Despite the rocket will no longer be running once the line to Cass is completed but at least the tracks won’t be abandoned, great video Nick, keep up the good work.
Ok Joe Fusco... thought I was watching one of his videos lol. FANTASTIC video, Nick! Completely blown away! By far one of the best steam films I’ve ever seen. Keep up the great work!
The line that has greenbrier is soon to be reconnected with the Cass Scenic Railroad. Here are the Durbin Rocket's moments before the Cass Scenic Railroad reconnect.
Shay no. 2 is still operational. The locomotive is not shown here because she is currently used only on the Bald Knob doubleheaders, which typically only happen on Saturdays. We filmed the Bald Knob train on a Sunday.
@@PennsyPro Not 100 percent true. She recently broke a wedge pin in piston 1 while running the bald knob trip. She's usually used every bald knob trip. It happened a couple weeks ago. She's ok now.
Correct! The dedicated crews at the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley have been at it for six years now. The reopened line will lay higher and farther back from the river than the original - in fact, much of the original right of way was washed out in 1985!
@@PennsyPro So when will it be completed then? Well, because then it would be awesome if steam powered excursion trains can run from Cass to Durbin once the line is 100% completed soon!
The goal is to have the line completed for next year's operating season. The final barrier between Cass and Durbin lies at Trout Run, where work is currently progressing on realigning the track and replacing a bridge. Plans call to have trains run from Cass to Durbin, so the town of Durbin will continue to see rail traffic as a destination, but this particular excursion will cease to exist after this year.
4:16 - Schoolhouse Curve is accessed via River Road, which is a gravel road that branches off of the depot parking lot. It is by this road that virtually every shot outside of Durbin is accessed. Follow River Road all the way down until it ends, and you will find a footbridge over the Greenbrier River. Cross that and walk to your left and you'll be there! The property owners there are very friendly - feel free to say hello if you see them! We advise you shoot there on the morning run for the best lighting. Also note that the footbridge over the Greenbrier is quite rickety, so take your time and watch your footing when crossing. 5:18 - Elk Creek is accessed via the same route as Schoolhouse Curve, but this time you'll head to your right and walk for about a half-mile or so. We advise parking early and waiting for the train to shove back before crossing the bridge and hiking in. Chances are this will be your only shot for the run. 7:54 - This shot is a little bit harder to access. After you enter the National Forest, there is a gravel pull-off to the right. It's easy to miss, so keep a careful eye out for it! From there, there is a path you follow to the river from there, which is also hard to get to. Make sure you have plenty of wiggle room in your chase plan - it may take some trial and error to get!
The Durbin Rocket is being replaced by longer excursions from Cass to Durbin, now that the former C&O Greenbrier Division is restored between the two towns.
This train runs over a portion of the former Chesapeake & Ohio Greenbrier Division, which connected Durbin and nearby Cass, WV, before a historic flood washed out the line in 1985. With repairs slated to be completed later this year, longer excursions will begin between Cass and Durbin, thus rendering the Rocket obsolete.
The Durbin Rocket excursions will be discontinued in favor of longer excursions between Cass and Durbin. The Greenbrier line will continue to see use for many years to come.
@@PennsyPro That explains why Climax 3 from the Rocket remains in storage while Heisler 6 is handling the work. Cass Heisler 6 will probably be the main engine for the route from Cass to Durbin due to her greater top speed of 20 plus mph where as the shays can barely exceed 10 and a Climax rips itself to pieces once it starts bouncing around 4 mph.
@@Chris9017 the plan is for Western Maryland Shay no. 6 to handle the excursions initially, which she did for a short time preceding the washout back in the 1980s. Eventually, Buffalo Creek & Gauley no. 4, a bulky 2-8-0, will be the main excursion power for the Durbin Line. Shay no. 6 is in the midst of a 1472-day inspection, and no. 4, which is already in a state of disassembly, is allegedly next in line. Heisler no. 6 will return to Cass by rail and will continue alongside the other Shays in the same service, just as she did before going to Durbin.
Why so much black smoke, shouldn't it be closer to white? I can't ignore the irony of a tour meant to appreciate the natural scenery while it's possibly adding to Earth's pollution.
Great video! Thanks for visiting us!
Thank you very much! Always a delight!
Despite the rocket will no longer be running once the line to Cass is completed but at least the tracks won’t be abandoned, great video Nick, keep up the good work.
Excellent work Nick! Sure will be different not having the Rocket anymore, but the future of the Durbin line still does look bright!
I went there before one time and I loved it a lot.
Ok Joe Fusco... thought I was watching one of his videos lol. FANTASTIC video, Nick! Completely blown away! By far one of the best steam films I’ve ever seen. Keep up the great work!
Thank you very much Mark!
Gorgeous! Well done! Thanks for sharing!
Superb video! We enjoyed this one!
The Durbin Rocket was iconic and Heisler #6 too.
Wow, That's So Cool. I'm Going On That Ride Tomorrow.
And I'll Film Some Of The Ride.
Awesome video! It's sad that the rocket is leaving but atleast we get a new and different train excursion
Great video. Very professional looking. Thank you for sharing.
What beautiful scenery and excellent videography sir. Thank you for preserving some
of our national railroad history.
Amazing video! I got to see the Durbin Rocket 1 last time.
Where is the Durbin Rocket right now?
@@brianfalzon6739 There wating for a steel bridge delivery. It's one of the final pieces they need!
@@cassscenicproductions8888 Ok, but what about Climax 3?
@@brianfalzon6739 She's at cass right now. Awaiting boiler work. I'm not sure when she will be up and running.
