JUST WONDERING JUST HOW IS THE FALL SHOW GOING AT THE EBT...IS #14 GETTING A GOOD WORKOUT,,AND HOW WAS ATTENDTENCE,,THANK YOU PAT.

cprh1b@attbi.com

It went very well yesterday. Number 14 speant all day hauling the closed train, while M-1 made two runs as opposed to the tradition one, and disel M-7 handled the open train. I'd say attendance was generally down from prior years, not helpd by the fact that it was a gray, misty, rainey day yesterday. On the other hand I'd say the hard-core EBT faithful (FEBT members and interested enthusiats) were out in somewhat higher numbers than other years. Rockhill Trolley Museum was handling the shop tours and seemed to be doing a good business; Lee Rainey had about 20 takers for each of his FEBT walking tours of the yards, the FEBT's 2002 restoration projects, and the Roundhouse.



ASME National Engineering Landmarks Roster
eledbetter@rypn.org

As Erik alread noted, attendance was down, but I'd say not drastically so. The misty, overcast weather was a big factor, for sure. Early yesterday, the crowd seemed small, but picked up quite a bit by midday. Last evening's "night train" ran reasonably full but not packed, as it has in some years past. To its credit, the railroad tried to adjust expectations by renaming the weekend a "Fall Event" instead of the customary "Fall Spectacular." One indicator that patronage was holding up under the circumstances: An employee commented that the highest regular ticket serial number that that person had seen was in the 1100s. And that was yesterday, without any of today's ticket sales counted. Baldwin #14 did its usual good job. Many thanks to Stan Hall, Dave Brightbill, and the rest of the crew.

The Friends of the East Broad Top conducted tours of the car shop, where visitors could view the two recently repatriated EBT cars, combine #18 and baggage #29.

On his shop tours, FEBT Rockhill Restoration Director Lee Rainey did a good job of enthusiastically and articulately explaining the considerable results of a recent and long-hoped-for warming of relations between the Friends and the railroad. Under this initiative, FEBT volunteers worked directly on some of the most critical physical needs on the property. Over the last summer, FEBT volunteers put some 1,000 hours of work into rebuilding, repainting, and reglazing projects. One very big result is the side of the car shop facing the main line, which, for the first time in decades, is completely painted and with all of the window panes installed and unbroken.

Anyone on the list who's interested in finding out more or in helping Lee, can reach him at LeeRainey@aol.com.

Dan Cupper, Harrisburg, Pa.

cupper@att.net

I'll defer to Eric, as he's been to way more of these events than I have. One thing I noticed in talking both with members of the Friends as well as some of the EBT employees was a sense of optimism towards the future. 12 and 17 are opened up and being evaluated for future work. 15 mostly needs to be re-assmebled. Some of the buildings have been painted and repaired since last I was there. Over all, it was a good weekend. A hearty rould of applause for the Kovalchik family and Mr. Hall and his staff for another year of the EBT.

> JUST WONDERING JUST HOW IS THE FALL SHOW
> GOING AT THE EBT...IS #14 GETTING A GOOD
> WORKOUT,,AND HOW WAS ATTENDTENCE,,THANK YOU
> PAT.

You guys are making me VERY sorry I missed it (car trouble :( ) ..... Could someone please post pictures under the briefs, or even link to another page?

Engine's Moan

Went on Saturday...

As others have said, attendance was down compared to other recent years. No long lines of people waiting to board, stretching around behind the station. I'm sure the weather was a big factor, as was the fact that only one steam locomotive was operating.

Those folks who chose not to go, missed a great time! The weather wasn't THAT bad on Saturday (I don't know about Sunday), cloud cover with a very fine mist much of the day (a little hard pressed to call it "rain"). And that one steam locomotive... WOW!!... 14 never looked so bad... er, GOOD! Regular service black with no silver and white trim, brass boiler bands covered up, red cab roof now black, and enough "grunge" all over to appear that she spent the previous week hauling coal off the mountain! If 14 was any more "authentic looking", the late John Krause would have showed up to photograph her!

