Just stumbled across this on the two footers website. An article on rebuilding and re-gauging a std gauge tie inserter. Tested on EBT tracks.Please see the linkhttp://thetwofooters.com/issue020.htmHope this helps. Mike Nowell

I got deluged with surplus notices from CPR this afternoon for track equipment. I suggest you find some deep pockets and Canadian friends to see if you can't get some good stuff.Dave

That B&W tie inserter is just the ticket!! Get hold of one of those things and start stuffin 'em in. 99 in 7 hours....a few days of that, a bit of practice, and the count could easily be 150 per day with a good crew.

Geez, there has to be a coupla folks out there who can reverse-engineer an existing tie inserter...and work up a design based upon what can be purchased. from outfits such as Northern Hydraulics, Grainger....Allz ya gotta do is get some hydraulic stuff, some steel beams, plate...Seriously, there is no better introduction to the world of railroad preservationthan a well-organized, well-supervised,well-equipped and well-supplied track project. Instant gratification at its best !!!!Conversely, a tie project that yields the replacement of but a few ties in a days' work is probably the best way to ensure that new volunteers don't come back.Just found the following link: [url]http://www.spikesys.com/Bin/EBT/21818.jpg{/url]Dave

Don't get your hopes up. That depicts part of the dual-gauge trackage up near the Mt. Union yard and enginehouse, which was reinforced and rebuilt east/south of the connection with the ex-PRR main line to about the site of the old NARCOA refractory around 2001, ostensibly to "reopen service to a future industrial park", but more accurately to keep the line in existence to prevent the Penna. DOT from paving over a crossing for good when a bypass was put in around Mt. Union.Hey, we'll take what we can get.The hopper cars in the background have plenty of trees growing through them, by the way.

I'm glad I didn't read these postings until after the Fall Spectacular! I rode the EBT for the first time as part of the Assoc. of RR Museums convention trip. I visited Orbisonia one time previously, but that was after the operating season had ended.Seeing the line in operation had a great impact on me, and helped me to realize exactly how special this railroad is. However, I have to agree with Sandy's assessment of the track. I was looking at some of it while waiting at the wye, and I was amazed that the track still stayed in gauge. This line *really* needs a lot of trackwork, especially in this litigious day and age. I think Sandy is right when he says that one moderately serious derailment would probably mean the end of operations for the EBT. My wife will probably kill me for saying this, but I'm willing to lend a hand for a project like this. Feel free to email me at hoffmannwj@yahoo.com, as I'd like to keep current on the possibilities for this. I'll be sending in an application to join the Friends as well, as this seems to be a prerequisite to be covered by their insurance policy while working on the property.I think that a first step would be contacting the Restoration Crew coordinator for the FEBT and broaching the subject of tie replacement. Does anyone know if this process has gotten that far yet?Walter