Large Scale Central

East Broad Top begins the march South

Prototypes
#1

Since purchasing the East Broad Top Railroad from the Kovalchick family in 2020, the East Broad Top Foundation with lots of help from the Friends of the East Broad Top have made amazing progress in restoring the railroad and shops complex. Steam trains are running and for the first time since 1956, a locomotive, headed South, passed the coal dock and ran it’s train to the first crossing at Odd Fellows Cemetary Rd. Track restoration has continued South and recently reached the Rt 475 crossing with roadbed cleared and graded to the crossing at Rt. 994. The hope is to cross Pouge bridge and reach “Pouge Station” soon, with a goal of reaching Saltillo where the Friends will be re-building the station there.

This short video celebrates the accomplishments that have reached to date.

When I see how far the railroad has come since it was shut down over 10 years ago, I get emotional :grin:

4 Likes
#2

Good news for the EBT. I have a cousin that works in non profit marketing and fundraising at the college level so seeing something like this develop, there’s got to be some great marketing and fundraising behind all of it for the Friends of the EBT!

Maybe by the time I have a chance to visit the East Coast, it will be national “treasure” and be so crowded I won’t want to visit. :joy:

#3

Glad to see EBT open again.
Just looked up our trip in 2006 to EBT and it brought back a lot of memories.

Dennis

#4

Johnathon, the young man who appears at the beginning of the video is the Sales & Marketing director for the EBTF. He has done a fantastic job of promoting the railroad far and wide. This, and several other well done promotional videos came out of his office.

On the Friends side, the last few fundraising campaigns have had unbelievable results, more than doubling their goal last year and already close to their lofty goal for this year.

Anyone wanting to join the Friends, make a donation or be part of the volunteer labor crew assisting in the restoration, just visit https://febt.org/

1 Like
#5

The March to Saltillo has made great progress this summer, fueled by continued donations by fans of the RR. To date, since the foundation took over the RR on Valentine’s Day 2020, the Friends have raised over $1Million for restoration projects.

A major milestone late this summer was the reopening of the grade crossings at PA Route 475 and McCoy Road. Track has now been laid beyond Jordan Summit under the Jordan Cemetery Rd. bridge with ballast tamped and track leveled almost that far. For the first time since 1956, a stem locomotive crossed Route 475 just a week or so ago!

The video of 16 crossing PA 475 was only posted on Facebook. I’m not sure if this link will work or not…

Track is fast approaching the major crossing at PA Route 994 and the driveway of Southern Huntingdon County High School. From there its only a few hundred yards to the Pogue Bridge which will be professionally rehabilitated.

End of Track as of August 22 was South of Jordan Summit…

MarchToSaltilloAtJordanSummit
MarchToSaltilloAtJordanSummit810×1080 213 KB

1 Like
#6

Jon;

I do hope it was a steam locomotive. Stem cells are too precious to waste for locomotive fuel.

Regards, David Meashey

#7

So when are you moving there, Jon? :grin: :innocent:

#8

Perhaps when you show up ?

#9

I know, I know… took forever to join in with York, and then Ken’s… And I’m tardy in visiting your amazing layout… Well, I really want to see your ceiling and port- port- what are those things again?

I’ve never been to EBT, and its resurrection is amazing. So, if Jon becomes a volunteer there, I’d / we’d have an insider.

And with you and Hollywood nearby, maybe we could start imagining an EBT LSC DNB? Maybe make Jon’s trailer the initial clubhouse, put in a slide-out “Alcove” perhaps, and grow from there?

:grin:

#10

Well be looking at a few available places while we are there. New real estate rules make looking inside impossible without signing with an agent. Not sure I’m ready to do that yet.

#11

Well, having been an FEBT member for years and I sold EBT coaches to the President of FEBT (and to the ex-Vice President,) I think I have some good contacts?

#12

Wow, I had no idea, Pete, thanks for the correction!