Trip To Whittaker Station

We boarded Shay #2 and were off up Cheat Mountain along Leatherbark Creek. Amy was our person in charge of shoveling the coal into #2's firebox. On our trip that lady shoveled over a ton of coal on the trip to and from Whittaker Station. What a woman!

During the trip, there a several switch backs that help us climb the steep grade up the mountain.






Here we are getting ready to pull into the first switch back so that the train below can pass and return to Cass. This train has traveled further up the mountain to Bald Knob. Bald Knob is the second highest mountain in west Virginia. Spruce Knob is the highest in our state.








Sam is having some difficulty in believing this is a great ride. Seems as if the noise of the train, and especially the whistle, causes him to wonder why anyone would want on this beast!

It was a great day at Whittaker Station.

The weather was beautiful. The park had added a few attractions that we had not seen. There was a reconstucted logging camp and an example of a logging dining car. The caboose below is one that we had hooked to our train. One can rent a caboose and spend the night at Whittaker Station, Spruce, or Bald Knob. The train drops you off at one of the three locations and you rent the caboose by the night.

You will note that Judy is ready for the food service in the dining car.

We all had to have our photos taken by this unique locomative. Below are Sarah, Sam, Jeff, Velva, and Tim.

The grandparents had to get into the photo experience. Here are Grandpa, Grandma, Sam, Jeff, and Sarah.

Sam really enjoyed pushing his stroller in the meadow at Whittaker Station.

It was time to reboard the Shay and head down the mountain to Cass.

Sam did not take the return trip any better. See the joy that Sam has on his face!

Once we returned to the Cass Depot we were greeted by Rachael, John, Flora, and Lucy. The photo below is of the proud grandparents. Was a good day. Saran and Jeff left Cass for Bridgeport and the rest of us headed to Seebert.