In early November of 2020, the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad in West Virginia hosted their annual Rail Heritage Weekend, taking participants on a three day expedition through lush forests, along clear blue rivers, and up lofty mountains, all the while taking in the sights and sounds of geared steam locomotives, recreating the day to day operations typical of logging railroads in America, once a common sight that has since faded into history. Organized by Walter Scriptunas II, the event was unique in that all three types of geared steam power were represented: the Shay, the Heisler and the Climax. The weekend featured seasonably moderate temperatures and bright blue skies, making the results picture perfect indeed. In addition, spectacular night sessions were held with period actors and props, adding a great sense of character to an already rustic-looking railroad setting. The locomotives put on a fine show for the photographers with their sharp and authoritative stalk talk along with the unforgettable sound of the whistles echoing through the Appalachian Mountain splendor. It was a truly unforgettable event, and all who partook had a very memorable experience.
The first day of the event began in Durbin, WV as former Meadow River Lumber Company Heisler #6 headed south on the former Chesapeake & Ohio line along the Greenbrier River with a glamorous mixed freight consist. The destination was the small community of Hosterman, about 8 miles distant from Durbin. This section of track had been re-opened the previous year by the D&GV track crews as the ongoing project of reconnecting the towns of Cass & Durbin by rail approaches completion after a devastating flood in 1985 washed out a great majority of the line. #6 was turned on the wye in Durbin for southbound facing runbys in order to take advantage of the low light prevalent around this time of year. She was equipped with her original Radley-Hunter smokestack from the Meadow River Lumber Company along with a Southern Pacific "Desert" 5 Chime whistle from the collection of famed Cass Scenic Railroad engineer Artie Barkley. Later, a night photo session was held at the Durbin Depot, and was a perfect conclusion to the day.
#6 was built in 1929 by the Heisler Locomotive Works of Erie, Pennsylvania for the Bostonia Coal & Clay Company in New Bethlehem, PA, were she served as their #20. Ten years later, she was sold to the Meadow River Lumber Company in Rainelle, WV, where she was renumbered #6 and served primarily as the company's transfer locomotive. Retired in 1957, she was aquired by the Cass Scenic Railroad and arrived under her own power in late 1966. She was placed into regular service in 1968, powering some of the very first excursion trains on the newly reopened track to the summit of Bald Knob. In 2016, #6 was moved to Durbin by truck to serve as the fill-in motive power for the "Durbin Rocket" excursion trains, while the main motive power, former Moore-Keppel & Company Climax #3 undergoes a rebuild in the far more equipped shops in Cass. When #6 does return to Cass however, it will again be under her own power as the C&O line will be completed and Cass and Durbin will once again be connected by rail.
Enjoy!
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