A series of articles about recent developments and the status of the East Broad Top Railroad has been running in the "Broad Top Bulletin," an independent weekly newspaper in Saxton, Pennsylvania. Broad Top Area native and editor and publisher of the "Bulletin", Jon Baughman researched and wrote the articles, five of which have been published.

Jon has had exceptional access to participants and documents related to recent developments on the EBT. He expanded this information through a Freedom of Information Act request that has brought forward facts about the Federal Railroad Administration's attention to the EBT this year.

More articles may appear in the "Bulletin" series. Jon has sent a series of questions to EBT owner Joseph Kovalchick, receipt of which has been acknowledged by a Kovalchick family member.

The "Broad Top Bulletin" does not have a website of its own. However, a new website is being created, www.ebt-sun.org. The site is under construction (early days!) but is accessible now at the link for viewing the five articles in the "Broad Top Bulletin" series.

Other new, objective, and verified information about the EBT from many sources will be posted at the new site as it becomes available. Eventually, original articles on the history and modeling of the EBT will be added to the site.

However, the site's primary purpose is to publish verified, factual reporting on the EBT free from intimidation. EBT-sun.org was founded by a group of long-time friends of the historic railroad who have observed over two decades that the prospects for the East Broad Top brighten or dim in direct relation to the extent to which the EBT's many supporters share in common a full and accurate understanding of the facts of the railroad's situation.

The new site is not affiliated with the EBT, the railroad's owners, or any other group.

http://www.ebt-sun.org/
ebt4evr@aol.com

Why are you telling us lies anbout this site being objective? Be a stand-up guy and tell the truth. It is pretty well know you have given up on working with Mr. K and now are working against him. Why don't you say something like "A few of us anti Mr. K folks got together and put some stories on the internet that are full of half truths and innuendo to make Mr. K and the EBT look bad."

Tom Gears
Wilmington, DE

> Why are you telling us lies anbout this site
> being objective? Be a stand-up guy and tell
> the truth. It is pretty well know you have
> given up on working with Mr. K and now are
> working against him. Why don't you say
> something like "A few of us anti Mr. K
> folks got together and put some stories on
> the internet that are full of half truths
> and innuendo to make Mr. K and the EBT look
> bad."

> Tom Gears
> Wilmington, DE
Mr. Gears you hit the nail on the head. Mr. Padgett, among others are doing just what you state, "Telling half truths to make not only the Kovalchicks look bad but worse yet, the EBT". Some of you may recall that Mr. Padgett and his gang of half wits almost ruined the EBT's 25th Anniversary, and worse yet ruined the relationship that the Friends of the EBT had with the EBT at that time. Finally, after all these years and on the eve the 42 anniversary(not to mention a healed relationship with the FEBT)Mr. Padgett has once again shown himself and he and his merry band are trying to kill what is left of the EBT.
I sincerely hope that readers of this list do not take his machinations as truth, they are only half truth at best. It all boils down to sour grapes, simple as that.
And, in the end, I can tell you there are a lot of good people(the least of which are the Kovalchick's) who are trying to preserve and maintain the EBT and make it better for the future. And for those that do not know, I am proud to be an employee of the EBT and a friend of the Kovalchick Family.
David Brightbill

dbrightbill@pen.com

I did little research and the owner of the domain ebt-sun.org is someone named Leonard Schweitzer who is from Germany. Why would someone from Germany would set up a page to spread half truths and innuendo about the EBT is the question of the day. Why his name is hidden is another question, maybe someone out there knows.

Tom

OK, folks, this thread did not start off well and it seems to be getting worse as things go along.

I remind everyone of the Terms of Service on the Interchange, especially the following:

"Constructive, polite criticism, and polite responses to same, are acceptable."

"No flaming. There will be zero tolerance for this, one strike and you're out."

I realize full well that this subject provokes a great deal of emotion, and that some individuals invoved in this debate provoke a great deal of emotion. Nonetheless we will not host a flame war on this board.

Everyone can say everything they need to say, without fear of running afoul of the rules, by concentrating on statements of fact or statements of conviction, and refraining from commenting on the veracity or character of other posters or individuals. For example, you can say

"In my opinion, this is probably untrue."
"To my knowledge, this is not the case."
"In my experience of this issue, blah blah."

