Cass Scenic Railroad (Cass, West Virginia) -Part I

Betsy and George at Cass, West VA --enjoying the steam train to Bald Knob

In order to celebrate our Anniversary this year,  George and I took a trip to the glorious state of West Virginia --which we LOVE.  Even though we did ALOT of different things while we were there,  the main reason we chose that area this year was to take a ride on a train at the Cass Scenic Railroad in Cass, West Virginia.  We  took the old steam engine (Shay Locomotive)  train with open-air cars/seating WAY  UP to Bald Knob (elevation 4,842 feet).  The 11 mile trip up that mountain and back down takes a total of 4.5 hours --with 4 stops along the way.  The elevation at Cass is 2688 feet ---so if you do the math,  you'll see that we climbed a total of 2,154 feet.  One can feel the temperature getting colder the farther UP we go.  They say to bring a jacket even in SUMMER...

The Bald Knob area has a climate similar to Canada and is abundant in plants typical to the Canadian wilderness. I enjoyed seeing all of the Red Spruce trees at the higher elevations. The spectacular view from atop the overlook at Bald Knob provided a view into two states,  West Virginia and Virginia (Skyline Drive area).

George and I had been on this train once before --but the day we were there,  it was very very very cold... We about froze to death on that open-air train.  SO---we said back then that we hoped to return and take the train ride again.  This time the weather was excellent.

As many of you know,  I LOVE trains,  especially the old steam engines.   My Dad worked for the railroad for about 50 years --and when I was young,  he would take me to work with him--so that I could take a ride in one of the steam engines... SUCH great memories!!!! SO---anytime I get a chance to ride one of these old trains,  I take it --and love every second of it.

Before reading the rest of this blog post,  please take a minute and watch this short video.  The video will tell you more about the ride we took than anything I can say or show you through photos.  I promise---it won't take long but you will enjoy this little video (just to get to hear the whistle and bell if nothing else).  You can opt out of the commercial after the first few seconds.  Click HERE to see that video.  You will love it I'm sure!!

The photo above is a picture of us taken with our tripod at the Whittaker Station  (elevation about 3100 feet),  on the way up to Bald Knob.  Whittaker is one of four stops along the way.  Besides the other main stop,  Bald Knob,  the train has to stop along the way both going and coming to take on water for the engine... 

Here is another great video  (click HERE) giving much more detail about the Shay Locomotives and how they all work/operate... This video is done by a father (found the video online and do not know him) talking to his children as they go up the mountain.  He does an excellent job I think --and his children learned alot.  (He reminds me of my youngest son, who always taught his children everything as they 'explored' the world around them..)  Like most families with young children,  they opted to take the shorter ride which only goes up to the Whittaker Station,  a total ride of about 2 hours.  We personally like the longer ride to Bald Knob.

We got to Cass early so that we could watch the other train (to Whittaker Station) leave the station.

My husband had to take his turn as Engineer  (he wished).... ha

I, on the other hand,  preferred the Caboose!!!

Here comes our train into the station!!!  ALL ABOARD!!!

We love the LAST car on the train and chose it so that we could get good pictures of the engine when it goes around curves--heading up or down that mountain.  Sometimes,  the engine would PUSH us  and sometimes it would PULL us!!!  (There were some switchbacks along the way.  We even passed the Whittaker Train on our way up--as it headed back down.)

 

The engine is working HARD pushing us up that mountain!

This is where the train stopped to take on WATER both going up and down the mountain.

The views from the train were fantastic!!!

I loved seeing the gorgeous woods ALL around us--as we headed up the mountain.

Looking the other direction at the tracks

Our Train at Bald Knob

The overlook at Bald Knob...  At 4,842 feet in elevation --and a little chilly up there;   But--the views were GREAT.

This caboose at Bald Knob is for rent.  A person can ride the train up --and stay up there for the night and until the train comes back the next day...Then they ride back down the mountain on that train... IF you love nature,  you would be up on the mountain with no electricity nor water!!!  It will be just YOU and NATURE (and the critters)...Sound like fun?????

Headed back down the mountain;  Most of us are still standing up taking photos!!

After getting back to Cass,   we watched our No. 5 Train head out to its "home" for the night! We waved goodbye after a fantastic day!

I have another post ready to publish on Monday --telling you what we saw and did while on that special train ride... SO--you'll just have to wait!!   If you want more information about the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park,  click HERE.  If we lived closer,  we'd be taking this train ride more often.  Wouldn't it be fantastic in Autumn when the leaves change?  OR--wouldn't it be fun to take one of their Night Rides --during  a Full Moon???? WOW!!!!

Have a fantastic weekend and I'll see you Monday!

Hugs,

Emoticons

A Walk Down Memory Lane in BRISTOL (Genealogy Post)

Four of my Great Aunts who lived in Bristol,  VA (photo taken in the late 1940's or early 1950's);  From left to right:  Nannie Ballard, Eunice Ballard, Aileen Ballard,  Lura Ballard

On June 22, 2014,  on our way to West Virginia for our Anniversary Vacation,  we made a stop in BRISTOL (VA and TN) so that I could do some Genealogy Research on the family home of my Grandfather Ballard's family  (James Franklin Ballard) ---who was my Mom's father. Grandfather Ballard died in 1936.

