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West Virginia Christmas Train Rides In Cass!

Published: November 29, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Christmas at Cass transforms Cass Scenic Railroad State Park and its historic company town into a mountain holiday scene where century-old Shay steam locomotives wear wreaths and the aroma of wood smoke mingles with pine and cocoa.

Tucked along the Greenbrier River beneath Back Allegheny Mountain in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, Cass is a living museum of logging-era life—restored company houses, a classic depot, and an active shop yard.

During the season, lights trace the boardwalks, music drifts from porches, and the soft whoosh of steam sets the tempo for a celebration that feels both nostalgic and wonderfully alive.

Western Maryland 3-truck Shay #6, nicknamed "Big Six," begins boarding at the depot to make another climb up the mountain on October 12, 2008. Loyd Lowry photo.

About Cass Scenic Railroad

The Cass Scenic Railroad is a living museum of Appalachian logging history, a rare place where original steam-powered technology, a preserved company town, and the rugged landscape that shaped them all continue to work together much as they did a century ago.

Set in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park tells the story of industrial America’s late timber boom, the communities it created, and the preservation effort that transformed a fading industry town into one of the nation’s most compelling heritage railroads.

A Brief History

Cass began as a company town owned by the West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company (later Mower Lumber Company) at the dawn of the 20th century, built to support large-scale timber operations tapping the vast red spruce and hardwood forests of the Allegheny Highlands.

In 1901 a logging railroad was laid up the steep flanks of Back Allegheny Mountain to bring logs down to a sawmill on the Greenbrier River. The mill and town took their identity from the business that developed them, and the railroad was designed for one task above all: to conquer steep grades, sharp curves, and rough track deep in the mountains.

Unlike mainline railroads that prioritized speed, logging lines prioritized power, flexibility, and sure-footedness. Cass’s builders chose geared steam locomotives—specifically Shay, Heisler, and Climax designs—whose drive shafts and gearboxes let them creep steadily up grades approaching 9 percent and snake through switchbacks and tight curves impossible for conventional rod engines.

That technology defined the railroad’s character and explains why Cass remains such a draw for enthusiasts: it is one of the world’s best places to see geared steam working in the environment that demanded it.

The original line climbed from the mill at Cass to camps and loading points on the mountain, including Whittaker and beyond. Over time the railroad reached even higher country toward a logging town called Spruce, perched above 4,000 feet and known for its harsh winters and extreme remoteness.

Cass connected with the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway’s Greenbrier Division at the valley floor, ensuring a steady flow of timber products to broader markets. In its heyday, the mill at Cass was a major producer, feeding the region’s booming demand for lumber, pulpwood, and wood chemicals. The operations fundamentally reshaped the landscape, as old-growth spruce stands were clear-cut and fires became a persistent hazard on cutover land.

Socially, Cass was a classic company town. The mill and railroad employed a workforce that included loggers, teamsters, sawyers, railroaders, and their families, all living in company-built houses along a tidy grid.

There was a company store, a depot, boardinghouses, and community institutions—school, church, and medical services—arranged in a way that reflected the hierarchy typical of such places. While life was often hard and the work dangerous, the town was a close-knit community with rhythms and traditions built around the mill whistle and the trains.

Decline

Ownership of the operation changed hands in the early years, and for decades the railroad expanded and contracted as new tracts were cut and exhausted. The Mower Lumber Company ran the mill through the mid-20th century, continuing to rely on geared steam power long after most American railroads had dieselized.

This was a matter of necessity: on Cass’s grades and curves, the geared engines were the right tool for the job. By the 1950s, however, easily accessible timber was largely gone, and changes in the timber industry pointed to the end of the old model.

The last log train rolled in 1960 and the mill closed, leaving the town’s future in doubt. What happened next was as important to Cass’s story as its logging years: a preservation movement, backed by local citizens, rail enthusiasts, and state leaders, pushed to save the railroad and town as a heritage attraction.

Cass Scenic Railroad State Park

In the early 1960s the State of West Virginia acquired the property and created Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. By 1963, tourist trains were running again—this time with passengers instead of logs—making Cass one of the earliest and most ambitious state-run heritage railroads in the United States.

From the outset, the park balanced preservation with operation. Cass did not just display locomotives; it ran them on the original logging line, giving visitors a visceral sense of how the technology worked and why it mattered. The route up the mountain, complete with switchbacks and water stops, remains largely the same.

Today's Excursions

Today, trains typically climb to Whittaker Station, a popular picnic area and site of a recreated logging camp exhibit, or continue higher to Bald Knob, at 4,842 feet, with sweeping views across the highlands, including the valley of the Greenbrier River and the great dish of the Green Bank Telescope in the National Radio Quiet Zone.

Over the decades, Cass built a reputation not just for the spectacle of geared steam but for the depth of its interpretation. The park preserves many of the original company houses, now restored as overnight rentals.

