Steam & Excursion > More On East Broad Top

Over the past few days, we've had the opportunity to go exploring the East Broad Top between Mt. Union and Saltillo.  This has given us a feel for how restoration work is going south of Rockhill Furnace.

1. Between Rockhill Furnace and Pogue, the tracks are coming along nicely with over a mile of rail re-laid.  This is newly laid and ballasted track going underneath the condemned Jordan Cemetery Road overpass.

2. A short bit to the south, rail and ties are in place and waiting for ballast to be dumped.

3. Around the curve just to the south is McCoy Road.  At this location, the roadbed has been cleaned up and graded.  A new crossing has been installed, and ties and rail are not far away.

Kurt Jensen took these three shots.  The rest will be from my camera.

More to come...

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/28/24 14:57 by MaryMcPherson.

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4. The old ties are gone, rails are stacked to the side and the roadbed has been graded to the Rt. 994 crossing coming into Pogue.  So often a scene like this marked the end of a rail line's story, but this is a story of rebirth.

5. On the other side of the crossing, the rails have been pulled free from rotten ties.  Grading has yet to begin at this location, and the rails are yet hidden in the grass in front of the school visible in the background.

6.  Past the school, the bridge over Aughwick Creek has been found to be in relatively good shape given its lack of attention for essentially seventy years.  Grading has reached the south end of the bridge.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

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Mary thanks for the coverage, the trackwork being done is excellent, great to see.

Out 

7-9.  Here we have a trio of images at the Pogue station.  Grading has been done from the crossing north to the Aughwick Creek bridge, while no work has begun south of here.  The rails of the mainline and the siding protrude from the grass south of the crossing.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

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10. South of Pogue the rails are untouched, just as they are from Colgate Grove to Mount Union.  In this case, the tree's days are numbered.

11.  The rails show at a farm crossing going into a small corn field nearer to Three Springs.

12. The bridge over Three Springs Creek at the village of Three Springs.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

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13-15.  Things are a little interesting at Three Springs, as it appears that at several spots the rails have been removed by the adjacent property owners.  One would hope that there will not be a legal fight put up by people who don't have a leg to stand on.  I did ask one employee about it, and he simply said "they know we're coming."

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

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16-18.  And that brings us to Saltillo, where the rails seem to be mostly still in place and overgrown with grass.

Driving back to Rockhill Furnace, Kurt and I were discussing the possibilities if the communities were on board with the trains' returning.  A town like Three Springs, for example, could become a place where passengers could detrain and visit stores and such, returning on a later train.  It will be interesting to see how things will play out.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

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19. After our explorations to the south, we returned just in time for the first train's departure from the Orbisonia station.

20. The 1pm train departing Orbisonia.

21. The train returns as it crosses the creek that divides Orbisonia and Rockhill Furnace.

We'll go for a ride tomorrow.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

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One last trio, these from Kurt's camera, as #16 was making her test run on Friday.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

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While at the E.B.T., we are staying at the Iron Rail Bed & Breakfast.  Here's the view from the bathroom window.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

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Wow!!  What great good news, especially in this depressing era in the restoration/excursion business.
I view EBT as the narrow guage version of the Nevada Northern.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

Thanks Mary for this comprehensive report. Now doubt in my mind that the rebirth of the EBT is THE railroad restoration story of the decade and maybe the century. The steam powered belt driven shop complex at Rockhill Furnace is like walking through the door into the year 1910 and when all the complex is included it is a very rare example of a completely self sufficient support system that was able to do all things needed to keep the 31 mile long railroad running smoothly hauling coal. 

    Also, nice to see steam is back in time for the very popular Santa trains.  

     Onward and upward. Ross Rowland 

Superior post - Excellent coverage.
Bob

What a great post Mary.  Thanks so much for all the new scenes and possible"new" track.

Great photo series! Very rare to see old track in that condition and know it's going to come alive again.

Holy Smokes, Mary.  You out did yourself.  You made me smile, and that can be pretty tough these days.  I wish I lived close enough to help this operation.   Lots of dirty work to be done, but boy could that be fun.  It looks like the tree growwing up through the rails  may be a Black locust.  If the ties were made out of that kind of wood they'd last 100 years plus, even without treatment.  I wonder what they will use to clear all the fill from between the rails.  Should be interesting.  Thanks for the pics.

Craig Hanson
Vay, Idaho

Wow--those neighborhoods will soon see trains in their FRONT YARDS.  Now, for me, I would love that......

Thanks for the look at what used to be, and what is coming back shortly.  There is necrophoaming, so maybe this is resurection phoaming?

I was in my mind's ear hearing Colin Clive describing how his creature wasn't dead, but was just awaiting new life.

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Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

Good report, thank you.

I could see an opportunity for bed & breakfast etc conversions down the line. Locals pick up some income renting rooms, etc.

The areas is very light on tourist infrastructure.

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