Kirneliler Electric Meat Grinder

Ice Shaver

The New Tygart Flyer Rail Journey

Cradled by the green-carpeted, wave-resembling ridges forming the Tygart Valley, Elkins, located in the West Virginia Highlands, represents down-home America.  From the historic, red brick railroad depot, two barely visible, gravel-imbedded tracks stretch out of town, their direction indicated by the girder-resembling bridge ahead, and to the right, of them.

Proudly and powerfully led by the black Western Maryland number 82 and dark-blue Baltimore and Ohio number 6641 diesel engines, the six-car complement comprising the late-May New Tygart Flyer stood poised atop the slender rails next to the 1908 depot, the locomotives humming with deep, throaty, journey-anticipatory vibration on the hot, power blue morning.  The passengers, most of whom consisted of school bus-deposited groups, progressively crowded the red-brick, track-level platform as the sun and temperature inched higher.  The steel Pullman coaches, internally air conditioned, enticed the throng inside during the 1045 boarding, the passengers recollecting into smaller groups as they gravitated toward their assigned cars.

Although the railroad's physical journey had been scheduled to depart at 1100, its historical one had begun more than a century ago, in 1880, and the "Western Maryland" and "Baltimore and Ohio" railroads, the names displayed by the current engines, had played crucial roles in it.

Principally hauling freight and coal, along with limited passenger service, the Western Maryland Railway itself, whose line entailed a six-year construction period beginning in 1906, had served the three states of Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, with two major track subdivisions: the Connellsville Subdivision, primarily engaging in easterly and westerly freight traffic flows, connected Cumberland, Maryland, with Connellsville, Pennsylvania, while the Thomas Subdivision, also originating in Cumberland, threaded its way through densely-forested, coal- and timber-rich West Virginia to Elkins.

The latter subdivision, however, had actually begun in 1880 when the West Virginia Central and Pittsburgh Railway had contemplated laying narrow-gauge track, but almost immediately elected to employ the more widely used standard gauge, for the purpose of providing access to the Allegheny Highlands' abundant, hitherto untapped resources, itself sparking the establishment of several towns, inclusive of Davis, Thomas, Parsons, and Elkins.

The Coal and Iron Railway, established in 1899 to facilitate logging operations, originated in Elkins, boring through the Cheat Mountain Tunnel and following the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River and the West Fork of the Greenbrier River into Durbin, where it connected with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad's Greenbrier Division.  Although construction had been completed in 1903, the Western Maryland's acquisition of the West Virginia Central and Pittsburgh only two years later resulted in the Coal and Iron Railway's redesignation as the "Durbin Subdivision."

Elkins, located at the mouth of the Leading Creek and Tygart Valley rivers, was named after investor and Senator Stephen B. Elkins, who, along with Senator Henry Gassaway Davis, had been instrumental in both the railroad's and the town's growth.  Originating to serve the workforce needed to maintain and operate the line, the expanding town had once featured maintenance shops and "Wild Mary's" freight yard, the staging area and western terminus of the many coal operations which had fanned out from the Elkins area, supported by a 900-strong team. 

Threshold to some of the world's richest timber and natural resources, and the transportation hub of the Appalachian Mountains, it became home of the Davis and Elkins College and Davis's Graceland Inn summer residence, where invited guests would escape the Washington heat and humidity in order to enjoy its higher-elevation, cooler-climate location.  Elkins became the Western Maryland Railway's southwestern hub, its Thomas Subdivision connecting with its main line at Maryland Junction, south of Cumberland.

Although its service had been consistently ranked as fast, efficient, and of considerable quality, it significantly competed with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, but was fraught with several obstacles, including a proliferation of costly, high-maintenance tunnels and bridges; use of a single, as opposed to the B & O's double, main line track; and service to only two major cities—namely, Baltimore and Cumberland.

The Baltimore and Ohio, having already established an affiliation with the Chesapeake and Ohio in 1962, petitioned the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to gain control of the Western Maryland two years later, which it granted, but the line had continued to operate independently until 1972, at which time all three rail companies were merged into the Chessie System.

Further amalgamated with the Seaboard Coast Line and The Family Line ten years later, it briefly operated the Seaboard System, but was remorphed into the CSX Corporation, whose railroad division was designated "CSX Transportation," in 1987.

The town of Elkins, whose growth had peaked in 1920, began a resource depletion-sparked decline and progressive rail service reduction until the tracks witnessed their last operation in 1959, thereafter lying barren and unused for some four decades.

