ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The narrow gauge East Broad Top Railroad has announced details for a one-day revival of its “Winter Spectacular” on Saturday, Feb. 20.
The Winter Spectacular was an annual railfan event in south-central Pennsylvania from 1966 to 1981, held each President’s Day weekend. It started with the 1927 gas-electric car No. M-1 in 1966 and eventually involved all four of the railroad’s operable steam locomotives at the time, Nos. 12, 14, 15, and 17. It was discontinued on account of the difficulty of operating in severe weather and the wear and tear on the equipment. In 1982, it was replaced with a spring event, which did not draw much attention, then the EBT changed to a fall event, which it held every year thereafter until shutting down at the end of 2011.
The non-profit EBT Foundation, Inc., bought the railroad from its former owners, the Kovalchick family, in early 2020. It has been working — with the 1,400-member volunteer Friends of the East Broad Top — to restore the property and make progress toward reopening regular service ever since. EBT plans to open its tourist-era main line to Colgate Grove (4.5 miles) in May or June, with or without steam locomotives. [See “East Broad Top plans spring reopening for regular operation,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 11, 2020].
The Feb. 20 event will reprise the original 1966 Winter Spectacular, using M-1 and a coal-stove-heated caboose. Tickets cost $30 ($28 child fare, ages 2-12) to ride the M-1 and $20 ($18 child fare) to ride the caboose. Departures to McMullin’s Summit, the limit of operable track north of Rockhill Furnace on the tourist-era main line (about 2.4 miles), will occur hourly from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ticket sales will go live this Friday, Feb. 5, at noon Eastern Time at www.eastbroadtop.com. The adjacent Rockhill Trolley Museum will operate that day as well, with a separate fare required.
A $250 photographers’ fare will be available for a Peter Lerro photo shoot for the train departing at 3 p.m. and lasting until 8 p.m. The event will involve scenes on the main line, in the Rockhill Furnace Yard, and around the roundhouse.
Among the railroad’s six Baldwin 2-8-2 engines, Nos. 14 (built in 1912) and 16 (1916) are under restoration to operating condition, with steam-up envisioned for later this year. None of the steam engines is expected to be posed in the yard during the Feb. 20 daytime event, but at least one is expected to be available for the photographer’s special.
The railroad operated a trial run of the Spectacular on Dec. 17, when it used General Electric center-cab diesel No. M-7 to tow 2-8-2 engine No. 17 (1918) and a freight train out into the yard and along the main line for photographers. [See “News Photos: An impromptu ‘Winter Spectacular’ at East Broad Top,” News Wire, Dec. 18, 2020).
Gas-electric car No. M-1, the star of the forthcoming event, was built by the Brill Co. as a kit and assembled in the EBT shops. It replaced some steam trains on the EBT schedule, and Coach 8 was specially modified with roller-bearing trucks to allow it to be towed by the M-1. Built in the 1880s, Coach 8 is currently under restoration in the EBT shops.
The railroad also announced dates of other upcoming events:
— Easter on the Rails, held in conjunction with the Rockhill Trolley Museum, Saturday, March 27.
— EBT Goes to War – A Living History Event, weekend of May 22-23.
— Limited M-7 diesel excursions in May.
