Trains LIVE — East Broad Top — 7-26-2023 — Next to the restoration of Union Pacific No. 4014 — Big Boy — the re-birth of the East Broad Top Railroad has been one of the most talked about rail preservation events in recent years. The EBT, located around Rockhill Furnace, Pa., was built beginning in 1872. It moved coal to the Pennsylvania Railroad and ore to on-line furnaces. After its closure in April 1956, the Kovalchick Salvage Co. purchased the railroad. The Kovalchick family operated the railroad as a tourist attraction and did little to alter the property — it became a time capsule waiting to be opened. The EBT, dormant since 2011, was purchased from Kovalchick family in 2020 by the EBT Foundation. Today, EBT is again alive — trains are running, buildings restored, a steam locomotive has even been returned to operation. The time capsule has been opened.
Kevin Gilliam, Trains video producer, camera in hand, has explored the East Broad Top Railroad and recorded its new-found life. Kevin joins us on Trains LIVE for a preview of the upcoming Trains video production on the EBT and a discussion about the fascinating historic railroad.
This is Trains LIVE — East Broad Top
Trains LIVE is a regular video segment, recorded live and unscripted from Kalmbach Media. The series began in July 2022.
Trains LIVE features Bob Lettenberger, Trains associate editor, Kalmbach Media staff, and guests talking about railroads and trains in a casual, behind the scenes format. On Trains LIVE we will ask the questions you would like to ask and take you into places not normally open to the public. Trains LIVE also takes you on the road to museums, trackside locations and other railroad-related venues. It is unscripted and presented every other Wednesday at 2 p.m. Central time.
If you have questions or comments, please log-in and leave a comment in the area at the bottom of the page. We will attempt to answer questions during future episodes. All aboard! It’s time for Trains LIVE!
My oldest copy of Model Railroader (Dec. 1971) had an article on the EBT. As a Pennsy fan, it was of interest because of the interchange with the PRR. Then in 1993 (also, Kevin!) I was in the area researching the area my layout models and saw a brochure with the EBT featured, so we fit a visit there into our plans. After the train ride, the onsite NPS Ranger gave me a walking tour of the shops area and we watched them put No. 15 into the roundhouse. I was hooked! I even bought some Bachmann G scale equipment to put it in my backyard, but I’ve since moved and those plans are still on hold.
I also agree that the EBT and NNRy are probably the two best-preserved locations, but Nevada Northern has about a 40-year head-start on the EBT. I’m hopeful that they will eventually reopen the line to Robertsdale; that will definitely attract the tourists!