The GE center-cab diesel M-7 put on a good show of its own and probably got its first real work out since coming to the EBT a few years back. Second WOW! of the weekend... Tom Davis (of Station Inn fame) loaned a Nathan K3LA horn for use on the M-7 (replacing its single note Leslie) during the weekend... talk about the "mouse that roared like a lion"! BTW: During the final years of regular service, the EBT contacted GE for a bid on a couple of end-cab (I believe 70-ton) diesels to replace the mikes. If the bottom hadn't completely fallen out of the coal market, the EBT might have continued on for a while longer with GE narrow gauge diesel power. The current M-7 operation gives us a little look into what that would have been like.

The M-1 gas-electric railcar made two (instead of its usual one) round trips on Saturday. I understand its second trip on Sunday was cancelled due to lack of riders. The M-1 spent the morning posed next to 16, which was again outside on display (its headlight lit) on front of a cut of hoppers.

Several of the EBT's motor cars (speeders) were both displayed and also operated within the yard.

Lee Rainey was doing a great job on the roundhouse tour, which gave folks the chance to view the work in progress on 15. 12 and 17 remain in limbo for now, following their inspections. A chance to walk through a real, working, steam era roundhouse--very much untouched by time--was another good reason not to miss last weekend.

Of course, the annual tours of the shop complex was a highlight for many--the crowds touring the shops seemed as large as other years. Inside, the little Climax-powered Plymouth gas-mechanical switcher looks a little lonely now that 3 GE centercab diesels (sisters to the M-7) have left for the D&S.

Congrats to the folks from FEBT for the great work being done on the car shop--the wall facing the tracks with ALL those windows looks fantastic!!

Things were no less "spectacular" at the Rockhill Trolley Museum. The usual constant parade of trolley cars, work equipment, etc. went on all day long. A nice feature was the stopping at the (newer) carbarn on the return trip for guided tours of the equipment stored inside including the Electroliner / Liberty Liner.

Although the weather could have been better, it certainly was a great event. A great deal of thanks goes to Mr. Stanley Hall, all the train crews, and BIG thank you goes to Mr. K for keeping the railroad open another year for us to enjoy.

The final words are from the FEBT's bumper stickers (that were given out with the tickets)... "[the] East Broad Top Railroad--much more than a train-ride".

Regards,
Jim Robinson

The weather was a little better on Sunday, although there were fewer people in attendance than on Saturday.

> Went on Saturday...

> As others have said, attendance was down
> compared to other recent years. No long
> lines of people waiting to board, stretching
> around behind the station. I'm sure the
> weather was a big factor, as was the fact
> that only one steam locomotive was
> operating.

> Those folks who chose not to go, missed a
> great time! The weather wasn't THAT bad on
> Saturday (I don't know about Sunday), cloud
> cover with a very fine mist much of the day
> (a little hard pressed to call it
> "rain"). And that one steam
> locomotive... WOW!!... 14 never looked so
> bad... er, GOOD! Regular service black with
> no silver and white trim, brass boiler bands
> covered up, red cab roof now black, and
> enough "grunge" all over to appear
> that she spent the previous week hauling
> coal off the mountain! If 14 was any more
> "authentic looking", the late John
> Krause would have showed up to photograph
> her!

> The GE center-cab diesel M-7 put on a good
> show of its own and probably got its first
> real work out since coming to the EBT a few
> years back. Second WOW! of the weekend...
> Tom Davis (of Station Inn fame) loaned a
> Nathan K3LA horn for use on the M-7
> (replacing its single note Leslie) during
> the weekend... talk about the "mouse
> that roared like a lion"! BTW: During
> the final years of regular service, the EBT
> contacted GE for a bid on a couple of
> end-cab (I believe 70-ton) diesels to
> replace the mikes. If the bottom hadn't
> completely fallen out of the coal market,
> the EBT might have continued on for a while
> longer with GE narrow gauge diesel power.
> The current M-7 operation gives us a little
> look into what that would have been like.

> The M-1 gas-electric railcar made two
> (instead of its usual one) round trips on
> Saturday. I understand its second trip on
> Sunday was cancelled due to lack of riders.
> The M-1 spent the morning posed next to 16,
> which was again outside on display (its
> headlight lit) on front of a cut of hoppers.