@@cassscenicproductions8888 ok, keep it posted and updated about Climax 3
Love this locomotive.
Great video, thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much!
Great catch!
I've already been to cass three times the fourth will be the trip to ride the durbin line by rail from cass to durbin.
Seems like Heisler #6 will be going back to her old home soon.
The line that has greenbrier is soon to be reconnected with the Cass Scenic Railroad. Here are the Durbin Rocket's moments before the Cass Scenic Railroad reconnect.
What happened to number 2
Shay no. 2 is still operational. The locomotive is not shown here because she is currently used only on the Bald Knob doubleheaders, which typically only happen on Saturdays. We filmed the Bald Knob train on a Sunday.
@@PennsyPro Not 100 percent true. She recently broke a wedge pin in piston 1 while running the bald knob trip. She's usually used every bald knob trip. It happened a couple weeks ago. She's ok now.
Hello again! Last question I promise. Whats the closest road to this spot at 8:56?
That shot is accessed by the same way as Schoolhouse Curve. It’s a bit to your right here.
Wait so there finally gonna be fixing up the greenbrier line?!
Correct! The dedicated crews at the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley have been at it for six years now. The reopened line will lay higher and farther back from the river than the original - in fact, much of the original right of way was washed out in 1985!
@@PennsyPro So when will it be completed then? Well, because then it would be awesome if steam powered excursion trains can run from Cass to Durbin once the line is 100% completed soon!
The goal is to have the line completed for next year's operating season. The final barrier between Cass and Durbin lies at Trout Run, where work is currently progressing on realigning the track and replacing a bridge. Plans call to have trains run from Cass to Durbin, so the town of Durbin will continue to see rail traffic as a destination, but this particular excursion will cease to exist after this year.
Is that a Lonergan whistle on #6
Yes it is!
Why is it stopping? Is it being retired?
Hello! How do o get to elk creek at 5:18? Also school house curve at 4:16? The greenbrier River at 7:54? Thanks!
4:16 - Schoolhouse Curve is accessed via River Road, which is a gravel road that branches off of the depot parking lot. It is by this road that virtually every shot outside of Durbin is accessed. Follow River Road all the way down until it ends, and you will find a footbridge over the Greenbrier River. Cross that and walk to your left and you'll be there! The property owners there are very friendly - feel free to say hello if you see them! We advise you shoot there on the morning run for the best lighting. Also note that the footbridge over the Greenbrier is quite rickety, so take your time and watch your footing when crossing.
5:18 - Elk Creek is accessed via the same route as Schoolhouse Curve, but this time you'll head to your right and walk for about a half-mile or so. We advise parking early and waiting for the train to shove back before crossing the bridge and hiking in. Chances are this will be your only shot for the run.
7:54 - This shot is a little bit harder to access. After you enter the National Forest, there is a gravel pull-off to the right. It's easy to miss, so keep a careful eye out for it! From there, there is a path you follow to the river from there, which is also hard to get to. Make sure you have plenty of wiggle room in your chase plan - it may take some trial and error to get!
@@PennsyPro Thank you so much! This means a lot! Your directions are so clear! So could you shoot all of this in 1 day at durbin? Thanks again!
@@cassscenicproductions8888 We shot this over two days. Except for hike-ins, you can reasonably expect two shots per excursion. Happy to help!
Will Climax 3 ever come back
Do they no longer have the durbin rocket
The Durbin Rocket is being replaced by longer excursions from Cass to Durbin, now that the former C&O Greenbrier Division is restored between the two towns.
Why is the train being disconinued?
This train runs over a portion of the former Chesapeake & Ohio Greenbrier Division, which connected Durbin and nearby Cass, WV, before a historic flood washed out the line in 1985. With repairs slated to be completed later this year, longer excursions will begin between Cass and Durbin, thus rendering the Rocket obsolete.
@@PennsyPro Thanks for the explanation!
So are the railroads gonna be connected or no?
Beautiful video. What will be the disposition of the Rocket after this year? Will she be retired or continue in use?
The Durbin Rocket excursions will be discontinued in favor of longer excursions between Cass and Durbin. The Greenbrier line will continue to see use for many years to come.
@@PennsyPro
That explains why Climax 3 from the Rocket remains in storage while Heisler 6 is handling the work.
Cass Heisler 6 will probably be the main engine for the route from Cass to Durbin due to her greater top speed of 20 plus mph where as the shays can barely exceed 10 and a Climax rips itself to pieces once it starts bouncing around 4 mph.
@@Chris9017 the plan is for Western Maryland Shay no. 6 to handle the excursions initially, which she did for a short time preceding the washout back in the 1980s. Eventually, Buffalo Creek & Gauley no. 4, a bulky 2-8-0, will be the main excursion power for the Durbin Line. Shay no. 6 is in the midst of a 1472-day inspection, and no. 4, which is already in a state of disassembly, is allegedly next in line. Heisler no. 6 will return to Cass by rail and will continue alongside the other Shays in the same service, just as she did before going to Durbin.
@@PennsyPro*3 years later and no sign of 6-*
So will the line not be used anymore?
It will continue to be used, but it will host excursions between Cass and Durbin rather than the Rocket. These excursions are history after this year.
@@PennsyPro oh ok also next year pls do a video on j&l 58 the railroad grew alot and you haven't seen it in 2 years.
Whatever happened to big 6?
Western Maryland Shay no. 6 is in the midst of a federally mandated inspection.
@@PennsyPro ohhh. Alright
Why so much black smoke, shouldn't it be closer to white? I can't ignore the irony of a tour meant to appreciate the natural scenery while it's possibly adding to Earth's pollution.