The EBT's car shop is a big building, at least for a 33 mile short line. It is the only building on the property that has tracks running clear through it. The Car Shop is appropriately named as this is where the freight and passenger cars were built and rebuilt. All of the EBT's boxcars, flatcars and cabooses were built here along with all but thirty hoppers.

Like so many of the EBT's shops buildings, the Car Shop needs help. FEBT started in 2002 with repairing the windows on the east side that have looked so sad to the passing train riders. During the same time period, volunteers began working on the north end of the building, where the EBT shuffles restored freight cars into and out of the cover of the shop. The doors would no longer open without significant "coaxing" and tended to gouge the earth and hit the rails as they swung. The fact that one bottom hinge pin was ready to fall out of the cracked and rotted base of a wall post did not help the situation. All the windows were broken to some extent.

The first order of business was to repair the doors. One at a time the doors were jacked up and sections of the door framing were repaired or replaced as needed. Lots of rotted or broken siding was removed and replaced. A new header had to be built over the west door as the previous replacement header had been "customized" by the caboose copula. The windows were pulled out one at a time ad rebuilt with new glass and replica muntin bars. Facia and trim boards were replaced where needed.

Work on the structural side started with digging down three feet through the old loose stone foundation and pouring a new footer under the west door. This held the door post foundations in place. Next the rotten door and wall posts were jacked up, the rot cut off, and concrete poured up to the solid base. Once all repairs were in place the exterior was pressure washed and sanded.

In on marathon morning the entire north end of the building was primed. The following session the north end was completely painted barn red. With some detail work to the hardware, this end of the building has been pretty much finished. With free swinging doors, glazed windows and shinny paint, this wall has become an example of what is possible at the EBT.

This year we will continue work on the adjacent Car Shop east wall (left of photo) and Boiler House (right of photo)

--
The Rockhill Restoration Crew schedule for 2004 is as follows:

March 13-14
May 1-2
May 22-23
June 12-13
July 10-11
August 1-2
August 14-15 (Community Appreciation Weekend)
August 28-29
September 25-26
November 6-7

Chris Coleman, FEBT Webmaster
http://www.febt.org

Friends of the East Broad Top

webmaster@febt.org

Something's wrong here.. Don't these people know that it is impossible to save equipment in a historic setting? They should be rescuing those engines and cars and transporting them to other museum sites, to be dismantled, scattered about and left lay until the next milennium. Saving those old buildings is positively impossible, because they might have asbestos or lead paint, or leaky roofs or bad wiring. Just kidding, of course, but I've sure heard those words a lot over the last 20 years, from people who consider themselves preservationists..

ryarger@rypn.org

I think the KRM got a booster engine or a stoker engine from one of the unlucky 2700s to use on 2716. Other than that, I don't think much salvable in the way of appliances of parts were left by the time they met the torch. It is a shame about the 2-8-2 though.

david.wilkins@bardstown.com

Just kidding, of
> course, but I've sure heard those words a
> lot over the last 20 years, from people who
> consider themselves preservationists..

Yes, I for one still consider myself a preservationist--just one who believes that husbanding our resources and efforts is part of our duty. To make choices among the range of conceivable projects--to select for support the most feasible and well-thought-out--this is wisdom, not defeatism in my book. Obviously your milage may vary.

eledbetter@rypn.org

So, how does EBT stack up in the discussions of oldest, longest etc tourist railroads below? Seems conspicuous by its absence.

EBT progress - compared to the endless presentation heard at a TRAIN convention a few years back from Friends of CATS which provided the history and lineage of each tree cut and milled to provide a board or two for the restoration of a sandhouse - nothing short of stupendous. Being privately owned, and Friends as a private nonprofit, without the interference of various preservation oriented regulatory agencies, can use wood from Home Depot, latex paint, and other modern conveniences with impunity and accomplish great things.

Not everybody needs to make some of these compromises, but given all EBT needs, it would be impossible with out them as well as the dedication and good management of their Friends group. They have found a way that works well for them and deserve their success.

dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

> So, how does EBT stack up in the discussions
> of oldest, longest etc tourist railroads
> below? Seems conspicuous by its absence.

Passenger service started in 1873. It ceased in 1955 and restarted in 1960. Maximum mileage was about 56 miles, including branchlines (Yes, the had passenger service at times.)

> EBT progress - compared to the endless
> presentation heard at a TRAIN convention a
> few years back from Friends of CATS which
> provided the history and lineage of each
> tree cut and milled to provide a board or
> two for the restoration of a sandhouse -
> nothing short of stupendous. Being privately
> owned, and Friends as a private nonprofit,
> without the interference of various
> preservation oriented regulatory agencies,
> can use wood from Home Depot, latex paint,
> and other modern conveniences with impunity
> and accomplish great things.

Well, we use Lowes and oil paint, but you do have a point. Yet we are still responsible to the railroad management, the spirit of the railroad, and our own consciences.



ebtrr@spikesys.com

Do any of you of you know if the last remaing Wanamie engine is still there in Wanami. It was a local Vulan 0-4-0. Not sure of what number it was. Was there several years ago. This engine was located in Wanami Pa. on the western edge of of the northern anthracite coal field. The Wanamie coal complex was served by the CNJ. Please help.


memnon11075@earthlink.net