A new B&B has just opened: Red Roof & Rail B&B, 18570 Croghan Pike, Shirleysburg PA. I found a mention on the Fans of the EBT facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1231931 ... 1857775988

Hi guys; Now, getting back on track, what is the current status of the work being done on EBT 16, and also (14?) Thanks, David Notarius

Their latest posting showed pouring babbit in the journals and preparing the tender tank of 15 for replication as it has major rust out (as do, I think, all of the tenders from leaving coal in them for decades). 14 will be worked on after 15 is up and running, although new driver centers have been made for it (while making the new ones for 15). I saw them this summer in the Strasburg shops (although Strasburg would not identify them for customer privacy!). Lookin' good!

Hi again; what work is currently being done on 15, besides the tender work and new driver centers? What is the status of her boiler.? Thanks again - David Notarius

Only the Shadow knows--well actually the EBTF knows, but they keep things pretty close to their chest. I believe the boiler was thought to be in pretty good shape, but the cracked driver centers moved the 16 up to the forefront for rebuilding. Following the 15, the 14 AFAIK is in the next one in line. As time and funding allow! Being out in Califunny, it's kinda hard for me to know any "inside" info!

It's been a bit since this thread was updated, but videos from the EBT's social media this week have shown 16 reassemebled and under steam, with a shakedown run occuring today, 08/28, on the heels of a visit from the NRHS Convention.

At this time, while testing is underway, there is no official date for 16's return to public operation.

The shakedown run also holds additional significance, as it marks the first time since 1956 that a steam locomotive has crossed PA 475, which was reopened to traffic on August 7th.

Video via facebook

The combined EBTF/FEBT track crew reached 475 on March 12th, and have since rebuilt track to 400 feet south of the long-closed overhead bridge at Jordan Summit as of 08/28/2024. This puts the railhead about 2500 feet from McCoy Road, and approximately 3800 feet from this year's target, the PA 994 crossing just north of the high school. The right of way has been cleared well south of Pogue.

The current plan, per Trains Newswire, is to do the necessary work to the 275-foot long Pogue Bridge over the winter, and reopen the PA 994 and high school driveway crossings next year. With enough funding and hands, I'd personally wager that there's a solid chance of reaching the passing siding at Pogue next fall (and then I need to literally go eat a hat for saying that would never happen).

I am not affiated, I just pay attention to every scrap of information that the railroad feeds us on the internet.

Thanks TEP for the link and the updates. They sure are making great progress. Nice to see # 16 back up and running.

This certainly is THE rail preservation story of the decade.

I hope they're fortunate in seeing lots of additional lodging created within a reasonable distance of Rockhill because as of now the room availability is very limited.

Ross Rowland

That should be up to the private sector.

The big problem--as has been seen repeatedly with placed like Chama, Antonito, Durango, Cass, Strasburg, Williams, and other locations proximate to excursion operations of a rural "time capsule" character is that too much "lodging," and the traffic and commercialism it brings, "destroys" the character and ambience of the "time capsule." Look at the howling about a campground at Cass........

The only sensible place I could see to stash a (SMALL) motel complex in the Orbisonia area is up around/behind the Sandy Ridge Market north of town. There should be plenty of locations for alternatives to be built along US 22 between Huntingdon and McVeytown, a stretch where if memory serves correctly several old motels served out their last days as tragic-looking nursing homes or assisted living facilities. And, of course, some investors could build a larger B&B-style accommodation in Orby/Rockhill in sync with the local atmosphere.

Nearby Raystown Lake had been seen as somewhat of a "joint attraction" which in a sense should have attracted resort-style accommodations by now (see The Inn at Snowshoe near Cass), but for a variety of reasons hasn't quite panned out that way.

100% agree that it needs to be cured by the private sector. The free market is working in that a total of 4 new B&B's have opened in the immediate area since the EBT has come back to life, but those total only 9 rooms which is far less than needed.

I'm told that there is the serious long term possibilty of building a new 5 mile spur to connect Raystown Lake with the EBT mainline. Raystown Lake has hundreds of rooms and would make a real dent in the issue.

There's plenty of rooms in nearby Huntington but a 45-60 minute drive is more than most folks consider convenient.

Ross Rowland

Strasburg has plenty of hotels - but you know who needs a hotel? Union, Illinois.

If anyone here is interested in a private charter with #16, Ron McElrath is running one in early October, I believe on a Thursday with a photo freight and a coach. I know he has capacity left, so if you contact him through his Revelations Video site he can give you the details.

And today they made it official that the #16 will be handling trains this weekend.

"This spring, we announced that Locomotive No. 16 would be out of service through at least August to complete extended repairs. After successful test runs earlier this week and again this morning, our Mechanical Department is excited to announce that the engine will be back on the head-end of our excursion trains this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—just in time for Labor Day!"

This isn't that far fetched, there was a spur to a tipple halfway there,
And there's a hundred year old standard Guage row the rest of the way.
The red dot is Saltillo
Blue is the tipple.

I totally agree that the lack of tourist infrastructure hurts these organizations. Believe I mentioned it earlier on the thread. Huntingdon is the only place anywhere near EBT with what could be considered modern hotels and there are only 2, one of which is a Comfort Inn which can be hit or miss. There also isn't a lot in the way of family friendly dining around (meaning chain restaurants).




Anyone have a link? I tried searching but didn't get anywhere.

I stayed at that Comfort Inn last summer when I went to the EBT. It's actually very nice, but it's right across the Juniata River from the old PRR Middle Division. Close enough to hear the trains blow for the crossing, but there's tree lines so you can't see anything. All night I was woken up every 30-45 minutes by a train passing through. Finally, around 6:00am, I gave up on the idea of getting anymore sleep and decided to walk down and see if something interesting was going by. Then all of a sudden, the place was a ghost town, and not a single train went by in an hour and a half.