NellieBly wrote:The line from Tygart Junction to Bergoo, WV (formerly B&O as far as Elkins, Western Maryland beyond) was sold by CSX to the State of WV about five years ago. Some years previously, when the line from Cheat Junction to Durbin was abandoned, the state paid to build a connection from Cass Scenic to the Bergoo line. The junction is at the foot of the grade up to the Big Cut, at 4066 feet the highest point on a railroad east of the Rockies.
The West Virginia Central now runs excursions out of Elkins north to Tygart Junction and sout to Cheat Bridge. Special trips go as far as the junction with the Cass Scenic, and last year one of the Cass Shays steamed all the way up to Elkins and back. The state has paid to restore track into downtown Elkins, rehab the former WM passenger station, and install a turntable (which is on site awaiting installation).
The entire line is very scenic. I hi-railed it not quite ten years ago with CSX personnel, and we actually managed to get over the summit at the Big Cut, but were stopped by a large washout on the west side. We backed up to the junction with the Cass Scenic and went up the lead toward Cass until we found a place to set off (grade crossings are very scarce on this line). We then drove down to Slaty Fork, set on, and hi-railed back north to the other side of the washout. So we covered the entire line from Tygart Junction to about MP 101.5. South of there to Bergoo (MP 121) the line was impassable.
Anyway, it's worth the time, if you're visiting Cass, to take the trips on the WVC.
I FULLY second this motion, all of this territory is WELL worth riding. I rode Cass twice last month to both Bald Knob and
Spruce which is where Cass joins the national network. Spruce is covered only on Fridays. Unfortunately out of Elkins I
did not get to ride to Spruce which is only being covered about once a month but I did ride to Cheat Bridge which is a
very pleasant ride. The station in Elkins is a beautiful sight of a building in excess of 100 years old.
This is a beautiful area and these operations are among the best anywhere. I stayed in a motel in Bartow, WV which is
about 40 miles from Elkins and over a mountain pass as well and about 16 miles from Cass, the Mountain Trout in their
restaurant was a delight in itself.. Accomadations at the Hermitage in Bartow are far better than any chain could offer at least as far as that area is concerned and maybe anywhere else either.
I was surprised at the decent condition of the track out of Elkins to Cheat Bridge, not very fast due to curves but in good
shape. Cass is far different from when it just moved lumber as well with rock ballast and tie plates as well as good rail on the entire trip.
Noel Weaver