The depot, company store, museum displays, and interpretive signage give context to what visitors see and hear on the trains. Volunteers and partner organizations have been instrumental in this work, helping to restore equipment, build the Whittaker logging camp exhibit, and keep the railroad’s unique skillsets alive in the shop.

Cass’s locomotive roster has long been a point of pride. The railroad maintains one of the largest collections of operating geared steam locomotives anywhere, with Shays as the core of the fleet and representatives of the Heisler and Climax types highlighting the diversity of logging-era engineering.

These engines were built not for speed but for torque and adhesion, their geared drives delivering power evenly to all axles at walking speeds.

Coupled with steep grades and heavy trains, they provide an unforgettable sensory experience: the steady chuff of exhaust, the click of gears, the aroma of coal smoke and hot oil, and the sight of a locomotive leaning into a climb in the same forested hollows it has worked for generations.

Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad

In recent years, Cass entered a new chapter of cooperation and connectivity. In 2015, operations of the state’s tourist railroads in the region were combined under the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad through an agreement with the West Virginia State Rail Authority.

That arrangement brought Cass into a broader network that includes excursions out of Elkins and Durbin, aligning marketing, maintenance, and long-term planning across multiple lines.

A major project under this umbrella has been the rebuilding of the washed-out Greenbrier River line between Cass and Durbin—severed by catastrophic flooding in 1985. With track restored, through service returned after a hiatus of nearly four decades, opening new itinerary options and reuniting communities along the river with the historic rail corridor.

Beyond its locomotives and trackage, Cass embodies an important chapter in Appalachian history. It preserves the material culture of the timber boom, from industrial ruins to worker housing, and it helps explain how industry, environment, and community intersected in the high country of West Virginia.

The surrounding Monongahela National Forest stands as a counterpoint and complement: a regrown landscape that once bore the scars of heavy logging now frames the trains with second-growth spruce and hardwood, an evolving story of use and restoration.

For visitors, the railroad delivers layered experiences. Families ride to Whittaker for a picnic and a hands-on feel of a logging camp; railfans book the longer run to Bald Knob to savor every switchback and vista; history-minded travelers rent a company house and walk the streets of a preserved mill town after the last train of the day drifts back down the mountain.

For West Virginia, Cass has been an economic and cultural anchor, drawing tens of thousands of visitors annually, supporting small businesses, and reinforcing a sense of place rooted in both work and wonder.

More than a century after the first rails were spiked down at the edge of the Greenbrier River, the Cass Scenic Railroad continues to do what it was built to do: climb mountains with determination and purpose.

The cargo has changed, but the essence has not. Each trip is a moving lesson in ingenuity, endurance, and the heritage of a region that helped fuel America’s growth—and found a way, decades later, to preserve and share that legacy.

Christmas At Cass

At the heart of the event are special holiday train rides. Depending on the year and weather, the railroad typically offers shorter winter excursions suitable for all ages, often to Whittaker Station or along gentler stretches of track. Coaches are trimmed with greenery, conductors share stories of mountain railroading, and the locomotive’s exhaust hangs like lace in the cold air. Many departures include a meet-and-greet with Santa—onboard or at the depot—for photos and wish-list whispers. Daylight trips reveal frosted forests and river views; when evening runs are scheduled, the experience shifts to twinkling lights and the glow of a steam plume against the winter sky.

On the ground, Cass leans into small-town cheer. The depot and Company Store are decked with garlands, with shelves of railroad ornaments, West Virginia–made crafts, and old-fashioned candy. Expect hot cocoa, cider, and fresh-baked treats; when open, the Last Run Restaurant serves hearty, seasonal fare. Live music and caroling often pop up, and families linger between activities. Children might write letters to Santa, join simple crafts, or watch volunteers tend the locomotives—a guaranteed crowd-pleaser when the whistle sounds and a cloud of steam rolls across Front Street.

For an immersive escape, the park’s historic company houses—once home to timber families—can be rented within walking distance of the depot, turning a train ride into a cozy weekend. Many guests pair the festivities with nearby Snowshoe Mountain or a side trip to Marlinton. Tickets and lodging sell out quickly, so book early. Mountain winters reward preparation: dress in warm layers, wear sturdy shoes, and allow extra time for curvy, possibly snowy roads. Cell service is spotty; save tickets and directions offline. For current dates, prices, accessibility details, and weather advisories, check the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad website.

What makes Christmas at Cass memorable is its blend of sparkle and authenticity. You’re not in a theme park—you’re in a real Appalachian company town where steam still works and neighbors volunteer to create something heartfelt.

The result is a holiday tradition that feels handcrafted: lights on clapboard porches, stories in the depot, and the rhythmic heartbeat of a Shay easing past the platform—an experience that lingers long after the last carol fades into the winter woods.