EBT
Steam & Rockhill Trolley Spectacular
October 20, 2001
EBT
Freight Train at Photo-runby
Saturday,
October 20 - Chartered Train Rides on East Broad Top Narrow
Gauge Railroad and at Rockhill Trolley Museum -
This day was truly a step back into the fifties on a journey
to Rockhill Furnace, the headquarters of the East Broad Top
(EBT) Railroad, the only operating narrow gauge railroad east
of the Mississippi River. Our buses left the hotel at 6:30 am
- early but given what was in store for us, well worth the effort.
The
East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company was a narrow-gauge
short line built in 1872-1874 to service the coal fields of
the Broad Top Mountain area and haul the coal to the Pennsylvania
Railroad at Mount Union or to on-line customers. The EBT operated
for 80 years before shutting down in 1956. It was subsequently
purchased by the Kovalchick family which has operated it as
a tourist line over five of the original miles, since 1960.
We
arrived in Rockhill Furnace at 8:00 am and almost immediately
boarded our chartered passenger train. We had two chartered
trains for the event, one the regular passenger train and the
other an authentic freight train. Both locomotives were authentic
2-8-2 Mikado locomotives built by Baldwin Locomotives works
at Philadelphia.
We departed
the station about the passenger train (the train consisted of
an engine two coaches, an open-window car, and the Orbisonia)
for a 30 minute ride down the line. The freight train, including
several black coal hopper cars contrasted on the end with a
bright red caboose, followed about 15 minutes later.
At the
appointed location, we detrained into a field, then our passenger
train backed up and executed a beautiful photo-runby against
a background of a bright blue sky and gorgeous fall colored
trees. Our passenger train then proceeded down the line out
of view to turn on a wye and wait on the freight. The freight
came by the photo line next, it's high steam plume presenting
a similarly beautiful picture on a cool autumn morning.
The
freight train proceeded past us and then also turned on a wye
down the line. While that was happening, the photographers relocated
about 400 yards to another field for a second shot. Then the
train procession returned, this time the freight first, followed
by the passenger train. After the passenger train came
by again, it backed up to pick us up for the nonstop back to
Rockhill Furnace.
The
train excursion returned to Rockhill Furnace about 10:30.
Following
the train ride we had ample opportunity to step aboard and ride
up to five operating, restored trolley cars at the Rockhill
Trolley Museum, which was right across from the beautifully
restored Orbisonia train station (in Rockhill Furnate) of the
EBT. The trolleys rode the entire length of the electrified
line and newly lengthened line, about 1.25 miles each way. Cars
available include an open car from Rio de Janeiro, a York Car,
a Chicago car, a Johnstown car, and a bullet car from the Philadelphia
and Western. The shop building was also open to the public for
tours.
The
Rockhill Trolley Museum was opened in 1963, and has a total
of 24 cars in its collection. The picture aboard shows the view
aboard one of the trolleys.
The
days events included bus transportation, the trolley rides,
the EBT photo special, and lunch, all for just $70.00. For an
extra fare of $10.00, the parlor car Orbisonia provided first-class
accommodations on the above steam excursion (seating was limited
to 18 persons).
At 11:05,
the East Broad Top Railroad operated their gasoline-electric
railcar, the M-1, for about twenty lucky members of our group.
The car was built by the EBT from blueprints provided by the
Brill Corporation. This was a $30.00, 60 minute extra-fare ride
over approximately the same route as the train excursion.
Lunch
was provided at the Rockhill Furnace Elementary School, courtesy
of the parents association. It had been many a year since any
of us had eaten in an elementary school cafeteria. The food
was quite good; not what I remember from my days in grade school.
After
the steam excursion and lunch, and between rides on the trolley
cars, participants had the to take a guided tour of the East
Broad Top Railroad Shops, given by the Friends of the EBT. The
shops included an eight stall round-house, steam plant, machine
shop, paint shop, forge, and steam-heated privy, which were
largely built as need increased between 1870's and 1920. The
EBT's shops and machinery were all steam powered. The EBT's
craftsmen were reputed to be among the best in Pennsylvania.
The shop tour, which lasted sixty minutes, was very informative
tour of the shops as they existed when the railroad shut down.
Literally, much of the shop is exactly the same as that last
day on the EBT in April, 1956; in many cases the workers laid
down their tools, shut off the machines, tools and went home;
the shops remain in that state today. It's almost eerie. This
really neat tour was just $5.00 extra. (the picture above shows
part of the shop complex, including four stalls of the round-house).
The buses departed Rockhill Furnace at 3:00 for
the 1.25 hour ride back to Chambersburg. I think most of the
participants took a nap enroute. I know I did.
Additional Photos & Material:
Gas-Electric Car
EBT Shops Interior View
EBT Station
Rockhill Trolley
EBT Steam Video
Story
and photos by NRHS' Director of Internet Services.
