Friends of the EBT 30th Reunion, First without Steam

o anderson · **Posted:** Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:04 pm

Even though no regular trains operated on the railroad this year, the volunteers of the Friends of the East Broad Top soldiered onward to move their restoration vision forward.

The group will be celebrating it's work and success as much as any rail museum might do, and the scope and tone of this year's reunion will focus more on the history and restoration than operations of trains. A trip to Orbisonia PA will still be worth the effort, October 5 and 6 and 7 of this year.

Quote:

30th Annual FEBT Fall Reunion
Speeder Rides, Special Tours, and Other Surprises

Join us October 5, 6, and 7 for our 30th annual Fall Reunion at the East Broad Top Railroad and the Friends of the East Broad Top Museum. Our schedule for the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the Columbus Day holiday weekend offers numerous activities at the Rockhill Trolley Museum, the Orbisonia Rockhill Elementary School, and in Robertsdale.

Fall Reunion activities begin at 7:00 p.m. Friday with the annual Friends of the East Broad Top business meeting in the Rockhill Trolley Museum Pavilion. The meeting is open to all members. Following the business meeting will be a slide presentation.

On Saturday Fall Reunion registrants will have the rare opportunity to ride the FEBT's own handcar and speeder car on a portion of the Shade Gap Branch, starting near the Rockhill Trolley Museum Meadow Street Platform.

Meanwhile, FEBT President R. Lee Rainey will present a "Modeling Mount Union" clinic Saturday morning at the Rockhill Elementary School. Later in the day he will lead a walking/driving tour of Mount Union industries served by the EBT. A new Fall Reunion feature will be the "Tour d'Easty" bike ride from Rockhill Furnace to Mount Union. The 12-mile ride, which should take a bit more than an hour, will be timed to allow participants to enjoy both of Lee's presentations.

Reunion registrants can also participate in our annual photo and model contests and auction, which will be held Saturday in the Orbisonia Rockhill Elementary School. We expect to offer several talks and demonstrations related to the restoration work of our volunteers at Rockhill Furnace, as well as tours of the roundhouse and machine shops.

Saturday evening a banquet dinner will be held in the Rockhill Trolley Museum Pavilion at 6:00 p.m. Winners of the contests will be announced, and the first exciting element of our next restoration fundraising campaign will be unveiled. Saturday's events will be topped off with the Fundraising Auction of items members have donated.

On Sunday the focus shifts to Robertsdale and the FEBT Museum, where FEBT volunteers will conduct the annual tour of Robertsdale sites related to the EBT and the Rockhill Iron & Coal Company. The station and Old Post Office will be open in Robertsdale so registrants can see the progress of our restoration efforts.

For further information contact FEBT Fall Reunion coordinator Andrew H. Van Scyoc

http://www.febt.org/reunion2012.html

ebtrr · **Posted:** Thu Sep 20, 2012 1:44 pm

We are looking into making DELUXE shop tours available to the public during the reunion. Shop tours are already to be available at a discount to Reunion registrants. More info as it becomes available.

Remember, the Rockhill Trolley Museum is operating their Fall Spectacular as in past years.