Totally Awesome Shay Locomotive #2 on the Cass Scenic Railroad 

Those Shays sure are a marvel of engineering and the whistle to pair with em is like the icing on the cake! Beautiful scenery and awesome history! 👍🏻☺️

I’ve heard that whistle hundreds of times. Long ago. Shays are a symbol of relentless power to me.

Now that's what a train whistle is suppose to sound like. Good memories from my childhood.

Nothing sings like a Shay!! And the way it echoes off the hills...😍 We've ridden behind these beauties several times, never gets old. I've been to Lima, and was disappointed that I couldn't really find anything related to the Shay works, just a sign. Thank you for giving me goosebumps with those whistle songs today!!

The whistles of Cass are the best sounding of anywhere in the world. Can't say if it's the engineers, the mountains, the history, or a combination of all. It's amazing how much the place has changed for the better since I was a kid. More equipment operational, new track opening soon, and how well the spruce trees are returning to the mountain. And yet through all the changes the place has never lost its charm. I can't name any other RR where the crew is as friendly and doesn't mind visitors getting up close and personal with the equipment. Cass is genuine. Its history so deeply embedded that it never feels like some form of commercial enterprise. Rugged, the way it is supposed to be. I've been up the mountain in the rain a few times. Hearing a shay spin it's wheels on wet rail at a 13%grade is a nerve racking experience. Especially when you start sliding downhill.

I must say that whistle is the most beautiful sound I could hear. I recorded it so I can play it tomorrow on the NCR Rail Trail. My wife and I have been doing walks on it and we will cross the Mason/Dixon Line. Along this historical railbed rode our 16th President to Gettysburg in November of 1863 and, sadly in 1865 on his funeral train. Along the rail bed are many cast iron whistle posts and I've always wanted to have a steam whistle recording to use as we passed them. I think I'll catch #1309's whistle and add it to my phone as well. I think it'll sound really cool if I ever ride a bike on the trail. Thanks for sharing your vacation with us.

That driver plays the whistle very well..... Sets my hair on end and sends a shiver through me. Thanks Dave!!

I really live the whistles on these old Shays. So much more enjoyable to listen to than today's horns. Another great video. Thanks for sharing on your vacation.

What an amazing and unique locomotive! The slip joint that they made in the driveshaft is ingenious... especially for that timeframe. Great video... hope to ride the Cass at some point!

Those old steam whistles........don't get any better. Gotta Love it for sure !!

Steam whistles and Shay geartrains and Heisler engines oh my! One of these times we visit my wife's family in the USA I'll have to visit the Cass Railroad. Such a unique fleet, I could watch the Shay gears all day. Thank you for this film! :)

The mechanical engineering that went into that locomotive is incredible, my hats off to the maintenance personnel at that shop.

They had one these locomotive at Eataville for years they ran into hard times and sold it off to another rail road museum thank you for having us along with you and the wife for a view of cass scenic railroad great video thank you

Dave, AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!!!!! Thanks so much.

LOVE the train whistle! First time I've heard one like that. What my dad once said about trains, was you get speed or you get haul power. And for hills and haul, slow and steady wins it. I do miss my dad. Idk where he picked things up. But he was speaking about a Shea, that it was a different set up for the drive, and that it was fascinating to see. Now I finally, after soo many years, get to see why! LOVE. IT. Thanks for taking us along.

Morning Dave, you have right i love this Video! As i hear the Pipe of the Shay i became Ghoosebombs. She is so beautiful and the Pipsound are very special.

Thanks for the video: taking all your viewers along on this delightful trip.

Thank you for the tour beautiful countryside thank you very much have a wonderful vacation 👍👍👍👍

What a unique drive system on those Shay's! Great catch, Dave. Thanks, mate! 👍😎👍

Best whistle ever! And an amazing locomotive.

Very nice video Dave. loved that whistle. A very close friend of mine chartered a caboose (I believe it was on the Case) that took them out somewhere on the line and dropped the caboose on a siding and picked them up the next day. He really enjoyed that trip.

You guys certainly know how to enjoy yourselves thanks for the ride Dave.

Thanks Dave for takin me a long. Nice to see the old loco running.

