I realize #3 has been at the mount union shop at EBT since the 50s but are there any chances of getting it out of there? Graffiti has taken its tole. I'd love to see it in operation again on another tourist railway, because EBT doesnt have any standard gauge besides that shop area at Mt union. Does she have a lap seem boiler like her sister #6 at whitewater?

It hasn't been graffitied in over 20 years since the engine house was secured, it's under roof, it's in it's native environment. It is in a better environment than most "preserved" locomotives. Leave her where she is, safe, sound and at home. There are plenty of other locomotives that have lost their homes and are in need of a new one.

No, she is not lap seamed.

Well being in her home has done nothing but let her rust and get tagged, it may be better now but she should find a home where she could run. What even happened to all the narrow gauges mikes that used to run at EBT 14, 12 etc?

The other Mikes that operated in "preservation" (12, 14, 17) are still sitting in the roundhouse waiting there next call to duty. Along with the two that were not restored in preservation.

I have to second the notion that has already been made, there are other locomotives that need the attention much more then EBT #3, . . . and would make much more practical tourist haulers I might add.

My preference would be to get the No. 6 off the Whitewater Valley Railroad and bring it back to PA. Under their care it has deteriorated into basically a hulk, making No. 3 look like it just rolled off the builder's floor.

I think it is a fallacy that something has "to run" in order to be successfully "preserved."

Operating a steam locomotive is a self destructive process. Not necessarily bad, but not everything has to run. Some artifacts can teach us a lot if we simply preserve and conserve them. Number 3, saw for some rust, is exactly as she was when she last run. The same goes for the 2 narrow gauge 2-8-2s at EBT that have never run in the preservation era.

All other issues aside, even if we could find a place for #3 to "run" I doubt her owners would let her go. So, she sits secure awaiting a somewhat uncertain future.

At one time, I believe there was a plan to bring # 6 back to the EBT and to restore it cosmetically (number 6 DOES have a lap seam boiler). I don't know if this was through the Friends of the East Broad Top, or someone else. Obviously, nothing has been done. Anyone know if such a plan is still in place?

Les

To the best if my knowledge there has never been a plan to bring #6 back to the EBT. The locomotive was offered to the FEBT for a not at all inconsequential amount of money. Considering that the locomotive would take a great deal more money to transport and a great deal more money and effort to restore cosmetically and that there was no place to put her at the EBT, the FEBT declined the sale offer. The same money funded a whole lot of other restoration work.

WWV had said there were serious discussions to transfer the locomotive to a group much closer to the EBT, but the identity of the group/site was never revealed. That was several years ago and I have heard nothing recently.

#6 will come back east soon. The new owners will move her as soon as there is a safe place to restore and display her. She is not forgotten about. While #6 is not kept indoors, she is relatively safe where she sits at the moment.

a while back #6 was offered for sale for $15,000 to the Railroad museum of PA. They didnt have a place to put the locomotive so they declined. I'd like to see #3 switch places with #6. Being #3 could run at whitewater with needed repairs of course and #6 could be cosmetically restored and put on display. This is just my opinion of course but i dont think she will leave WWV anytime soon. If I had that kind of money i'd donate the necessary money for a new boiler to eturn to operation.

I thought there was a sister 0-6-0 in Wisconsin or nearby that came from EBT, are we talking the same engine here in #6?

It is curious #3 has sat there and nothing has happenned, but then it may be valuable should something happen to its partner, so maybe let it be.

#6 is at whitewater in connersville Indiana.

I can't speak for Whitewater Valley of course, but they have a New York Central 0-6-0 of the type that ran on their line and did switching in Connersville. I think that if any move is made to put steam back in operation on their line, it will be with their NYC 0-6-0.

Les

yes, i've heard many accounts that she will be first i just hope they keep #6. I dont like displays at all. Its just my nature. But with her it makes sense. By the way does anyone know how much they sold 2-6-2 #100 for?

I am a member at the Whitewater Valley Railroad, where EBT #6 is located. I can answer some questions about this engine.

- #6 is still on the property at the WVRR
- #6 doesn't need a new boiler, just fire box work and a new smoke box,
new springs, tires and the 15 year overhaul work.
- #6 has a new wooden cab that is stored indoors.

To answer the talking about the big 0-6-0 NYC steam engine.
#6894 is the only one in existence.
#6894 is in pretty rough shape and would cost a lot more than fixing #6.


Also #100 was sold for the cost of the new boiler that's on it. $68,000