The East Broad Top, or EBT, is one
of the true gems of the east, being the only operating railroad that still
exists almost in it's entirety from the way it was when it stopped revenue
operation back in April of 1956. It re-opened in 1960 as an excursion
railroad between Rockhill and the wye just south of Shirleysburg, but the
original tracks still go all the way from Mt. Union and Robertsdale.
It is located in Orbisonia, or more
correctly, Rockhill PA, about an hour east of Altoona. Co-located in the
same spot is the Rockhill Trolley Museum.
The East Broad Top stopped operating in 2011, due to a variety of circumstances.
In 2017, a press release stated that the owners, the Kovalchick's, were looking
for a buyer for the railroad.
In February of 2020, it was announced that the railroad had been sold to a group
of investors and railfans, and the new company is a non-profit.
From the new EBT website as of 10/22: The railroad was completed in 1874 to service
the iron furnaces and coal mines along a 33-mile corridor in Huntingdon County PA.
The railroad was sold was 1956 to the Kovalchick family who reopened the train in
the 1960s. The EBT Foundation, Inc. acquired the railroad in 2020 and immediately
began an extensive restoration effort with the goal of returning to regular service
in the near future.
See below in the Floobydust section.....
I have pictures of the whole right-of-way from Mt Union to Robertsdale that someday I will get around to scanning.... interesting pictures!
Acknowledgements:
Christopher D. Coleman
Open Railway Map
Google Maps
Trains Magazine
Websites and other additional information sources of interest for the area: https://eastbroadtop.com/ The East Broad Top's website https://oldeastie.com/ If you want to
know anything about the East Broad Top, this is the best place to go!
It is fairly easy to find the East Broad Top. It's about an hour east of Altoona PA.
From the west or east, come in via the Pennsy Turnpike,
take exit 180 (the Fort Littleton exit), and go about 25 miles north on US522,
taking a left in the middle of Orbisonia at the traffic light.
From Altoona, take US22 east to Mt Union, then take US522 about 12 miles to
the same traffic light in Orbisonia, taking a right to the museum.
From the south or Maryland, come up to the PA Turnpike via I-70 to Breezewood
(PA Turnpike exit 161), and take it west one exit to exit 180.
From the north, it's a draw.... maybe take exit 161 off I-80, I-99/US220 down
to State College, then US322 down to Lewistown, US22 west to Mt Union, and
finally south on US522 to Orbisonia.... or follow your GPS :-)
These pictures are from 2004 Fall Spectacular, guess I need some newer ones :-)
Pictures from 2011
These pictures are from 2011 Fall Spectacular on one foggy morning, Sunday. We
managed to stop by on the way back from Michigan. The day turned out to be really nice
once the fog burnt off, but the fog did offer some great photo ops not normally encountered :-)
On Saturday February 18th, 2023, the Rockhill Trolly Museum had just about everything
that ran, running! So, of course, my high school buddy John and I took off to take it
all in. Of course, the folks at the EBT couldn't pass up the
opportunitey to run their stuff too. There were lots and lots of
people coming out for the combined event.
We will have to see how things go once they re-open for business, but this is schedule they
used to have:
The East Broad Top is open on Saturdays and Sundays between Memorial Day and October.
The hours are 10am to 4:20pm, with trains departing at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm.
Roundhouse and shop tours are at 12:30pm and 2:30pm.
M-3 rides are at 11:30am and 3:30pm.
Speeder rides are at 11am and 4:30pm.
The fare is $13 for adults for coach or open car seats.... $8 for kids 2-12.
As of October 2022:
News Articles from Around
Disclaimers:
New format 10/26/23: Please check out my disclaimer page for my standard
dribble and contact info here
These guys are from next door at the Rockhill Trolley Museum