Please do NOT say "X is a b---tard, or Y is a liar, or Z is a selfish ingrate"--either of another poster, or of a third party.

If we cannot discuss this subject civilly, confining ourselves to constructive, polite criticism, and polite responses to same, we will not discuss it all.

I wish to make it clear that this comment extends to all sides in this debate: I want to see moderation from those critical of the present state of affairs on the EBT, and moderation from admirers of the present management of the EBT. Both have valid observations to make and both are welcome to make them if we keep this civil. Otherwise I will end this and similar threads.



eledbetter@rypn.org

> A series of articles about recent
> developments and the status of the East
> Broad Top Railroad has been running in the
> "Broad Top Bulletin," an
> independent weekly newspaper in Saxton,
> Pennsylvania. Broad Top Area native and
> editor and publisher of the
> "Bulletin", Jon Baughman
> researched and wrote the articles, five of
> which have been published.

As a person who grew up in the Pennsylvania newspaper industry (my mother owned and published the Selinsgrove Times-Tribune in Snyder County, Pa. from 1953 until 1987), I feel obliged to blow the whistle on what I believe to be a case of fraud here.

There WAS a newspaper in the Broad Top/Saxton area some time ago; I believe one of the EBT's later-day supporters, Ron Morgan (who I believe passed away recently) was a reporter for it. However, a great many small-town papers in central Pa. (including, sadly, my mother's) have ceased publication.

I checked the membership lists of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers Association, and I can find NO record of the "Broad Top Bulletin". But I did check up on lots of other hopelessly obscure newspapers via this directory, including some foreign-language papers, some special interest publications (like the Philadelphia Gay News and parenting papers), and some rags that nobody seems to read voluntarily.

I have in past years seen both this newspaper and Ron Morgan's press credentials. Nobody requires them to join the PNPA; it's a free country. However, I ask the RyPN readers to "consider the source" today, and do not hold this "newspaper report" to the same journalistic standard as, say, the Pittsburgh Press-Gazette or the Harrisburg Patriot.

Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers Association
lner4472@bcpl.net

It's the same Broad Top Bulletin; Jon Baughman worked with Ron Morgan and has continued to publish it. They don't have a Web site (or, they didn't) but the sheet is still avaialble in print in the Broad Top area of via subscription by mail.

Just vouching for the existance of the newspaper; I have not read it myself and make no statement one way or another on the content.

eledbetter@rypn.org

The quotes below are right out of the story that Phil has told us was verified and factual.

"meanwhile complaints have been made about the condition of the steam locomotives in use at the EBT. According to sources on or about April 17 a letter was received in the office of Congressman Bill Schuster".

There are no details here. Who sent the letter? Mr. X? What problems do they have? This in my opinion is a bunch of innuendo and nothing more.

According to reports, during the EBT during negotiations some local politicians were able to keep the FRA "at bay", but after negations fell through this is no longer the case.

"According to reports" & "some politicians".... In my humble opinion more innuendo and half truths.

The above are a couple of examples that lead me to form an opionion that these stories are not objective, fair, or honest. I feel this type of story is not true reporting but rather an attack on the EBT and it's owners.

I am sorry I used the word "lies" in my earlier post. I hope that by pointing out a couple of quotes and describing how I read into them others will see how my opinions are formed. I am interested if others read into these stories in a like manner.

Tom Gears
Wilmington, DE

I have read through the piece, and, although most of the statements made (and all of the major points) do indeed match detail-for-detail every report I have been hearing from the area firsthand to fourth-hand, I must note that the article fails on many journalistic standards--such as the use of anonymous sources. It wouldn't even pass the scrutiny of sloppy college newspaper editors with axes to grind--not if the faculty supervisors were paying attention.

I have just now received e-mail reports confirming the existence of the "newspaper" as a tabloid-sized "shopper" paper (mostly advertising). Others have remarked on other writing projects by Baughman and Morgan, in what I shall politely call not-very-flattering terms.

Although I still advise all to take all these words with big grains of salt, I will note once again: I can find no falsehoods in the reports, and the information presented does match every detail I have been hearing indirectly from sources loosely involved (members of the Rockhill Trolley Museum, professional-level preservationists, etc.).

