The East Broad Top Railroad was a coal-hauling narrow-gauge railroad connecting mines and small towns to the nation’s standard gauge rail network via the Pennsylvania Railroad. After ceasing operations in 1956, the yard, buildings, and equipment remained largely unchanged. Revived as a tourist railroad in 1960, excursions operated on a 4-mile section of the railroad until 2011 when operations again ceased. Nearly the entire East Broad Top was acquired by the EBT Foundation Inc., a non-profit educational organization.
Choices
Steam-powered passenger excursions officially returned to the East Broad Top Railroad in early 2023 with the restoration of 2-8-2 steam locomotive No. 16. Check the railroad’s website for the steam schedule in order to take in the full experience. Walking tours of the original shop facilities are also offered multiple times each day that trains operate.
When to go
Excursions currently operate on weekends May-October with weekday departures added during the summer months. Special events, such as Christmas in Coal Country, also operate seasonally throughout the year.
Good to know
The railroad was built from 1872 to 1874 to haul coal to a new iron furnace. The 33-mile-long EBT survived the collapse of the local iron industry at the turn of the 20th century because the top-quality coal it carried had found other markets, thanks in part to close cooperation with the Pennsy. When the last local coal mine closed in 1956, the EBT was purchased by the Kovalchick Salvage Co., of Indiana, Pa. Despite being in the scrap business, the company left the railroad intact and in 1960 reopened a portion of the line for steam-powered tourist trains.
Worth doing
Shop tours show the overhead belt system of powering machines.
Don’t miss
The Rockhill Trolley Museum, with its fleet of operating restored electric cars, is located adjacent to the depot in Orbisonia.
Getting there
Rock Hill Furnace is 13 miles north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike on U.S. 522. The railroad is in the south-central part of the state about 70 miles west of Harrisburg.
Location: 421 Meadow Street, Rockhill Furnace, PA
Phone: 814-447-3285
Website: eastbroadtop.com
E-mail: info@eastbroadtop.com