> Several of the EBT's motor cars (speeders)
> were both displayed and also operated within
> the yard.

> Lee Rainey was doing a great job on the
> roundhouse tour, which gave folks the chance
> to view the work in progress on 15. 12 and
> 17 remain in limbo for now, following their
> inspections. A chance to walk through a
> real, working, steam era roundhouse--very
> much untouched by time--was another good
> reason not to miss last weekend.

> Of course, the annual tours of the shop
> complex was a highlight for many--the crowds
> touring the shops seemed as large as other
> years. Inside, the little Climax-powered
> Plymouth gas-mechanical switcher looks a
> little lonely now that 3 GE centercab
> diesels (sisters to the M-7) have left for
> the D&S.

> Congrats to the folks from FEBT for the
> great work being done on the car shop--the
> wall facing the tracks with ALL those
> windows looks fantastic!!

> Things were no less "spectacular"
> at the Rockhill Trolley Museum. The usual
> constant parade of trolley cars, work
> equipment, etc. went on all day long. A nice
> feature was the stopping at the (newer)
> carbarn on the return trip for guided tours
> of the equipment stored inside including the
> Electroliner / Liberty Liner.

> Although the weather could have been better,
> it certainly was a great event. A great deal
> of thanks goes to Mr. Stanley Hall, all the
> train crews, and BIG thank you goes to Mr. K
> for keeping the railroad open another year
> for us to enjoy.

> The final words are from the FEBT's bumper
> stickers (that were given out with the
> tickets)... "[the] East Broad Top
> Railroad--much more than a train-ride".

> Regards,
> Jim Robinson

I was there on Saturday representing the West Coast; probably the only person from Portland in attendance.

It was my first time to the EBT and a great time it was. I was told that attendance was down, but it seemed rather respectable from my point of view. I went on two steam round trips (the first one of the day and the night trip), riding in the open car both times. I also went on the first M-1 round trip. I went on the shop tour and roundhouse tour as well (were any of you the ones giving the tours?).

I've been to Cumbres & Toltec 3 times and must say that I had set pretty high standards of expectation for the EBT. What I found, though, is that the C&T experience is more about the ride and the day-long journey through the mountains (hands down my favorite tourist route in the country). EBT, on the other hand, was unlike anything I had EVER seen. Seeing the #14 backing off the turntable and weaving through all those buildings was astounding. To see those facilities, with those ominous smokestacks sticking out of the shops looming over the grounds, was, if I may utilize a cliché, like stepping back in time. The roundhouse was amazing as well. The whole railroad is like a time capsule. I was told all this beforehand, but was not prepared for it. This was also my first exposure to stub switches.

In all, I must say that I was thoroughly impressed. I was also pleased and surprised by the optimism expressed by the FEBT, especially during the roundhouse tour. I have heard a lot about how "this could be the last year," and it very well could be, but I was happy to find that those involved were not ready for the railroad to close down. Yes, there was a lot of the "enjoy it while it lasts" mentality in the air, I was just glad to find that at least a few people think that at least the railroad MIGHT last.

I'd like to go back, and soon, but it is all a matter of transportation. I was very fortunate to procure transportation from a TrainOrders.com member just one day before the event. If only Amtrak ran from Philadelphia to Orbisonia!

Again, I found EBT to be unlike anything else I have seen. Oh, and by the way, one of my goals was realized when I finally got to see an Electroliner (even if they like to call it a Liberty Liner...).

> JUST WONDERING JUST HOW IS THE FALL SHOW
> GOING AT THE EBT...IS #14 GETTING A GOOD
> WORKOUT,,AND HOW WAS ATTENDTENCE,,THANK YOU
> PAT.


webmaster@orhf.org

Well...as others have noted, it was rainy on Sat. & Sun., but Monday (the day after it was over) dawned bright & beautiful. I was there all weekend and took lots of photos. I also tried making some QuickTime movies. I will be updating my EBT info. website with selected photos and movies in the next week or so...

In the meantime, here's #16 on display in the Rockhill yard on Monday morning...

my EBT information webpage

jvliet@optonline.net