I don't know what is sadder--the existence of such a newspaper exposé on the EBT situation, or the fact that the circumstances permitted it to be written.

lner4472@bcpl.net

What would be nice if the Kovalchick's could get their side of the story out there. So far, we have seen little comment from them.

> Mr. Gears you hit the nail on the head. Mr.
> Padgett, among others are doing just what
> you state, "Telling half truths to make
> not only the Kovalchicks look bad but worse
> yet, the EBT". Some of you may recall
> that Mr. Padgett and his gang of half wits
> almost ruined the EBT's 25th Anniversary,
> and worse yet ruined the relationship that
> the Friends of the EBT had with the EBT at
> that time. Finally, after all these years
> and on the eve the 42 anniversary(not to
> mention a healed relationship with the
> FEBT)Mr. Padgett has once again shown
> himself and he and his merry band are trying
> to kill what is left of the EBT.
> I sincerely hope that readers of this list
> do not take his machinations as truth, they
> are only half truth at best. It all boils
> down to sour grapes, simple as that.
> And, in the end, I can tell you there are a
> lot of good people(the least of which are
> the Kovalchick's) who are trying to preserve
> and maintain the EBT and make it better for
> the future. And for those that do not know,
> I am proud to be an employee of the EBT and
> a friend of the Kovalchick Family.
> David Brightbill

Maybe they are taking the high road?

Seems the low road is in a bit of a traffic jam. As an observer, I have no idea what to make of any of this. I am beginning to wonder who wears the white hats?

I am also beginning to think it is Mr. K who is in the whtie hat, since he is the only one not mudslinging... and he is also still operating the railroad. That counts for something, no? (Me thinks it counts for a lot).

Rob

> What would be nice if the Kovalchick's could
> get their side of the story out there. So
> far, we have seen little comment from them.


trains@robertjohndavis.com

Yeah Rob, I kind of avoided this one for a while due to the nature of some comments on this forum.

Having just read it, I am struck by some items such as mysterious documents provided by a Deep Throat sort of person, unsubstantiated statements like "most local residents support" and other amber journalistic practices. I don't doubt for a minute that the substantiated facts are a portion of the total truth of the matter but given the amount of clutter surrounding them it is hard to take any of this seriously.

I was interested to see that some find Mr Kovalchik's refusal to accept $2 Million for an asset appraised years ago at over $5 Million unreasonable. Seems reasonable to me. Also struck that a turf war between public agencies is taken as a sign of lack of political support. I am also concerned that the proposed division of the physical assets between private and public entities isn't of concern in this report. Isn't fragmenting the railroad what we are trying to prevent?

Until some reasonable and honestly presented information comes to indicate otherwise I agree with your conclusion that Kovalchik is taking the higher ground, and his family is the only entity that has so far preserved this incredibly complete slice of history at their own personal expense. It is hard not to feel sympathy for him under the circumstances.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

FYI: Ron Morgan is alive and well...I just met him at the EBT Community Appreciation Day this last Saturday. He had a table set up and was selling his books, I bought a copy of all three: "The Roy Wilburn Story - the Man behind the EBT", "Echoes from the Mines (Volumes 1 and 2)".

I will soon be posting lots of photos from this past weekend's activities on my EBT photo website, including restoration activities at Rockhill shops (I was one of many who helped out), the Sat. Twilight Train, and various locations around the non-operating portions of the EBT.

my EBT Photo Website
jvliet@optonline.net

> FYI: Ron Morgan is alive and well...I just
> met him at the EBT Community Appreciation
> Day this last Saturday. He had a table set
> up and was selling his books, I bought a
> copy of all three: "The Roy Wilburn
> Story - the Man behind the EBT",
> "Echoes from the Mines (Volumes 1 and
> 2)".

My sincere apologies to Mr. Morgan and anyone who may have been alarmed by my erroneous report. I definitely remember reports of someone active in FEBT circles passing away not too long ago; I remember seeing posted obituaries for said person at a recent EBT Reunion/Fall Spectacular. Somehow it entered in my head that it was Ron Morgan, and I'm surprised that I haven't been corrected by others yet! Indeed, my memory of the obit was so vivid that I would almost have to ask if you made sure it wasn't an impersonator you bought your books from!

But once again, I humbly apologize to Ron Morgan and his friends and acquaintances.

lner4472@bcpl.net