Preserving a piece of West Virginia history
By Patricia Sizemore
CASS, W.Va. — Born in Baltimore, Md., Fred Bartels came to West Virginia in 1971 as a tourist and immediately fell in love with the state. His passion for railroading and preserving history led him to Cass, West Virginia, where he currently serves as Trainmaster.
“At Cass, I’m able to participate in preserving the history of railroading and life in a company town,” Bartels said. “It is important to make certain that future generations have a chance to experience the logging industry’s past.”
Bartels contributes to the preservation of the park’s historic locomotives. From 1973 to 1988 he worked at Cass as brakeman, fireman, assistant superintendent and superintendent. “I learned to work on railway equipment at Cass,” Bartels said. “There are no schools that teach the restoration, operation and repair of antique railway equipment. You must learn these skills from the ground up at a place like Cass and continue to learn about your trade each day.”
A job offer with more money led him and his young family to other states, but he eventually returned to his adopted home in 2006. “I missed working at Cass Scenic Railroad and the Division of Natural Resources,” he said. “I also missed the great people who live in West Virginia.” 
Cass played an important role in the state’s industrial past. “We are preserving a way of life that was typical of many logging and coal mining operations throughout the state,” he said. “This is only possible at Cass where you have not only the railroad operation, but also the company town that supported the industry.”
Trains were crucial in the transportation of the state’s abundance of lumber. Cass was originally owned and operated by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company in the early 1900s for the purpose of harvesting the plentiful timber in the Cheat Mountain area. As the logging industry continued to grow, rail lines proved essential in accessing timber.
Massive Shay locomotives were brought in to haul the heavy loads through the mountainous terrain. These steam-driven locomotives were specially designed to climb extremely steep grades and navigate sharp curves on frail, temporary tracks. Once production declined and railroad operation halted, visionaries, rail enthusiasts and local businessmen saw the potential for turning the logging town into a state park and tourist attraction.
Today, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park draws thousands of visitors from all over the country to tour its historic community. It is home to the largest roster of operating geared steam locomotives in the world. “Cass is truly a living museum of history,” Bartels said.
When he’s not working, Bartels enjoys reading, conducting historical research, building model railroads and recreational shooting.
“West Virginia offers its residents the opportunity to live in a natural environment consisting of beautiful scenery and an abundance of wildlife,” he said. “It’s a secure place for families.”