When I was born,  none of my Grandparents on any side of the family were alive.  BUT--I do remember many in my Grandfather Ballard's  family,  all living in or near Bristol, Virginia.  Bristol was about 60 miles from my hometown ---and my parents and I would visit that family in Bristol quite often when I was a youngster.  The photo above is of 4 of my Great Aunts (my grandfather's sisters). 

The beautiful Ballard home in Bristol,  VA

These four sisters lived in a gorgeous old home in Bristol.  As a little girl,  I remember that home and thought of it as a mansion at the time.  Above is a photo of that old home taken many years ago.

The NOT SO BEAUTIFUL Bristol Home on June 22, 2014

WELL--to make a long story short(er),   we went back to Bristol on June 22, 2014 in order for me to see that beautiful home.... SHOCK!!!!!  The house has changed so much and looks horrible now (and obviously not well-taken-care-of)!  The 3rd floor is gone and so is the chimney.  The entire neighborhood is run down and I could have just cried...  Why did someone let this happen to such a beautiful old home???  I was terribly disappointed.

The old home of Bland Ballard and family

After getting a few pictures,  I walked down the street to what (in my memory) looked like the home of my Great Uncle Bland Ballard  (and wife Myrtle).  Bland was my Grandfather's brother.   Again,  I was disappointed since I do not remember this house looking at all like this... SO---in this case,  I'm not even sure I chose the right house...




Here are a few old photos (taken before I was born).

Some of the Ballard Family;  Bland and Myrtle Ballard were the 1st couple on the left. They are the ones who lived in the house in the photo above. My Grandfather Ballard is the 3rd person from the left. This photo was taken at Grandfather Ballard's home near Abingdon, VA. I think.

Here's a sweet picture of my mother and her Papa (as she called her father).  Mom was in her early 30's when this photo was taken.. (She was 42 when I was born.)

Here's another good picture of Mom and Dad (Simon and Edith Banks) and my brothers.  Raymond (who was 20 years older than I am) was in the middle and Jimmy (who was 12 years older than I am) was being held by Dad.  This photo was taken at the home of Mom's father (near Abingdon, VA) in about 1931.. (I was born in 1942, and am the only one left in that family.)

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A sign across State Street in Bristol,  showing drivers which side belongs to the state of Virginia and which side belongs to Tennessee

OKAY ---moving on!!!!  Here are three other things I remember about Bristol.  First is State Street... Bristol is an interesting little city since part of it is in Virginia and part in Tennessee.  The main street of town divides the two states.. Each state has its own government... Bet they struggle at times deciding which responsibility belongs to which state.... Interesting,  I'll bet!!! Above is a big sign across State Street showing which side of the street is in Virginia and which one is in Tennessee.

STATE STREET in Bristol,  VA

Secondly,  I have HUGE memories of being on State Street when I was young.  The small town we lived in didn't have many large stores... SO---my parents and I would go to Bristol (when visiting the Ballard Family) and we would always shop.. The stores I remember are King's Department Store,  Woolworths (a Five and Dime store),  and Cole's  Rexall Drug Store --where we ate at their lunch counter... I thought I was in the BIG CITY when we were there.... I loved going to the stores on State Street... I have TREMENDOUS memories of those visits.

The side of the Bristol Union Railway Station

Thirdly,  I also have lots of happy memories at the Railroad Station in Bristol.  My Dad worked for the railroad --so  our family did lots of traveling by TRAIN (since he got free passes at times).  And---we always started our trips from this railroad station in Bristol.  I even took the train to and from my college in Tennessee--since most kids back then didn't own cars while in college.   Even though there are no longer any passenger trains here now,  I loved revisiting this station. It still smells like I remember way back when.  Do you have certain smells you remember? 

The sidewalk at the Bristol Union Railway Station

Many years ago,  this was a BUSY passenger railroad station.  Trains would pass through here going as far south as New Orleans or as far north as New York City--stopping at places along the way.  The railroad first came to Bristol in 1856.   This particular station was opened in 1902--and in 1980 was listed on the Virginia Landmark Register and the National Register of Historic Places.  I was thrilled to see this Railroad Station in SUCH great condition.  Bristol is trying to get Amtrak service --which would bring passenger service back to that area.. The last passenger trains in Bristol were in the late 1960's.

The Bristol, Virginia Union Railway Station

Here is a photo showing the entire station.  (You can see our Prius there in the picture.)  I was so glad that we saw this station but grieve the fact that we no longer have passenger trains (other than Amtrak)..  I miss them ---but I'm one who loves trains with all my heart...

Thanks to my Honey for letting us take this little side trip --as we were on our way to West Virginia.  I was disappointed when I saw the condition and change of the Ballard Home --but was thrilled to visit State Street and the Railroad Station... As you can imagine,  I talked to George for hours about my experiences in Bristol...  Such great memories!!!!

Since we are SO SO SO SO busy these days, and for other reasons,  I am changing to 2 blog posts a week for awhile,  Mondays and Thursdays.  I love blogging and always have something to blog about.  BUT--I feel badly when I cannot visit YOUR blogs as much as I wish I could...

Hope you have a good day/week --and I'll see you on Thursday.  And thanks to those of you who have stuck with me through all of this. I still love comments and they mean the WORLD to me!!!

Hugs,

Emoticons