East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company facts for kids
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East Broad Top Railroad
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EBT Engine 12 after the railroad was re-opened in 1960.
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| Nearest city | Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 500 acres (200 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000666 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | January 28, 1964 |
| Overview | |
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| Headquarters | Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania |
| Locale | Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania |
| Dates of operation | 1872–present (operations suspended 1956–1960, 2011–2020) |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 3 ft (914 mm) |
The East Broad Top Railroad (EBT) is a special historic railway in Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania. It's a "narrow gauge" railroad, meaning its tracks are closer together than regular train tracks. The EBT ran from 1871 to 1956. It is one of the oldest and best-kept narrow-gauge railroads in the United States. Because of its importance, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1964.
The railroad was later used as a fun tourist attraction. It stopped running in 2011 for a while. But in February 2020, a non-profit group bought the railroad. They worked hard to get it ready, and regular train rides started again in the summer of 2021!
Contents
Why the EBT is a Special Narrow-Gauge Railroad
The East Broad Top Railroad is unique because it's a complete, original railway. Most other tourist railroads are made up of different parts from many places. But the EBT has kept almost all its original equipment.
Original Equipment Still Here
- Steam Locomotives: All six of the narrow-gauge steam engines that pulled coal trains are still at the EBT. Some of them were even used for the tourist trains.
- Other Vehicles: You can also see a standard-sized steam engine (not running), special cars for track workers, and the M-3 motorcar. The M-3 was built by the EBT using parts from a car. There's also the M-1, a "doodlebug" motorcar built in 1927.
- Freight Cars: Most of the old freight cars, like flatcars, boxcars, and over 150 coal hoppers, are still on the property.
- Maintenance Shops: The original shops where they fixed trains are amazing. They have old boilers, a steam engine from the 1800s, and a system of belts and pulleys. This system powers old machines for metalwork, woodworking, and blacksmithing.
Track and Recognition
About 33 miles (53 km) of the railroad's original main line are still there. About 5 miles (8 km) of track can be used for rides. In recent years, parts of the unused track have been cleared for smaller vehicles.
The EBT was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1964. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. In 1996, it was put on a list of America's Most Endangered Places. This showed how important it was to save this special railroad.
EBT's Early Days: 1872 to 1956
The East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company started in 1856. But because of money problems and the American Civil War, it wasn't built right away. A new group of investors began buying land in 1867. They built the railroad as a narrow-gauge line between 1872 and 1874.
First Train Services
Train service began in August 1873, going from Mount Union, Pennsylvania to Orbisonia, Pennsylvania. By November 1874, it reached Robertsdale. The line later grew to over 60 miles (97 km) of track.
What the EBT Carried
The main job of the railroad was to carry coal from mines in the Broad Top Mountain area. At first, it took coal to Rockhill. There, the coal was turned into "coke" for making iron. The railroad also carried the finished iron.
Later, the EBT mostly took coal to Mount Union. There, the coal was processed and moved to the Pennsylvania Railroad. The EBT also carried other things like rock for furnace linings, lumber, and passengers. It also moved farm goods, concrete, and general freight.
Modernizing the Railroad
From the 1880s to the 1940s, the EBT made good money. This allowed them to make their railroad more modern.
- The train roundhouse, where engines are stored and fixed, was built in 1882. It's one of the oldest still in use in the US.
- They built a coal cleaning plant and a full repair shop.
- Bridges were updated from wood to strong steel and concrete.
- Wooden train cars were replaced with steel ones.
- New, powerful steam locomotives were bought from the Baldwin Locomotive Works.
After World War II, most railroads switched to diesel engines. But the EBT stuck with steam. They carried coal, so fuel was cheap and easy to get.
The End of Coal Hauling
By the 1950s, people and factories started using cheap oil and gas instead of coal. This meant less demand for coal. The final blow came when the brick factories in Mount Union switched to oil and gas. There wasn't enough coal to sell to keep the mines and railroad going.
The railroad stopped hauling coal on April 14, 1956. It was then sold to a company that planned to scrap it for parts.
First Tourist Operations: 1960 to 2011
Nick Kovalchick, the owner of the company that bought the railroad, decided not to scrap it right away. He let it sit. In 1960, the towns of Orbisonia and Rockhill Furnace were celebrating their 200th birthday. They asked Kovalchick to display a train.
