e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia Online

Cass Scenic Railroad

Timbering and Logging Section 16 of 16

Sign in or create a free account to curate your search content.

The Cass Scenic Railroad in Pocahontas County is a popular attraction at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. It offers rides on a historic logging railroad that was built in the early 1900s to transport timber for a pulp mill and lumber mill. The railroad, using restored Shay and Heisler locomotives, takes visitors on a scenic trip up steep grades, including a stop at Whittaker Station, which features a 1940s logging camp display. The ride ends at Bald Knob, where tourists can enjoy stunning views.

The railroad was abandoned in 1960 but was later purchased by the state in 1962 to create the park, with the first passenger trip in 1963. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The park has since expanded, offering museums, shops, and lodging in historic houses. In 2023, a section of the line from Cass to Durbin was reopened after being destroyed in a flood in 1985.