> Standard-gauge track has actually been laid
> on the line from the EBT's former PRR
> interchange to a planned industrial park to
> the southeast of Mt. Union.

The standard gauge rail that currently exists on the line is original to the common carier days of the railroad. It was laid so that the standard gauge switchers could access a tanning extract plant in Allenport until it burned in 1923. Mount Union Connecting plans to extend the exisitng standard gauge rail about another half mile to industries south of town, but that has not happened yet.

> It's the opinion of railroad professionals I
> have dealt with that, as much as they'd love
> to restore the original track, it would be
> more economically feasible to rip up the
> track and build anew.

'Rip Up' is not quite the appropraite term. More pecisely, disassemble the rail and set it off to the side, rehabilitate the roadbed, lay ties, relay and spike the rail and ballast.

> This would presumably
> extend as well to the badly-deteriorated
> Pogue truss bridge and the Aughwick Creek
> concrete-arch bridge.

Pogue is not that bad. Its piers are in very bad shape though and need repair. Aughwick is sound, but in need of costly concrete repair.

Pictured below is Robertsdale Bridge, indicative of the state of most of the disued line.

East Broad Top Virtual Tour

ebtrr@spikesys.com

> there are still a number of
> narrow gauge models extant, certainly enough
> for what would be needed. Has this idea ever
> been passed around before?
Long ago, before 1973, Jimmy McHugh with
Kovalchek permission used EBT motor cars and
McHugh chain saws to head north from Colgate
Grove towards Mt. Union. EBT Gen. Mgr. Wilburn
successfully complained that the local deer would
be injured by contact with the resulting tree
stumps, and the trips were discontinued.


TyburnRR@cs.com