Looking forward to the rest of the vacation series! 1309 is quite the locomotive, was there for its first photo charter and then behind it for a fall leaf trip. So glad that it was finally restored after all the setbacks and delays, kudos to WMSR for sticking with it. As others have said, Cass is a place like no other, the sights, the sounds, the history. So lucky that it and the locomotives and rolling stock survives today. Unaware of the 13%-15% grades, I had heard 11% max, but it’s even steeper than I thought. And the pic of your son on the open top car was so awesome. We tried to ride that one when we’d take our many family trips to Cass when I was a kid kid, always such fond memories. Hopefully big 6 will return to the high rails next year, quite a size difference between it and the other shays. Cass also had the largest Shay that ever existed, it was the companion to big 6 (6 was built from its plans) and converted to a 4 truck Shay at Cass with Lima’s help (sadly scrapped in the 50’s). The milk car still has the tanks I believe and an idea was to use it for water for longer excursions, though the connector rail from Cass to Elkins is graded for diesels (though big 6 has been to Elkins for a photo charter). Moore Keppel climax #3 was the former Durbin rocket power, I believe it is under a tarp there along the siding. Hopefully it will be restored sometime too and Climax 9 and Climax 3 can be reunited.

Love this,Cass is definitely on my bucket list. 2023 may be the year. Thanks so much for sharing......Wilmer

What an awesome sound echoing down that valley. Cool stuff 👍👍👍

Gotta love the whistle of the old trains.

Wow, love it. I rode on a Pacific type back around 1980 from Atlanta to Chattanooga. My kid, who were very young remember it fondly.😀

Hi Dave, great video! The Shay is a beauty, wonderful they're keeping her alive! Stay safe!

Thanks Dave for sharing and taking us along. Awesome job👍👍

Just love that whistle ❤️👍👍🚂

Wow what a beautiful locomotive! Thanks for taking us for a ride too Dave! Jenny

I remember when I was a kid, my grandpa had some memorabilia from Cass, he had various train items and pictures. I always wanted to go there! I was born in Charleston and we lived near Gauley Bridge so I saw trains go right by our house, within a few feet actually, almost every day. Great videos ! Just subscribed!

I was in Cass just a few weeks ago. If you get the chance to go and haven't been take that chance it is absolutely stunning going up the mountain. And if you're worried about price being too much it's worth every single cent, without a doubt.

Great vid Dave ... That Shay whistle was awesome ... What a fun vacation spot ... Thx ...

Another awesome video Dave I look forward on you uploading your videos all the time so don't stop doing it anytime soon please I enjoy these very much ❤️ That's railroading 😎

Awwwwwwwww, yeahhhhhhhhhhh!, that engineer sure knows how to play that whistle!............and that echo!, way, way beyond awesome!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️👍👍👍👍😀😀😀😀❗❗You should ask if Cumberland could borrow it for a week or two!!

Another great video! Never heard of a "Shay" before. Thanks!

What a journey and thank you for the ride along. Don’t get to see many steam trains but we have steam powers of the past and Darke County steam thrashers in western Ohio . Steam tractors. Greenville Ohio come visit us sometime.

Great train ride, thanks for taking us along.👍

I wondered why these were different than the other loco's, now I know, thanks Dave.

Wonderful sights and sounds Dave! Only thing missing this end was the smell 🙂 Sure there's plenty more to come.

Cass railroad is a great place. Hope to go there some day. I would give this video two thumbs up if I could.

That whistle would be a great ringtone or alarm.

Hi Dave, Great video. But one small niggle. Lima made some magnificent large locomotives, including the NicklePlate berkshires and Wheeling articulateds. Those Berks used to run down the hill from my parents house in northern Ohio. Great memories. Thanks.

That was a great video! The who of the steam whistle is magnificent. Thank you for taking the time to show this. :)

When I was there I spotted some 1905 Cambria Iron Co 100RB rails at the main depot. Also saw some 1920s tie plates from Wheeling Steel & Weirton Steel.

Awesome video! There is a Climax locomotive at Clark's Trading Post in NH. I went on the train ride there. Great ride, and even more so seeing the locomotive!

I worked for DNR West Virginia for 13 years..rode Cass Many times.

Love all the Belching from the Engine, feeding all the plants so we get to breathe Oxygen !

Have been on it many times. Worked for West Virginia DNR for 13 years.was Moyer lumber mills back in the day

Love the steam whistle!

Very impressive, got a chance to see Big Boy 4014 about years or so ago, came thru Wisconsin, that unit was unbelievable to see in person. Really enjoy your videos, and your knowledge and enthusiasm.

This was extra awesome. Thanks.

13º to 15º grade! There are 15 percent grades around here on our roads, but those are closed in the winter because they are so dangerous! I can't imagine a train going up something that steep! Awesome locomotives and rolling stock, thanks for taking us along Dave 😊

Sir makes the heart go boom boom! Thanx for the look see! Ken from gpt ms

Great sight and sound!

really love the whistles.

What a spooky mournful wale!

I love that sound. Takes me back to when I was but 3 or 4 y o .

