For those with the ability, Tune in to Trains Magazine Live Stream tomorrow Feb 14th at 11:00AM 
For those of us who work for a living can you at least tell us what is fantastic?
or at least a link?
The East Broad Top is making a public announcement. No leaks (yet).
Live stream on the railroad’s Facebook page at 11 AM today: https://www.facebook.com/ebtrr/
If you don’t like Facebook, it will also be Trains Magazine. Live on their Facebook page and possibly their website too.
If you have the ability to watch on the official EBTRR Facebook page, please do so as they could use the traffic. If you are close by, the announcement is open to the public at the Orbisonia Station in Rockhill Furnace, PA. Locomotives #12 and #17 are out on display along with business car #20.
Gee stranger. Where the hell you been hidin?..(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
The east broadtop is back, just announced…
a new non-profit organization has purchased the railroad and is going to operate it
cool!
The plan is to get the railroad running, rebuild locomotives and cars, rebuild the belt driven shop complex, and make it an historical and educational attraction.
The EBT is Back!!! HOORAY!!!
Wonderful news! Thanks for posting about it Randy!
The video just finished, here’s a link.
https://www.facebook.com/TrainsMagazine/videos/608160910019299/
Full details here
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2020/02/14-east-broad-top-sold-plans-full-operations-by-2021
and here
Wow Folks;
Sorry for posts with just links. I’m not sure how to do more than that on my phone.
Thanks for posting the vid Ken! Yeah, its been a very busy last few months with the FEBT.
So, this is about the best way things could have worked out. The entire group of people involved here are terrific, and focused on all the right things. This is going to be a very busy year at the Railroad.
The festivities were quite a hit today. There were around 200 or more people present. The energy in the air was unmistakable. It was incredible sight to see all the equipment out. Some of it I had never seen in my 6 Years of volunteering there. I’m looking forward to a new era where the the equipment will be working along side us at the work sessions. We were already able to do a significant amount of prep for the coming rehabilitation spree that is now upon us this last work session. In this the 60th anniversary year of the first rebirth I feel very honored to have been part of the second rebirth and am excited to continue to support this national treasure on it’s new journey toward greatness.
I even made it home by 6:00 to take my lovely lady out to dinner. (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-innocent.gif)
Wishing the endeavor success! (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)(https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
This rates very high on the scale of things which are really cool.
I never thought I would see this in my lifetime. With the numbers Joe K. was throwing around the last few years I was nearly certain that he would end up selling the Mikados individually. Now I realize why he did that. Purely speculation on my part, but that was probably to determine a resale value for tax purposes. My guess is that the final number was significantly less than what has been tossed around over the past 10 years. The balance may have been considered a donation for tax purposes. They are not discussing the finances, but some of it it will come out as real estate transactions are public records.
In any case I am beyond excited to the point of being emotional. As the familiar names of those who put this deal together were read; I couldn’t help but feel relieved. A strong core group of long time EBT employees and FEBT members together with a power trio of connected businessmen with railroading in their blood. This immediately has a much better feel than the pie in the sky hopes that the EBTPA was putting forth with no backing.
I’m just sorry that a few years back Joe K. was convinced to sell Mt. Union to the EBTPA and standard gauge #6 to an unknown party. Perhaps acquiring Mt. Union is on the long term plan of the new foundation. It is a very important part of the interpretative story.
Now I need to stay healthy and live long enough to see more than two locomotives in steam together (my first visit was the day after #12 went down) and to travel South of Orbisonia on an excursion train. I’m certain now, that in time, all of that will happen.
The EBT is one of my favorite railroads. I have found memories of waking up one morning in 2011 at 3AM so that I could light #15s fire and then later in the day operate is for a brief period. Since 15 was rebuilt in 2005 and was out of service since the end of 2011. It is quite possible that it will get a boiler extension and be back in service next year.
I hope someday to be able to get behind her throttle again sometime.
Stan
