Cass Scenic Railroad Tours

The Cass Scenic Railroad is truly a fantastic experience that is hard to beat. It occurs in the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in Cass, West Virginia. The railroad is an 11-mile-long route. It’s really a fun ride with lots to see.

The railroad operates the Shay Locomotive, which takes travelers along one of two routes up into the mountains, often through several switchbacks and steep climbs. These are some of the few such experiences in the world. The train has open observation coaches to allow you to see everything around you along the trip. There’s lots to see as well as plenty of things to learn from those on board offering guidance and insight.

Types of Scenic Railroad Tours

There are two types of rides you can book. Either one of them can be a fantastic experience.

The Ride To The Top trip is fascinating. It takes you 11 miles to the top of Bald Knob. The trip itself takes about four and a half hours. You’ll ride there and back on the train. There are some pretty views throughout the trip as you make your way through the Appalachian Mountains. One of the most fun aspects of this route is that you really feel like you are almost stepping back in time, and you can imagine the people before you who took this same route.

The railroad climbs 2,390 feet from Cass at the base all the way to Bald Knob, which is the second highest point in the state. The overlook is mesmerizing as you look through the dense wooded areas and see the skyline in front of you.

The second trip is to Whittaker Station. Even if you have done Bald Knob, it’s worth taking this much shorter trip. It is about four miles from the station to Whittaker Station. This trip takes about two hours to complete, round trip. It’s super fun, especially for the kids. You’ll pass a number of locations, including a machine shop and the water tower. The trail travels along Leatherbark Creek, which is fantastic to watch moving from the windows on the train. The route has a few curves and turns, but it’s so fun as you climb upward along the tracks. This is a pretty steep route, and you may get a bit worried, but if you are like me and enjoy roller coaster climbs, this is a fantastic option.

The Whittaker Station is just past the Cass Cave entrance. The views of the countryside are beautiful, with sprawling meadows and dense green everywhere you turn. There are some picnic tables in this area, and I highly recommend getting out to explore the area.

Tickets & Important Info

You do want to book your trip in advance, if possible, to ensure you get a spot. The key to remember is that hours of availability change significantly throughout the year due to the weather conditions in the area. The train does not operate every day. However, on days it is operational, it typically leaves around 12 pm. Ticket pricing ranges as well, with discounts available for seniors and military, and veterans. Children from 4 to 11 are more affordable, and those under three are free. Also, booking a group of 25 or more is possible. The cost is lower during the regular season, but during the fall months, costs increase due to limited access.

There is one car on the train that’s wheelchair accessible. No pets are allowed on the trip.

The Experience

The experience on the railroad is incredible, as it is a working piece of history. Be sure to check out the coal room, where you can see how the steam engine is powered. Throughout the ride, you can get up and check out the windows and the mountains you’re climbing through. The train is comfortable, and the people working at the location are quite welcoming, too.

Don’t forget to check out the fun store and all of the train memorabilia and museum pieces. There are lots of fantastic experiences to have here for anyone that loves trains, but even if you are like me and just enjoy history, this is an exceptional place to check out.

The train itself is quite a museum on its own. There are two of them operating, one for each of the routes. The trains were built by Lima Locomotive Works. Over the company’s history, it produced 2,761 of them, starting in 1880. When you sit and feel the rumbling under your feet, hear the sound of the whistle blowing, and feel the unease climbing up the mountain, you can just imagine what other people experienced doing the same thing 100 years ago or more. It is a fantastic experience for anyone, including the kids.