BELLAIRE — The Great Stone Viaduct Historical Society is slated to host a day trip to the Cass Scenic Railroad on Oct. 14.

The trip will depart Bellaire from the Frizzi Law Offices, 224 32nd St., Bellaire, and travel by chartered bus to Cass, W.Va., where the group will board a train and ride to the top of Bald Knob behind a Shay steam locomotive.

The trip is about 22 miles and will last 4.5 hours. At an elevation of 4,842 feet, Bald Knob is the third highest point in West Virginia. Located 11 miles up the mountain from Cass, the Bald Knob overlook offers spectacular views (on a clear day) into two states and into the valley below, home to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. The train will also make a stop at Whittaker Station for a 30-minute layover on the way up the mountain.

The Cass Scenic Railroad is the same line built in 1901 to haul lumber to the mill in Cass. The locomotives are the same Shay locomotives used in Cass during that time, and in the rainforests of British Columbia for more than a half-century. Many of the passenger cars are old logging flat cars that have been refurbished. Cass is the home to the world’s largest fleet of geared Shay locomotives. Six Shays, one Heisler and one Climax reside here. The legendary turn-of-the-century class C-80 Shay, No. 5 has been toiling up Cheat Mountain for nearly 100 years, making it one of the oldest engines in continuous service on its original line, and the second oldest Shay in existence.

A box lunch is being provided for all persons going on the trip. Guests may bring a small personal sized cooler with them as well. GSV will have cold water available on the bus at no charge.

This trip will depart Bellaire at 5:15 a.m. by chartered bus. The group will depart Cass at 4:45 p.m. for home and arrive back in Bellaire by 11:30 p.m. The group will make a stop for dinner on the way home. All dinner costs and souvenirs are the responsibility of each person on the trip. Each person attending is responsible to supply their own devices to assist them during this tour, as well as any person they need for their assistance. GSV is not responsible to provide these devices or assistance; let them know of any issues when making the reservation.

GSV Charter and sustaining member price is $135. The non-member price is $150. The price includes the bus transport, boxed lunch and train ticket. Only 50 tickets will be allotted to this trip for this group.

Send check or money order to: GSV Society Cass Trip, P.O. Box 145, Bellaire, OH 43906. Include the full name, address and telephone number of each person going on the trip. For more information, call 740-963-3500, ext. 2, and leave a message.