The Shay locomotive was a key engine used in West Virginia’s logging railroads. It was designed to handle steep, rough tracks in the mountains, with a special gear-driven system that made it powerful but slow. Between 1882 and 1927, about 219 Shays were shipped to West Virginia, the second most after Washington state. The West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company had the most, buying large engines for their operations around Cass.

By the 1960s, the last Shays were used at a few mills. Today, eight Shays still operate at the Cass Scenic Railroad, and several are on display. Other geared locomotives such as the Climax and Heisler were also used in the state, with some still in service today at Cass and Durbin.

The Climax was the second most popular geared locomotive for logging railroads, after the Shay. Built by Climax Manufacturing in Pennsylvania, these engines were known for handling rough tracks well. Starting in 1891, many Climax engines were used in West Virginia by companies like W. M. Ritter Lumber and Elk River Coal & Lumber. Over 140 were used in the state before the company closed in 1928.

Today, two restored Climax locomotives are still running in Pocahontas County—one at Cass Scenic Railroad and one on the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley line. Out of only about 12 Climaxes left in the U.S., five were once used in West Virginia.