2010 Cass Railfan Weekend - Day 3

Last day in metropolitan Cass, WV.  I decided to not ride the train up the mountain again based on questionable weather, similar photo locations and most importantly, a 7.5 hr car ride.  I did manage to get a few good photos as the trains were departing.

The first setup of the day was a three rail line up with 3 engines.  I was at a bad angle to get all three without including a few people who decided to jump the photo lines.  Assholes.

Here are the two #6's.

An interesting reflection of the headlight in the exhaust.

The working gears of WM Shay #6.

A busy scene around the water tower with a freight passing. Each engine carries approximately 5,000 gallons of water.

In addition to water and coal, these engines require significant grease and lubrication to keep working.  The engineer topping off WM Shay #6 prior to moving up the mountain.

All in all it was a good weekend, weather aside.  Hope you enjoyed the photos.

2010 Cass Railfan Weekend - Day 2 Night Shots

After the rain during the day on Saturday, the skies cleared for the evening photo shoot.  A few from the evening.

2010 Cass Railfan Weekend - Day 2

Day 2 of the 2010 Cass Railfan started with a little rain and got worse from there.  The weather could have been the worst weather I have ever taken photographs in and that includes a night in Yellowstone where it was -20.  Enough gripping about something I could not control.

Three engines went up the mountain on Saturday.  Shay # 11 and # 6 pulling the passenger coaches and Shay #5 working the logging train.  After a long climb, we need to stop for water.  Shay #11 and #6 are being filled with a gravity feed tank located next to the track. 

Once filled, the train moved on and out of the fog streamed #5 will the logs.  

It's hard to tell whether it is the steam/smoke or fog and the train moves past.

On top of the mountain, visibility was about 50 feet as had moved into the clouds.  Almost a ghostly image.

One more from the top.

Two more stops during the afternoon.  At the last location, we finally started to get a few breaks in the clouds.

And last but not least, scenic downtown Cass, WV.

2010 Cass Railfan Weekend - Day 1

I participated in the 2010 Cass Railfan weekend.  Cass, WV is located in the middle of NOWHERE.  Great scenery, but it is in the middle of NOWHERE.  The Cass Railroad is an old logging railroad which is now operated by the State of West Virginia.  They have done an outstanding job of maintaining and preserving the railroad.  Here are pictures from Day 1 of the weekend.

Heisler #6 is steamed up and ready to go.  #6 was pulling the passenger coaches up the mountain.

#6 making a pass at a remote crossing halfway up the mountain and then working up the 5% grade.

The Cass speeder followed us up the mountain to Whittaker.  Good thing as we had a small derailment.

#6 works its way into Whittaker.

Back down the mountain, we returned to the shop for a tour and dinner.  Not just the steam engines are old here.

The running gear on Western Maryland Shay #6.

The end of Day 1 brought a night photo shoot on a small trestle just outside of Cass.

Hope you enjoyed the photos. - Ross

Parking Lot Clouds

Saturday was an interesting weather day in the PA/NJ area.  Very windy.  As the sun was headed down for the evening, it made for some interesting light on a few clouds.  These are shot from a parking lot in Princeton, NJ.  Enjoy.

Baby Red Fox

We've located a red fox den in Bucks County.  I was able to get shots of the kits for the first time last night.  These were the only two which were decent enough to post.  As you can see, they are still very young.  There are at least three but this one was the most adventurous.  Enjoy.