He did even better! He fixed up four miles of track and two locomotives. He offered tourist train rides for a few months that summer. The rides were so popular that the railroad opened as a regular tourist attraction in 1961. The ride was even made longer, to 5 miles (8 km).
Running the Tourist Trains
The railroad ran tourist trains every summer until 2011. From 1960 to 2008, Kovalchick Salvage operated the trains. After 1977, Nick's son, Joe, and his wife, Judy, managed it.
From 2009 to 2011, a non-profit group called the East Broad Top Railroad Preservation Association (EBTPA) leased the railroad. They wanted to buy the railroad and reopen all 33 miles (53 km) of the original line. The EBTPA made many improvements and added special events. However, they couldn't agree on a new lease, so operations stopped in 2011.
About the Tourist Rides
From 1960 to 2011, the EBT was a heritage railway. This means it ran old trains for fun and history. Trains were pulled by narrow-gauge steam locomotives. Older diesel engines were used as backup. Rides usually ran from May through October. Special holiday trains ran in November and December.
The rides were 10-mile (16 km) round trips and took about an hour. The EBT's annual Fall Spectacular was a big event. All working equipment was used. The train would stop at Colgate Grove, a picnic area, before turning around. You could also tour the historic maintenance shops.
During this time, four of the six steam locomotives were used: #12, #14, #15, and #17. Locomotives #16 and #18 never ran due to costs and concerns about their weight. Over time, the running locomotives wore out. By 2011, only #15 was still working when the railroad closed.
Closure: 2012 to 2020
During the closure, a small staff and volunteers from the Friends of the East Broad Top (FEBT) kept the railroad facilities in good shape. Even though there were no public rides, diesel trains ran for FEBT members in 2012 and 2013. Motorcar rides also happened for members.
The EBTPA bought some parts of the railroad during this time. They bought the Mount Union yard and the line from Mount Union to Aughwick. However, they couldn't buy more parts of the EBT.
The Friends of the East Broad Top (FEBT) continued many restoration projects at Rockhill Furnace. They helped with maintenance and repairs. Tours of the historic shops were offered more often during the closure. The nearby Rockhill Trolley Museum also kept running its trolley rides.
Sale and Reopening: 2020 to Present
On Valentine's Day in 2020, big news was announced! A new non-profit group, the EBT Foundation (EBTF), bought the railroad. They planned to restart train rides in 2021. The sale included about 27 miles (43 km) of track, the yard in Rockhill Furnace, and all the trains and equipment.
Getting Ready to Run Again
Right after the announcement, the EBTF started many projects to get the railroad ready.
- All six narrow-gauge steam locomotives were checked to see which ones could be fixed first.
- Locomotives #14 and #16 were chosen for restoration.
- Stall #8 of the roundhouse was turned into a special place to restore the steam engines.
- The Rockhill Shops building is being repaired.
- A fire safety system is being installed in the shops and roundhouse.
- Many parts of the track around the Rockhill yard were rebuilt.
- Thousands of new wooden ties were brought in to fix the tourist line.
In May and June 2020, there were some problems. An act of arson damaged a bridge, and a tall vehicle hit another bridge.
The East Broad Top officially reopened for its first full season in May 2022. EBT No. 16, a steam locomotive, was fired up again in February 2023!
Restoration Efforts
Over the years, many buildings along the unused parts of the railroad fell apart. Some were lost to neglect or fires. Maintenance on the original repair shops and other buildings was not kept up. This put many historic parts of the railroad at risk.
Friends of the East Broad Top (FEBT)
In 1983, the non-profit Friends of the East Broad Top (FEBT) was formed. Their goal was to save and restore the East Broad Top. At first, they worked well with the EBT. But after some problems in 1985, the FEBT focused on restoring buildings in Robertsdale. They also worked on a historic passenger car.
In the late 1990s, the relationship improved. Since 2002, FEBT volunteers have been working hard on restoration in Rockhill Furnace. This work has grown a lot!
Current Restoration Work
As of late 2022, the EBT Foundation has a paid track crew. On weekends, FEBT volunteers also work on restoring the historic railroad. They fix buildings, machinery, tracks, and train cars. They also give tours and help maintain the property.
Since 2002, more than half of the main repair shop complex has been greatly restored. Several other buildings have also been fixed up. Five train cars are back in use, with three more being worked on. Six machines in the shops are working again. They are even making parts for other restoration projects!
