East Broad Top Railroad

EBT Speeder Crew Opens Track To Rt 475 Crossing

During 2004, a brush clearing crew from Friends of the EBT reopened about .2 mile of main track from the coal tipple to Odd Fellows Cemetery Rd. At the crossing is the southern-most switch of the Rockhill yard. During April and May 2006, EBT crews began clearing brush farther south, reopening track that hasn't seen use in several decades. The purpose of this 1/2 mile extension to Rt 475 crossing is to increase the length of speeder car rides on track the train does not run on.

Before the 2007 operating season began, another section of track was reopened but still short of Rt 475 crossing. Once our crews reach Rt 475, our speeder rides will be a 2-mile round trip.

During the spring of 2008 another 300 feet of track was cleared of brush. The brush in this section was quite thick and this segment was put into service during March 2009.

In March 2009 our crews have again started to work on opening track. On March 7th, we managed to put another 180 ft into operation, with more to follow later in the month. On March 14 a little more track was cleared and gauged. The rebuilding of a culvert was started and should be finished after another work day. Before sunset on March 22, we finished building a culvert, which gives us 350 feet of additional track over last year.

As of April 12, the EBT Speeder Crew has reached the Rt 475 crossing, which is one mile south of Orbisonia Station. There is still much cleanup and track gauging to do on the last 500 feet before the speeder ride can reach Rt. 475.

On April 26, EBT speeders successfully operated to Rt 475, ending a four year project. Come visit the EBT and ride a speeder on a 2 mile round trip from across the street from the station.

4/30/2006: Henry and Frank work to repair a broken joint
in the middle of Odd Fellows Cemetery Rd crossing.
4/30/2006: New switch timbers have been installed at the southern-most
end of track 3. This allows us to use this to pass speeders in a pinch.

3/30/2008: Looking south, Henry has just dropped a tree and is cutting it up.
3/30/2008: Looking north from the new end of track.
As of March 2009, we are working to put this track into operation.

3/5/2009: In the middle of the 300 ft cleared in March 2008 is this hole,
a drainage ditch. This hole will later be filled in and a drain pipe added.
3/7/2008: Here is one of six gauge bars or steel ties installed
today which brought 180 ft into operation.

3/7/2009: The crew poses with the Fairbanks at the hole pictured above.
3/14/2009: The Fairbanks has delivered one of two
pipes to be installed in a new culvert.

3/14/2009: Cutting trees down to clear the track.
3/14/2009: Two pipes have been placed under the track.
Next we will fill in the hole with dirt and install ties.

3/14/2009: Looking north from the south end of cleared track.
3/14/2009: The Fairbanks is ready to take
a load of fill to the new culvert.

3/22/2009: The finished culvert.
4/11/2009: Very thick bushes and vines.

4/12/2009:
4/12/2009: The Rt. 475 grade crossing is just
beyond the person in the background.

4/12/2009: The view from the Rt 475 crossing
looking north toward the EBT station.
4/12/2009: Looking south toward Rt 475 from
about 250 feet away.

4/25/2009: We have rented a stump grinder
to make gauging the track easier.
4/26/2009: Speeders have reached "Byers Grove" by afternoon.

4/26/2009: Courtney works on gauging the last
obstacle on this four year project.
4/26/2009: Speeders have arrived at Rt 475!