Hi,

I ran across this link while looking for railroads for sale. I may be mistaken, but it sure sounds like this is the East Broad Top RR and related properties for sale. I sent the realtor a note asking for more information, so if they reply, I'll let yall know.

In case you may be wondering why I'm looking for railroads for sale, well I have this dream of running one, but that's another story.

Thanks for reading,

Stuart

http://hotels4u.tripod.com/business_Opp.htm

From the description on the Realtors web site it is obviously the EBT. I'm told that the property as a whole appraises at a very tiny fraction of the $38,000,000 asking price. Something closer to $2 million would be real value I'm told??? I would guess we'll never know until/unless it should get auctioned-then the free market will show its true value.
Ross Rowland

$2,000 an acre doesn't sound all that expensive to me. And you get the mineral rights as well.

The price isn't too bad considering everything that's included, but it's probably out of reach of most would-be tourist line operators or museums, who wouldn't need 19,000 acres of land. I wouldn't think that the mineral rights would have much real value today, unless there is something other than coal under the ground. But you never know. That's something to consider for those who are concerned about the EBT's future. The eventual buyer may not be interested in the railroad at all.
Mike W.

Why don`t the state buy it , after all the state of Wv. owns Case Railroad.

Leonard.

Ps. Hello Ross, I like your screen name, cool. I was just watching the video I took on board the Eire Limited from October 19, 1996, I`ll never forget that trip. Thank you so much for sharing your locomotive with us railfans. if you don`t rememeber that was the weekend that the north eastern came up the coast and every thing was flooded when we came back to Hoboken. I`ll always will rememeber the turn table full of water , it looked like huge swimming pool. lol.

Obviously you're quite new here.

Review at GREAT length the archives of this forum.

Long story hideously short: There have been two major efforts, one by the US Department of the Interior in the 1980s and one by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the early 1990s, to acquire the railroad and preserve it a la the Cumbres & Toltec, Steamtown, the California State Railroad Museum Cass, etc. Both fell apart from a combination of lack of available monies plus the unwillingness of the family to sell the operation.

It's believed that a major bone of contention is the valuation of the respective EBT property--including ALL the real estate holdings, mineral rights, timber rights, etc. The figure listed in the "Railroad For Sale" ad is perhaps the first time those interested in the acquisition of the RR for preservation have seen a dollar figure cited for the property by the Kovalchick family members in decades--and if memory serves, it's several times the "appraisal" or offers of the government bodies.

Schuylkill Valley, I strongly urge you to withhold comment on this unique situation. Many of us on this board have been working publicly or privately behind the scenes for possibly as long or longer than you have been alive--and we have the indentations in our foreheads from beating them bloody against the walls in frustration as proof. Every imaginable question has already been asked over the years, and none of us need to risk upsetting--indirectly--a now-solid working relationship between the Friends of the East Broad Top and the railroad.

Apparently the ad was a hoax or the railroad's been sold. The ad no longer appears on the web site. Hmmmm.

Hi,

I have yet to talk to a realtor, but from the 2 emails I've recieved, it sounds like the property is still available. From the description, I knew what railroad it was when I posted the message. I've been reading the board for at least 2 years, although I don't post very often, I do read. I like the new format, too. I'm familiar with the difficulties in a non-profit working with a for-profit company. I haven't seen the EBT in person, but hope to see it one day. I had the priveledge to visit the RR&G and Long Leaf Lumber site twice, while it was still in the possesion of the Crowell family. If my credentials are in question, drop me a note and I'll give you a little background. I'll admit, I don't have an eighth of the experience as some of the persons that post on this board, but I am learning and yes I would like the opportunity to run a railroad, whether it be hauling freight or passengers. I would also like to learn how to run a steam locomotive.

I applaud the efforts of the FEBT and I hope your relationship with the railroad continues to grow. If I were closer, I would glady lend a hand. Right now I have my hands full in my own projects and am a member of a group and have been invited to join another group that is more local, but doesn't offer the operating possibilites as the first one does.

Anyway, we'll see what happens.

Stuart

ps. maybe one day I'll get to ride behind C&O 614 or other locomitves that are currently retired. Who knows what the future will bring.

Chris Underhill is the name of the realtor and D. F. Barnhardt is the broker.

Just thought I'd let you know. As I don't ahve that kind of money or that good of credit, I let it go at that.

Stuart

I can certainly understand Mr. Mitchells feelings after so much hard work has gone into trying to "save" this gem of history by arranging a transfer of ownership. I went through a very similiar effort a few years ago with a short line in NJ which also has been in the control of the same family for years. I thought we had a deal constructed that would have seen the rr sold to a new group that was willing/able to make the capital investments it needed to bring it into good shape but at the last minute the Patriarch of the family decide he wanted double the agreed upon price. Obviously the deal crashed-he's since died and the property in question is just now filing for bankruptcy and in terrible shape both physically and financially. The high probability is that it will end up selling its assets at auction and its r-o-w will become biking trails!! Having followed the EBT saga from a distance for years, I suspect that until and unless it gets out of the control(either voluntarily or otherwise) from the long time owning family nothing substantial will happen! Just my opinion!!
Ross Rowland