com Visit us on social media at #mountainrail
