Cass Scenic 7.3.05, Part 4

Part 4 begins with our train's departure from Bald Knob. The descent required more than a little bit of teamwork on the part of the crew - while Shay 2 provided engine braking from the front, a crewmember was stationed at each car's brake wheel, and thus began a well-orchestrated dance of applying and releasing brakes the entire way back to Cass.

By now much of the crowd in the open-air car had retreated to the covered cars for a rest, which made it much easier to get a look at No. 2's running gear in action on the curves. Additionally, without the sound of the Heisler to mingle with the Shay, the stack talk was much cleaner on the return trip - drum the thumb and first two fingers of one hand on a table really fast and you'll have a good idea of the rhythm.

With our train descending the grade, our helper traveling the same direction, and the afternoon train to Whittaker Station coming the other way, it was about to get very busy...

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Cass
• Scenic
• Railroad
• passenger
• train
• excursion
• steam
• engine
• Shay
• geared
• locomotive
• mountain
• Bald
• Knob
• West
• Virginia

[xxxDeath9572xxx]

Ah, nothing better than the descend from Bald Knob! I loved the trip so much.. I'd kill to get back there someday soon