ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The East Broad Top Railroad has announced a Descendants Reunion Weekend for June 13-14, 2026. The families of former railroad workers, coal company employees, and others connected with the narrow-gauge railroad are invited to return and celebrate their shared heritage.
Rockhill Furnace and Robertsdale, Pa. — communities with deep connections to the railroad and local coal industry — will host the weekend’s events. The reunion will provide descendants with the opportunity to reconnect with family history, explore the railroad’s preserved facilities, and share stories of the people who built and operated one of America’s most remarkable industrial railroads. Participants will enjoy train rides, special tours, historical presentations, and informal gatherings designed to bring together multiple generations of East Broad Top families.
The reunion will also provide an opportunity to capture the personal memories of the East Broad Top when it was still operating as a working railroad serving the region’s coal mines and communities.
“Many of the people who remember the East Broad Top as a working railroad are now in their later years,” reunion organizers said. “If we don’t capture their stories now, those memories could be lost forever. This reunion is an opportunity to preserve that living history while the people who experienced it firsthand are still able to share their stories.”
During the event, participants will have the opportunity to share their family history relating to the railroad, coal company, or other area businesses that supported the operations. Descendants are encouraged to bring photographs, documents, and memorabilia connected to the East Broad Top. Volunteers will be on hand to scan documents, photographs, and record oral histories, helping preserve these personal stories for future generations.
The East Broad Top Railroad played a central role in the region’s industrial and cultural life for decades, serving the coal mines of southern Huntingdon County and connecting communities throughout the area. Today, the railroad is recognized as a National Historic Landmark and is widely regarded as the most intact surviving narrow-gauge industrial railroad in the United States.
The Descendants Reunion Weekend will be a unique opportunity for families to reconnect with the places where their ancestors lived and worked while contributing to the ongoing effort to preserve the railroad’s history.
The reunion weekend will feature a number of train trips over the railroad. On Saturday, June 13, there will be a reunion dinner at the Orbisonia Lions Club. The Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum will open to reunion guests on Sunday, June 14. Registration for the dinner and mine museum visit will be through Larry Steninger, who can be reached via email.
Registration for the overall event is not required, but it is appreciated to help organizers prepare for the reunion.
For additional details and event information, visit the East Broad Top Railroad website.
— To report news or errors, contact trainsnewswire@firecrown.com.
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