With the EBT Foundation buying the railroad, restoration work is moving much faster. The EBTF provides money and hires contractors for big jobs. The FEBT continues to work on smaller projects and helps with bigger ones. For example, in Robertsdale, volunteers have cleared tracks that were buried for decades.
In February 2021, workers found five cases of very old dynamite in the carpentry shop! Railroads used explosives a long time ago to clear debris. Local and federal experts safely burned off the explosives. In October, the Friends group announced plans to rebuild the Saltillo station and water tower.
Track Rehabilitation
In December 2021, the railroad received a grant of $1.1 million. This money will be used to restore and reopen the main line to Saltillo. In May 2022, work began to clear growth and fix drainage along the track from Rockhill Furnace south to Saltillo.
The line further south to Robertsdale has two old tunnels from 1874. These need a lot of repair. A special drone with LIDAR equipment was used to check their condition.
Old buildings at the Colgate picnic grove were taken down. New picnic shelters, restrooms, and a boarding platform opened for the 2023 season. During 2023-2024, the track was rebuilt and opened up to Pennsylvania Route 475. Crews also cleared about one mile (1.6 km) further south. Rails are now being relaid south of PA 475.
Locomotive Restoration and Rolling Stock Renewal
Steam locomotive No. 16, which had not run since 1956, was fired up in July 2022. It ran during the 2023 season. But in April 2024, a crack was found in one of its wheels. It is now out of service for repairs. Locomotive No. 15 is next to be restored, followed by No. 14.
| Engine No. (Name) | Year built | Builder | Type | Wheel arrangement | 2024 status | Image |
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| 12 (Millie) | 1911 | Baldwin | Mikado | 2-8-2 | Out of service | .jpg) |
| 14 | 1912 | Baldwin | Mikado | 2-8-2 | Out of service | .jpg) |
| 15 | 1914 | Baldwin | Mikado | 2-8-2 | Out of service | _-_Flickr_-_drewj1946.jpg) |
| 16 (Nick) | 1916 | Baldwin | Mikado | 2-8-2 | Out of service |  |
| 17 | 1918 | Baldwin | Mikado | 2-8-2 | Out of service |  |
| 18 | 1920 | Baldwin | Mikado | 2-8-2 | Out of service |  |
| M-1 | 1927 | Brill/EBT | Doodlebug | B-B | In service |  |
| M-3 | 1928 | EBT | Inspection car | 1A | In service | .jpg) |
| M-4 | 1947 | Plymouth | Switcher | B-B | In service |  |
| M-6 | 1969 | Plymouth | Switcher | B-B | In service | |
| M-7 | 1964 | GE | Switcher | B-B | In service | .jpg) |
In July 2022, the railroad received the first of four new passenger cars. These cars look like old 1890s passenger cars. But they have modern features like electric lights, heating, and bathrooms. One car is designed for wheelchairs.
The EBT used to have two standard-gauge switching locomotives. One was sold in 1975. In July 2023, the other one, No. 3, was moved to be shipped to a buyer in Florida.
Rockhill Trolley Museum
The Rockhill Trolley Museum is next to the East Broad Top Railroad. It offers 3-mile (4.8 km) round-trip trolley rides. These rides are on a part of the old EBT line that now has wider tracks. Even though it's a separate museum, it works with the EBT to coordinate schedules.
Friends of the East Broad Top Museum
The FEBT also runs a museum in Robertsdale, Pennsylvania. It's called the Friends of the East Broad Top Museum. The museum is in the old Robertsdale Station. It has historic items and documents from the EBT. Robertsdale was a big center for coal mining. The museum's goal is to share the history of the East Broad Top Railroad and the industries it served.
The FEBT is also finishing the restoration of the Robertsdale Post Office building. This building will eventually hold the museum's main exhibits. The station will be fully restored to how it looked in the past.
The Robertsdale Historic District and Woodvale Historic District were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
See also
- Kinzua Viaduct, the remaining structure sold was scrap to Kovalchik Corporation and is now a Pennsylvania State Park.
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Pennsylvania
Additional reading
- Joseph A Mannix (1960): A quick review of the East Broad Top, the narrow gauge of the East. Rockhill Furnace, Pa., East Broad Railroad and Coal Co.
