A Noon Stop for Water

Southern Pacific narrow-gauge at Keeler CA on August 25 1959.
A water tank’s chain rattles in the desert wind.

We’ve all noticed it. There’s something atmospheric about most railroad structures. There are so many examples. From major stations (and there would be much to say about the atmosphere of stations!) all the way through to the humble mile board’s increments of distance.

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Shays on the Mountain

Cass Scenic Railroad State Park

The drive shaft of “Big 6,” the last Shay ever built by Lima, and the largest too. Big 6 is a three truck Shay weighing in at 162 tons!

Nestled way back in the lush mountains of West Virginia is a place time has almost forgotten. There are no big chain supermarkets or restaurants, no massive apartment complexes, no traffic jams, and not even any cell phone service. What there is however, is nothing short of magic. In the air is the faint odor of coal smoke and oil, and if you listen, you may just hear the lonesome cry of a steam locomotive’s whistle!

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