A Heisler No. 6 steam locomotive rests on a flatbed trailer as it is prepared to be transported from Cass Scenic Railroad to Durbin to replace a Climax steam locomotive that will be undergoing repairs during the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad 2016 season.
DURBIN, W.Va. — The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad 2016 season will be full steam ahead thanks to the transfer of a steam locomotive from Cass Scenic Railroad to the Durbin location.
The 134,000 pound (67 ton) and 38-foot-long 1929 Heisler Locomotive No. 6 was transported by Lenny Yocum, an independent truck driver for Daily Express Inc. out of Carlisle, Pa.
The transport began after the engine began being loaded at roughly 7 a.m., before leaving Cass at 1:30 p.m. to make the nearly two-hour trip, which included a stop near Green Bank.
“It went very smoothly with the cooperation of about a dozen people,” DGVR President John Smith said after the train was safely removed from the truck. “And a beautiful weather day.”
Heisler No. 6 has been a staple for Cass visitors taking tourist train rides between Cass, Whittaker and Bald Knob in Pocahontas County.
The Heisler locomotive is being used as a replacement for the normal steam engine – a Moore & Keppel Climax No. 3 – on the Durbin line that runs along the Greenbrier River. The normal Durbin engine will be transported to Cass for repairs.
“Rather than shutting down the Durbin Rocket while Climax No. 3 is out of service, we have decided to bring Heisler No. 6 to Durbin,” Smith said.
Today another trip will be made between Cass and Durbin to bring the tender of the locomotive, which is used to carry the engine’s fuel.
Over the next few weeks, mechanical crews will then reassemble the locomotive, conducting several inspections, and ultimately return the locomotive to operating condition in time for the summer tourism season, according to a DGVR press release.
DGVR External Affairs Manager Chase Gunnoe added that many people came out to see the engine as it made its trek to Durbin.
“There are several people here from the railroad. Many of us came from Elkins, from Belington, from just all over, the different places we operate…,” Gunnoe said. “It’s definitely a very big collaborative effort in making this happen and it’s really gained a lot of support from the community.
“We saw so many people along the way taking pictures, pulled off along the road and watching it. Everybody really enjoys the railroad and they care a lot about what’s going on.
“To have this locomotive here, when Heisler 6 hasn’t been to Durbin in more than 20 years, to have it here in operating condition for the 2016 season will be really unique, a good opportunity,” he continued. “We plan to showcase that later this year with some photography specials in other venues that give people the chance to see the locomotive in operating condition while it is here.”
Buster Varner and his crew, of Varner Construction LLC, donated manpower and machinery to assist in the removal of the train from the truck, which was done via a ramp made out of train rail.
The engine will return to Cass at the end of this season and resume normal operating procedure there next year.
No date is set for Heisler’s first run, but the Durbin Rocket will begin its 2016 season on April 30. The Cass Scenic Railroad 2016 season will begin the following weekend, on March 7.
For a full schedule, or for more information on the multiple rail adventures offered by the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad, go online and visit www.mountainrail.com.