In 1997, the Interstate Commerce Commission granted CSX Transportation permission to abandon the track it owned, but no longer used for coal carriage, below Elkins, which was subdivided into the still-active Elkins-Tygart Junction portion and the inactive Elkins-Bergoo section, provided that the West Virginia State Rail Authority could acquire both for a $6 million fee.

The line, encompassing some 140 miles of Elkins Division track and managed by the West Virginia Central Railroad, is now operated by the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad, a short-line company owned by John and Kathy Smith.  Originating service on May 16, 1998 during the annual Cass Scenic Railroad railfan weekend, it initially operated from Durbin until the Randolph County Development Authority reconstructed the old Western Maryland bridge, allowing it to re-establish rail access to the Elkins train depot abandoned by CSX in 1992, once the location of its 22-acre, roundhouse-equipped yard.

The restored depot, site of the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad's headquarters, is the departure point for three of its four excursion trains—the "New Tygart Flyer," the "Cheat Mountain Salamander," and the "Mountain Express Dinner Train"—while the "Durbin Rocket" continues to depart from the town of Durbin itself.

The Elkins depot once again serves as a railroad departure point and the town is once again the shopping, dining, hotel, and transportation hub of the east central Appalachian Mountains—but now for tourists.

A piercing whistle warned of the New Tygart Flyer's imminent departure on that late-May day.

Nudged by the two diesel engines in pusher-mode, the train inched rearward as the car couplings accordioned into each other.  Plying the tracks of the former Cheat Subdivision, which gently curved to the right, it trundled over the rust-colored, girder-resembling bridge and the green reflective surface of the river, the individual structures of Elkin's historic district merging into motion, and paralleled several stationary coal cars until it briefly suspended its own travel.

Threading to the right on the switchback, and now pulled by its locomotives, the New Tygart Flyer departed the Elkin's yard limits at milepost 30.0, plunging through dense vegetation, as if the tracks provided a parting path through it.

Negotiating the horseshoe-shaped Isner Loop two miles later, the snaking chain commenced its 2.8-percent graded ascent up Cheat Mountain.

Seemingly brushing the slanted dirt and shale rock faces, it following the arching, climbing rails, cradled by a deep ravine.

Reaching the summit at the Cheat Mountain Tunnel, the dual-locomotive, six-car chain plunged into the 1,717-foot-long, hand-carved, s-curved passage under the mountain's ridge, the light-outlined portal representing its entrance progressively decreasing in size until it flicked out behind the last car, and the forest-green views through the side windows, as if shades had suddenly been pulled over them, transformed into blackness.  The narrow rock tunnel provided as much clearance as a hand in a glove.

After reducing its momentum to a snail's pace, the train reinitiated determined momentum.  The layers of step-resembling shale rock showcased earth's evolutionary, millennia-carved artistry, expressed in geological style.

Redescending into the Cheat River Valley at a two-percent graded rate, it reached the mountain's base at the small community of Bowden.  A short, out-of-service track siding passed by at milepost 38.4.

The cars lurched and swayed as they snaked behind and mimicked the Western Maryland and Baltimore and Ohio locomotives, their whistles cracking open the gentle, pre-summer morning with every road-crossing traverse, momentarily intercepting, and then paralleling, the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River.

Located in the eastern Allegheny Mountains, the 88.5-mile-long river itself, flowing through Monongahela National Forest and principally draining a 214-square-mile basin in rural and forested areas, is part of the mighty Mississippi by means of the Cheat, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers.  Rising in north-central Pocahontas County at Thorny Flat, itself situated on 4,848-foot Cheat Mountain, it flows through the abandoned logging town of Spruce, location of its headwaters, before moving in a north-northeasterly direction through Randolph and Tucker Counties.  Its valley is formed by Cheat Mountain in the west and Shavers Mountain in the east.  Joining Black Fork at Parsons, the Shavers Fork forms the Cheat River at a 1,621-foot elevation.

The river's prevalent, white-capped, mini-rapids, indicating their negotiation of the rocks and pebbles numbering in the hundreds of thousands encountered in their paths, represented obstacles the water's forces painstakingly wore down into smooth, almost polished brown opals.  Would that force ever succeed in reducing them to nonexistence?  Which entity, or state, could then be considered the conqueror—the liquid or the solid?

