East Broad Top Not Running This Summer

Andy:

Thanks for posting this.  Sad news, without a doubt.  Max and I were about due for another visit to the EBT when we were back in PA this summer. 

Kind of ironic as well, that former EBT General Manager Stanley Hall passed away in the last year and this will be the first summer in over 50 years, since he joined the EBT, that they will not operate.

Curt

Thanks for the info and I agree that's too bad.  Two friends and I are going to ride the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad and visit Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater house.  We were hoping to also ride the EBT.

Yes, thanks for the EBT update.  I also hope that this is a very temporary situation.  Once something is idled it is often harder to create the momentum to get it moving again.

This is also sad for the Rockhill Trolley Museum which is literally right next door to the EBT.  A lot of their traffic came from the fact that EBT was operating.  I hope they can weather this setback as well.

Andy

Too bad..and I hope is temporary.  Too long ago I went up for a "Washington's

Birthday Coming Out", which photos I recently found....I got to ride the gas electric

(where else can you ride an original three foot gauge gas electric?) out to the end

of line, but it developed a problem, and I rode back, in a caboose cupola, hard to

do these days, too, as the doodlebug was towed back to the shops behind steam.  Think that was about 1980.

Why aren't they running?

Wow .... thats sad. I wonder what the problem is?

Dick, thanks for the info!

I stopped by the EBT last month before the York Meet.  It was pretty quiet there but it usually is that time of year.  The couple guys I saw didn't mention anything and I didn't know to ask.  I just assumed they would be starting operations Memorial Day weekend.  Yes, it might be tough on the equipment to sit idle for a year.  Sure hope they work things out. 

And John Meixel, my wife 7 I did the two Wright house tours a few years ago.  You will love it along with a ride on the WMS! 

The EBT has posted some clarification details on their web site:

http://www.ebtrr.com/

Andy

Andy, thanks for the EBT update.  The EBT's press release appears to be well written, sincere, and sadly, gives off a tone similar to an obituary.

"After painstaking talks and options were evaluated and discussed, no arrangement could be made between the East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company and the East Broad Top Preservation Association."

Boy, that is so sad. Can't understand it. I'd sure love to know more.

What a great banner! With the little Mike's, etc  ........

That is a shame...

Oh, no!

My family and I have been to the Fireworks train and we love it!

The train departs in the evening, and makes a stop at Colgate Grove.  Then it rides on to a strip mall built parallel to the tracks.  The train stops, and everyone enjoys a fireworks display, sponsered by the stripmall.  The kids love that!  But my favorite part is about to begin.  After the show is over, the train returns to the station in the dark!  So you're bouncing around in an open car, going through the woods, and can't see your hand in front of your face -- except for when the fireman opens the firebox door.  It's really a cool experience.  I sure hope it comes back next year!

on the upside,

Rockhill Trolley

I think if memory serves, the Trolley Line was cut short due to a new bridge replacement on one of the roads. The grade and space they had required a 6 feet or more climb or drop and it could not be done. So they severed it there.

Also I recalled that the EBT ran speeders, either in the yard or on the line. Will that program be cancelled too? It was probably on a bucket list to hit one of those.

Not quite. Route 522 south of Orbisonia/Rockhill Furnace was lowered at the Shade Gap Branch grade crossing. A bridge for trolleys above it was not feasible. So a firm was hired to extend the trolley line to that point. Road work on Route 522 actually increased the length of the line. There is still a passing siding where the line ended originally, south of the carbarn.

US 522 was raised not lowered. Actually it was super-elevated so the high side is about 6' above the trolley tracks. A the time of the extension to US 522 the line already went past the passing siding for some distance. In part the line was extended to 522 to try to maintain claim to the crossing that was still legally present there. The judge abolished the crossing anyway. Most members of the trolley museum thing the line is long enough at 522 but the option to extend further would have been nice to have.

Things are not over at the EBT. Friends of the EBT will, with the enthusiastic endorsement of the owner, continue their restoration program. The remaining sessions this year are:

June 2-3
June 23-24
July 14-15
August 4-5
August 25-26
September 22-23
November 10-11

This spring the Blacksmith Shop was righted and restoration of the complete building is well on its way. Repair work is also progressing on the Locomotive Shop and Combine #14. Consider joining us for a session or a day or donating to our restoration fund..

http://www.febt.org/donate.html#b

We need your help now more than ever.