I absolutely loved it! Can`t get enough of those steam whistles.👍👍❤❤

Awesome whistle Dave. 🚂🚂🚂

Love it, nothing better than hearing whistle in the valley. Great video and will look forward to the next chapter. Cheers

Man, they have some beautiful equipment there! Awesome stuff Dave!

Some of the smaller ones ran on log rails , awesome !

Wonderful! Made my day! Beautiful scenery, loved seeing the old locomotive, and there is just nothing like that mournful whistle sound echoing through those old West Virginia hills. Thank you.

Steam whistles are what they play for music in HEAVEN! ❤❤❤

Absolutely love Cass, great loco walk around. The shay was beautiful and nothing like it's whistle any where. Great coverage Dave, can't wait tor part 2 now... so glad you 2 had a great day...

I too rode behind the number 2 Shay locomotive. 🚂😊

That whistle is like none other!..AWESOME! Thanks for showing the Shay up close. Very interesting seeing the gear drive. Looking forward to the next installment! Fantastic video Dave! 👍👍

what is unique you can tell who is sounding the whistle they have a unique hand in how they sound the whistle duration , and inflection between. when the CSX crews come in on site there are 2 grade crossings you can tell the difference between the crews, it is so neat hearing the difference. great video thanks for sharing

Dave what an awesome video, love the whistle!!!!! Thanks for sharing my friend!!!!

Any day with you is a good day. That whistle is music to my ears. Like hearing a WW2 R2800 Vought Corsair Engine

Thank you Mr. Dave! The shay locomotive is my favorite trains. 😍

Love it Dave, excellent video

What a great train ride. Thanks for the history of the locomotives and for letting me ride along.

thank you Dave that was a great video

Love that old whistle! Nice video Dave! Looks like a very fun day.

There is just something special about a whistle calling you Trackside like no diesel horn could ever do. Somehow I can't envision a shay race thinking that all those flailing revolving parts could suddenly come flying off. Just looking at one they were rugged and did their job well however I just can't picture one being built in 1945 they must have really had to dust off the blueprints. To think that it helped win the war. Glad you had good weather to enjoy the sights and sounds of a lifestyle well preserved

What a great video Dave. I really do love the sound of the train whistle. It reminds me of my grandfather and his collection of train sounds on old vinyl records. Have a great day my friend.

Thanks Dave, that ride never gets old. I hope to make the trip again one of these days.

Love that whistle too Dave Thanks for showing the Shay close up details. I like how the drive shafts work on these with them having to power trucks that turn a really neat solution. I doubt I will get to see one in real but know a guy who builds logging layouts and he runs them at shows. Those cranks must of been really flying at 18mph bet that was a sight. In the war some locos were built for us by Lima and one is not far from where I am. It has that same whistle.

Sounds of those whistles! I'm goose-bumpy all over...happens every time I hear them. Got lots of geared locos out here in the PNW, practically every type ever made.

Good bit of history !

Love the sound of the whistle echoing off the hills! Never been to the Cass, have to go up there some day.

Great footage Dave

Thanks for sharing Dave. Cheers Pete

Great picture of you and your boy Dave! You are in great shape now but you looked like you could’ve handled just about anything or anybody back then man!

THANK YOU DAVID,,THAT SHAY DRIVE IS AMAZING!HAVE FUN....SAFE TRAVELS,,,,,BTW ,STILL NO COAL IN MAINE!

Seeing a Shay operating in person someday is on my bucket list.

Thank you for another great ride Dave! You must have enjoyed finding someone to talk railroading with! Your wife must be quite an enthusiast too!

Very cool video Dave thanks for sharing it with us. I sure like listening to all of your knowledge on these locomotives and train-related stuff. I'm always looking forward to another one of your videos.

Looks beautiful Dave, would love to take that trip someday. Those locomotives are engineering marvels, so complex yet so simple. Thanks for taking us along! By the way I see your close to 40k, congratulations on your channel growth, I think I joined you around 690 or so, with more viewers comes more comments, I understand if you don’t get a chance to read or reply, have a great evening Dave👍🏼😁🇺🇸

😊Awesome and enjoyed :)

I was there in 1984. We rented one of those 4 bedroom furnished houses for a few days. I believe they were around $50/day at that time!!

Thanks!

Agreed, I love the sound of steam whistle

Wow nice 👍

I have pictures of a Shay up in Oregon or Washington. Motorcycle trip in the '90s sometime.

I think another thing about the Shay is they can take tighter curves than conventional locos. No long connecting rods that required the drivers to be held in a straight line. Each truck can turn a bit, accommodating some really tight turns. In norther Michigan were I grew up, logging was a huge industry and they would actually do some track in sections and just lay them anywhere. Long enough to get the timber out and then move the tracks and move on.