Cass Scenic Railroad State Park opened the summer season right ﾖ with two speciality train rides May 25 and 26. Friday, riders were treated to the Ribs and Rails ride, with a dinner of ribs provided at Whittaker Station.

Saturday was the Bluegrass Barbecue Train, complete with dinner and good tunes.

With storm clouds looming overhead, the train left the depot at 5:15 p.m., and headed for Whittaker. Due to the inclement weather, the bluegrass and barbecue part of the ride was moved to the Last Run Restaurant.

No worries though, because the crowd of more than 100 was still entertained by the ride through the trees.

After a quick visit at Whittaker, passengers loaded the train and headed back down the mountain for dinner. The meal was a belly-filler of pork barbecue, green beans, roasted potatoes, coleslaw, black bean salad and dessert. It was well worth the wait.

The cozy atmosphere of the Last Run Restaurant was welcoming, especially after the rain began to pour. The bluegrass band kept time with the raindrops and had the crowd bobbing their heads, and children dancing ﾖ on the floor and tables.

Although the ride was altered slightly by the weather, it was still a successful and enjoyable evening.

For a full list of the train schedule, including specialty rides, visit www.cassrailroad.com