The East Broad Top Railroad & Coal Company is a three-foot gauge line that hauled freight and passengers in south-central Pennsylvania's Huntingdon County from 1874 to 1956. This page contains links to illustrated histories and touring guides on branchlines and industries served by the EBT. It also has links to photographic essays on EBT locomotives and equipment with information that you will not find anywhere else on the internet. You can reach these links by scrolling to the bottom of the page.

The East Broad Top Railroad & Coal Company, which connected with the Pennsylvania Railroad at Mt. Union, Pennsylvania, was originally built to serve coal mines in the Broad Top coal fields and a coke-fired iron furnace in Rockhill, Pennsylvania. The iron furnace operated from 1876 through 1907. After the iron furnace closed, the EBT continued to haul high quality semi-bituminous coal to Mt. Union, where it fueled furnace brick kilns or was shipped to off line customers by the PRR. The EBT built several branches to serve iron ore and coal mines, as well as to tap gannister rock for refractory brick making. You can read about these in more detail by following the links at the bottom of this page.

Because of its ease of firing and smokeless qualities, Broad Top coal was much in demand as domestic heating and industrial fuel. A number of innovations, ranging from modern rolling stock and motive power to quality adding coal processing during interchange, ensured the EBT's survival of hard economic times until it was the last narrow gauge operating east of the Mississippi. The EBT was unique among narrow gauge railroads for its heavy construction, steel rolling stock, and modern steam locomotives. But the post-WW II shift from coal to oil and natural gas as domestic fuel eliminated many markets for Broad Top coal and the EBT ceased operations in April, 1956.

The entire 32-mile mainline of the EBT, with bridges, track, tunnels, and structures avoided the scrapper. Since 1960, the Kovalchick family, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, has operated a five mile stretch north of Orbisonia Station as a tourist operation. The rest of the line is intact, but heavily overgrown and rapidly deterioriating. Most of the rolling stock slowly rusts away in the undergrowth covering the sprawling dual gauge yard at Mt. Union and on the storage tracks at the vintage Turn-of-the-Century shops complex in Rockhill, next to the Orbisonia Station, which, itself, dates from 1906. But the priceless shops complex, with belt-driven machine tools, 8-stall brick roundhouse and steel turntable is still standing and is open to tours during special weekends.

The railroad operates one-hour round trip steam tourist trains on weekends, June - October each year. After many years with four serviceable engines, 2002 saw years of faltering revenue catch up with the EBT. Only one locomotive was in steam, while one other engine was undergoing major repairs. Four other engines were stored inoperative. This situation extended through 2003.

Vintage wooden passenger cars from the 1880's trail one of the EBT's four operational Baldwin 2-8-2 "Mikado" steam engines through the scenic Aughwick Valley on a journey back in time.

This is not an amusement park or a polyglot collection of relics. All equipment is original to the EBT; everything is just as it was when the railroad closed its doors in 1956. The highlight of the tourist season comes Saturday-Sunday of Columbus Day weekend. Every serviceable locomotive is in steam. For the past several years the railroad operated passenger trains as well as historically accurate representative freight trains. Since 2002, however, only one engine is in steam, and the railroad operates alternating steam and diesel-electric powered excursion trains. The EBT's one-of-a-kind Brill Gas-Electric car, M1, makes special runs, too.

"One Day at Orbisonia Station" Interesting details tell us more about the East Broad Top in its common carrier years.

East Broad Top Locomotive Images contains color images, video clips with sound, and historical narrative on the EBT's narrow gauge engines and the one-of-a-kind Brill Gas Electric M1.

EBT Non-Revenue Equipment Images contains color images and historical narrative on EBT cabooses and some of the EBT's Maintenance-of-Way equipment.

Illustrated Guide to the Coal Company Town of Robertsdale at the south end of the EBT, established in 1874. Includes map and photos.

Illustrated Guide to the Coal Company Town of Woodvale, the second town built during the expansion of the 1890s. Includes map and photos.

Illustrated Guide to the Rockhill Furnace, located adjacent to the EBT's operating headquarters. Includes map and photo.

Illustrated History of the Rocky Ridge Branch, built to serve independently owned coal mines in the Broad Top Coal Fields near the Turn-of-the-Century. Includes maps.

Illustrated History of the Shade Gap Branch, chartered during the railroad fever of the 1880s, this line shipped iron ore and refactory rock to on-line industries and played an important role in the building of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Chris Coleman's Unofficial EBT Homepage contains information relating to various restoration plans, as well as links to other EBT photos.

Bill Adams's EBT Images features beautiful photos of the operating and the dormant portions of the line.

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