Can what is said in this Ebay listing be true? I suspect that other examples of these signs exist that could put a bit more credence behind this? If so, and there is interest, I would be willing to help with the purchase price to get it "Back home" as it were!

TJG

EBT Crossing sign

tjgaffney@phmuseum.org

Yes, it looks very much like one of EBT's signs. My understanding is they cast them from their own patterns in their own foundry at Rockhill. They're really not all that scarce; there are a fair number of examples still in possession of the railroad, and they may--may--even have the pattern for them still.

For the FEBT it would be a "nice to have", but I for one wouldn't recommend diverting FEBT money from the shops restoration and stabilization work to buy it.

eledbetter@rypn.org

I cross-posted this to the EBT list so FEBT'll be sure to know of it.

eledbetter@rypn.org

> Can what is said in this Ebay listing be
> true? I suspect that other examples of these
> signs exist that could put a bit more
> credence behind this? If so, and there is
> interest, I would be willing to help with
> the purchase price to get it "Back
> home" as it were!

There are several of these signs still located along the EBT R-O-W. Yes, it *does* match the EBT signs exactly--there are minor differences in type font and dimensions with the nearly-identical
PRR crossing signs; my theory has been that the EBT borrowed or bought the original sign pattern from the PRR, as the PRR had some virtually-identical signs along its former Lewistown-to-Selinsgrove and Lewistown-Milroy line--which was, according to several PRR sources, a test bed for the PRR's first standardized crossing signs.

The key feature of the "EBT-style" is that the top and bottom halves consist of moderately-straight borders connected by the curves at the top, bottom, and sides, as opposed to a more rounded and true oval. This sign shows the characteristics well. I found some "reproduction" crossing signs for sale online, but none of them even look accurate.

Of course, one can never discount the possibility that the sign on eBay was "liberated" years ago..... for that reason, I wouldn't pay a plug nickel for it.


LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

Thank you for pointing out the auction. It does appear to be a genuine EBT crossing sign, due to its unique shape pointed out in another post. An in-service sign at the EBT is shown below. Many such signs were sold off from 1956 through the late 1970's, both at the Winter Spectaculars and as direct sales items. There were dozens installed along the line.

FEBT currently has a restored EBT crossing sign in its collection, on display in our museum. Considering the likely collectors value this sign will command it is unlikely the Friends will be interested in bidding on it directly. However, if a person or group would like to coordinate a purchase of the sign and donate it to the Friends, we would happily add it to our collection. Feel free to contact us at webmaster@febt.org .


Friends of the East Broad Top

webmaster@febt.org

Aluminum,fiberglas or plastic reproductions (and marked as such on the back) could be a fundraising
item for FEBT or other groups. Having some sort of certificate of authenticity,"cast from original EBT pattern" (or from an extant sign) would help distinguish it from some of the "make a quick buck" railfan items out there.


edm5970@earthlink.net

Are you sure that EBT used their own pattern for something that must have been commercially available?
In the Philadelphia area, Reading Co, Pennsylvania RR, and Red Arrow Lines all used the same design. S.E.P.T.A.'s Red Arrow division, at least, still hasn't replaced all of theirs!

104577.651@compuserve.com

It is my understanding that the EBT did use their own pattern and that Joe has the original pattern at his home in Indiana, Pa.

> Are you sure that EBT used their own pattern
> for something that must have been
> commercially available?
> In the Philadelphia area, Reading Co,
> Pennsylvania RR, and Red Arrow Lines all
> used the same design. S.E.P.T.A.'s Red Arrow
> division, at least, still hasn't replaced
> all of theirs!


Strasburg Rail Road
asholley@hotmail.com

> It is my understanding that the EBT did use
> their own pattern and that Joe has the
> original pattern at his home in Indiana, Pa.

The EBT currently has 4 of these signs in use. 2 of them at their crossing in Rockhill Furnace and 2 at the next public road, Enyeart Road crossing. We have no others, and in fact one was badly broken the other year due to an auto accident and that had a new steel back cut and bolted to the pieces of that sign. Look for it at the Rockhill crossing.

A spare would be nice.

Thanks

trolley@innernet.net

yes, this reply is coming 20years later

i am looking for a confirmation on the location of the original wooden pattern for the Iconic EBT "Railroad Crossing Stop Look Listen"

I can remember seeing a picture of it on the AltoonaWorks Facebook page between 2012-2016. but when i go back through the history of the page i can not see anything before 2017

the Picture i remember seeing was of the Wooden Template / Pattern hanging above a fireplace. it was a Stone Fireplace. the text said it was in Indiana, PA at the Kovalchick's Residence.

if anyone out there has a picture of it to prove its existence, please post an image back on here. if not thanks for the help

also attached is an image of my sign for reference

thanks

I remember the first couple of times I visited the EBT in the mid-1970s and early 1980s that the gift shop sold actual extra "stuff" from the railroad, mostly paper forms. I bought some. Perhaps it's possible that they had a stash of extra grade crossing signs that they sold into the railroad collectables market back then?