The 1922-era, deluxe Pullman Palace parlor car in which I rode, the most luxurious of the train's coaches, featured a wooden bar and pantry; individual tables and black vinyl chairs; wooden sidewall paneling; laced window curtains; ceiling fans; and red, floral-patterned carpeting.

A buffet lunch was served in the standard cars, but the parlor car offered more formal, menu and table service, and included a turkey, lettuce, and tomato croissant; a tri-color pasta salad; potato chips; apple pie a la mode; and iced tea.  Catering had been provided by the Railyard Restaurant located in the historic Elkins Railyard, but entrees were made on board.

Cheat Mountain, draped in multiple shades of green, majestically rose in front of the locomotives.  Bemis, a camping community of some 200, was represented by a scatter of farmhouses and mobile homes off the left side.

The track, sandwiched between Glady Fork on the left and Cheat Mountain on the right, re-elevated and passed over High Bridge, under which the glistening water appeared a motionless, velvet sheen surface.  Curving over and between sand-colored boulders, the river descended under the trestle in an inverted s-pattern.

The screeching, snaking chain of steel cars, imitating their life-providing, parental engines, somehow appeared infinitesimal amidst the mountains, progressing like a thread through the eye of a needle, over a path veritably swallowed by the tree-carpeted peaks towering above them.

Decelerating to a crawl at 1230 and paralleling the 4,200-foot track siding at milepost 42.6, the New Tygart Flyer arrested its motion, the two diesel engines disconnecting from the parlor car and rounding the train to reattach themselves as pushers.

The parlor car itself, no longer obstructed by the locomotives, now became the lead coach, negotiating the high road bed whose gravel steeply angled downward.

A final screech, replaced by a thunderous roar only nature could ironically have made, indicated arrival at milepost 50.6 and the High Falls of Cheat, the New Tygart Flyer's terminus, before it would later recommence its return journey.

Pouring, like a Herculean-sized faucet of white, unharnassed energy, the 18-foot-high, 150-foot-wide, horseshoe-shaped waterfall streamed over the flat step of rock to the collecting pool below it and thence into the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River.

The covered, wooden platform, which was barely long enough to stretch between a few seat rows of a single coach, somehow represented a link with humanity, while the track curving at 33 degrees toward the green confines of the isolating forest served as the path to that link.  The air carried an inexhaustible spray of scented vegetation and the sound waves of the now-faint rushing water.  The gray parlor car, currently considered the last in the chain, was visible to the left and represented the means by which that humanity link was carried, a lifeline forged once per day during the summer and only in one's imagination during the winter.

The similarities were many at this remote, isolated, end-of-the-world location.  The track formed a path to it.  The river formed a path to it.  The track carried life.  The river carried life.  The track paralleled and reflected the river, as if there were two parallel, but very close, worlds of different properties and forms.

The river continued its journey.  And, with a brief lurch as the car couplings tightened, so, too, did the train.  Only one location could represent both their destinations—their origins…

About the Author

Block Ice Shaver, 115v $1845 Get the finest shaved ice every time with this Snowizard SNOWIZARD Block Ice Shaver. Made with a precision welded stainless steel cabinet this Snowizard Block Ice Shaver has perfectly machined aluminum castings and is built to last a lifetime. Built with a high carbon stainless steel cutting blade the Snowizard Block Ice Shaver is anti-corrosive and fits well on a counter 36 inches wide by 26 inches deep or 66 inches by 26 inches to provide a materials area. The Snowizard Block Ice Shaver will fit up to a 15 pound block of ice and has a drip pan that measures 35 inches wide by 25 inches with a 5 inch height. Great for snow cone huts, concession stands or stores the Snowizard Block Ice Shaver will produce perfect shaved ice for everything from old fashion soda drinks to snow cones.

Ice Shaver, Microflake, Hawaiian Ice $1455 Produce the finest microflake ice every time with this Echols 702 Ice Shaver. Adjustable for fine or extremely fine shaving this Echols 702 Ice Shaver has a durable aluminum body with an ABS plastic cover that wipes down easily for cleaning and the hardened 440A stainless steel blade with a 1/6 horsepower motor will turn any ice even homemade cubes into perfectly shaved ice. Includes an electric foot control for hands free operation the Echols 702 Ice Shaver is great for snow cone huts, concession stands and stores for everything from old fashion soda drinks to snow cones.

