Amazing Journey Is Here! Train Rides Making A Comeback In West Virginia’s Ghost Town

SPRUCE, WV (LOOTPRESS) –  At last, passenger service is returning to the abandoned town of Spruce for the first time since 2019.

Located at the highest altitude and coldest incorporated town east of the Mississippi, Spruce has become a popular vacation spot for visitors drawn by its mysterious past.

Historic Western Maryland Shay No. 6, the last and largest surviving Shay locomotive, will power the trips to Spruce.

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Spruce’s isolated location in the headwaters of Shaver’s Fork of Cheat River was deliberately chosen by the West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company in 1902 to create a complex for supplying pulpwood to their paper mills in Covington, Virginia, and Luke, Maryland.

At its height, Spruce was home to a bustling hamlet that included a mill, locomotive shop, business offices, hotel, and row houses that had electric lighting, which was unusual for the era.

Spruce faced an unclear future after the mill closed in 1926 when the Western Maryland Railway took advantage of the expansion of the coal business in the area.

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But by 1949, the railway had closed its Spruce operations, and the surviving families had left. These days, all that’s left of Spruce’s once vibrant neighborhood are the ruins.

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Travelers go on a picturesque adventure along the Cass Scenic Railroad as they depart from Cass.

At milepost 6.7, the route splits off to follow the headwaters of the Shavers Fork. Passengers are welcome to explore the town site during their layover at Spruce, where educational displays offer insights into the town’s history.

A rustic “King of the Road” hobo lunch consisting of a cold sandwich, chips, cookie, applesauce, and bottled water will be served to guests as part of the experience.

A complementary dish of applesauce, chips, and cookies is served to children under three, but parents are encouraged to bring extra food.

The following days should be noted for your calendar: May 18, July 13, August 10, and September 7.

The departure time from the Cass Depot is 11 AM.