Novelty Ice Shaver $24.99 Rival Novelty Ice Shaver...No Freezing Molds Needed; Easy to Use - Just Use Ice Cubes; Powerful 45 Watt Motor -- Shaves Ice Fast; Translucent Parts, Watch as the Ice Turns into Fluffy Snow; Novelty Design.

Focus Electrics / B2B Ice Treats Ice Shaver / SIT10823 $37.21 Focus Electrics - B2B Ice Treats Ice Shaver - SIT10823

Back to Basic SIT10823 Electric Ice Shaver $29.99 Because everybody deserves a snow cone, Back to Basics® created the easy-to-use Ice Shaver. With its oversized push button, this ice shaver is fast and fun for the whole family.rnrn. Adjustable ice shaving bladern. Removable cup holderrn. Uses ice cubes or moldsrn. Safe by designrn. Includes 2 ice molds.

Hamilton Beach Ice Shaver - Black $29.99 Enjoy an icy treat anytime with this Hamilton Beach 68506 ice shaver that features slushie and snow cone settings to suit a variety of frozen beverages and more. Dishwasher-safe removable parts allow simple cleanup.

Deluxe Sno-Konette Ice Shaver $1162.84 PLEASE NOTE: THIS ITEM CANNOT SHIP VIA 3-DAY DELIVERY. A moderately priced ice shaver! More pressure gives coarser snow and lighter pressure gives finer snow, with colder ice giving even finer snow in this machine. Long-life and easy to maintain. Heavy duty stainless steel blades stay sharp through tons and tons of ice. The Deluxe Sno-Konette is the shaver of choice for operator safety. Includes Sno-Kone Dipper, 6 oz. Cup Dispenser and Ice Scoop. Capacity 300 to 500 lb. of ice per hour. Operates on 816 watts, 6.8 amps, 120 volts. Freight to Hawaii or Alaska, as well as expedited shipping costs, will be quoted to you by email for your approval before the order ships. Please note that this item cannot be shipped internationally.

Back To Basics SIT10823 Electric Ice Shaver $42.25 Because everybody deserves a snow cone Back to Basics created the easytouse Ice Shaver. With its oversized push button this ice shaver is fast and fun for the whole family. Features adjustable ice shaving blade and removable cup holder. Uses ice cubes or molds. Safe by design. Includes 2 ice molds. Measures 8 x 9 x 14.5 inches.

68010 - Snowman Ice Shaver $37.24 [2985760] UPC: 040094680108 9.63L x 16.75W x 17.63H 3.2 LB 1.65 Cubes

Back to Basics SIT10823 Ice Treats Electric Ice Shaver $27.99 Features: 60-watt electric ice shaver with sharp, adjustable shaving blade Uses regular ice cubes or ice molds; simple push-button operation Removable cone holder; built-in drip tray for quick clean-up; cETLus rated Includes 2 ice molds, 4 snow-cone cups, 4 spoon-straws, and user manual with recipes Dimensions: 14.5" x 9" x 8" Labor: 1 year limited Parts: 1 year limited

Hamilton Beach 68050 Icy Treats Ice Shaver $51.62 This handy Ice Shaver makes snow cones slushies margaritas and other frozen treats quickly. Whether conquering the sweltering heat hosting a party or having fun with the kids the Icy Treats Ice Shaver from Hamilton Beach will make frozen concoctions fast. Snow cones slushies and icy drinks are all easy to make using soda juice or fruit. This cool appliance uses ice directly from the freezer and will shave into either a bowl from home for snow cones or into the included mixing bowl for other icy treats. Fun recipes are included for the whole family. Why not choose something refreshing like apple juice or strawberries to make a healthy treat for the kids? All removable parts are dishwasher safe and the bowl includes measurement markings so icy drinks will turn out great every time. Make your favorite icy treats in minutes. Make slushies snow cones margaritas and more. Add ice cubes from your freezer. Shave ice into your own dish or use included mixing bowl. Fun recipes included. All removable parts are dishwasher safe.

Hawaii's Finest Deluxe Ice Shaver $1994.99 PLEASE NOTE: THIS ITEM CANNOT SHIP VIA 3-DAY DELIVERY. Produces continuous peak shaved ice 10 to 15 hours a day! The 1/3 HP gear drive motor Shave Ice Machine can produce over 300 servings per hour. Rust-proof construction throughout. Freight to Hawaii or Alaska, as well as expedited shipping costs, will be quoted to you by email for your approval before the order ships. Please note that this item cannot be shipped internationally.

Back To Basics SIT10821 Manual Ice Shaver With 2 Ice Cups $26.13 Cool down a hot summer day with this Back To Basics Snow Cone maker. Turning the top handle shaves off finely cut ice and deposits it into an eagerly waiting snow cone cup below. This ice shaver can be used with any Back To Basics flavoring syrups. Comes with durable base with hand crank and 2 ice molds. Enclosed ice chamber for child safe operation. Easy to clean durable base. Make great tasting snow cone treats with Back to Basics Snow Cone Syrups or your favorite beverage.

Great Northern 6057 Ice Cub Shaver Great Northern Ice Cub Shaved Ice Machine $333.45 If you are in the market for a commercial grade Ice Shaver stop looking These commercial quality machines feature stainless steel shaving blades bestin class performance a 3 year superior warranty and an industry leading 1/3 HP motor operating at 1725 RPM s. This puppy can plow through over 350 lbs of ice an hour. Compare the Ice Cub unit to the rest of the competition.you won t be disappointed. Great Northern has a reputation for quality and is a leader in the concession industry. The sturdy high impact construction makes it durable light weight and easy to clean. As opposed to a snow cone machine which crushes ice and yields grainy ice the Ice Cub slowly shaves the ice off the block and produces the softest / fluffiest ice in the industry. My kids loved snow cones until they realized how much softer and smoother shaved ice is. Just add Great Northern Sweet Life Shaved Ice Syrup and you have a recipe for success. Features: Premium Finish. High impact ABS with brass and stainless steel construction Premium Quality. Utilizes a commercial heavyduty motor (1/3 hp 1725 rpm). Industry Best Fully adjustable stainless steel blade (replaceable) Block Ice works great. You can also use a common plastic paint bucket to freeze your perfect ice block. If you don t want to buy a bucket use an old milk jug and cut off the top. 6 AMPS 110V Shaves 6 lbs/minute (more than 350 lbs/hour) Commercial Grade. Backed up by Great Northern Popcorn s 3 year warranty Additional Features: The cutting blades are stainless steel so they will last a lifetime. Machine is 15 L x 12 W X 30 1/2 H Weighs roughly 60 lbs.

Mobile Phone As Shaver $10 Mobile Phone As Shaver - Shaver

Back to Basics SIT10821 Manual Ice Shaver, Top hand Crank, Enclosed Ice Shaving Chamber, Built in Drip Tray, Make Snow Cones, Slushies, and More $14.99 This Manual Ice Shaver from Back to Basics features convenience and durability in one compact machine. It shaves pre-formed blocks of ice into soft fluffy snow, perfect for snow cones, slushies and party drinks. Includes two ice molds.

ES8103S - shaver $96.99 Panasonic ES8103S - Shaver

ES8109S - shaver $127.99 Panasonic ES8109S - Shaver - cordless

ES-RT51S - shaver $55.99 Panasonic ES-RT51S - Shaver - cordless

Helen Shaver $7.99 Helen Shaver - Photo

Mobile Phone As Lady Shaver $10 Mobile Phone As Lady Shaver - Lady Shaver

Porper Little Shaver $17.95 Porper Little Shaver

Turn Your Mobile Into A Shaver $10 Turn Your Mobile Into A Shaver

Panasonic (WES9025PC) Shaver Accessories $57.16 Panasonic (WES9025PC) Shaver Accessories

Panasonic (WES9165PC) Shaver Accessories $44.72 Panasonic (WES9165PC) Shaver Accessories

A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver $8.49 A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver

Braun Cruzer Youth Shaver $65.99 Cruzer Z-50-1 youth shaver

Shaver Lake Winter Scene - Shaver Lake, CA $49.99 Shaver Lake Winter Scene - Shaver Lake, CA - Framed Art Print

Sit10823 - West Bend Sit10823 Electric Ice Shaver - Cube $34.46 [SIT10823] UPC: 018579108232 UNSPC: 52151600 3.4 LB

WES9067PC - shaver foil - silver $32.99 Panasonic WES9067PC - Shaver foil for shaver - silver - for Vortex HydraClean ES8228S

ES-LA93-K - shaver - black $242.99 Panasonic ES-LA93-K - Shaver - cordless - black

Pro-Curve shaver - black $12.99 Panasonic Pro-Curve - Shaver - black

Stanley 21-115 7-1/4-in Surform Shaver $4.99 7-1/4-in Surform Shaver - 21-115

Ice $10 Ice