Steam & Excursion > East Broad Top Reopens Main Line Segment After 69 Years

East Broad Top Reopens Main Line Segment After 69 Years
Excellent article in Railway Age by Dan Cupper

https://www.railwayage.com/news/east-broad-top-reopens-main-line-segment-after-69-years/

/Ted

Nice article, thanks for posting the link.

best news in months  keep going

out west CATS needs to go west out of chama
 

dan Wrote:
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> out west CATS needs to go west out of chama

Why?

not for you then

Why? So that they can serve the casino in Dulce with direct service from Antonito! And
then on to Durango where they can use eminent domain to get the hospital off the right
of way and allow fans to celebrate the reuniting of the narrow gauge lines! 

Out 

dan Wrote:
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> out west CATS needs to go west out of chama

WHO/WHAT/WHERE/WHY is CATS?

Is this on Broadway?

What does this have to do with East Broad Top?

casinos are springing up everywhere, has that train gone down track? There was casino train talk years ago

Yup, remember that and the ROW was in pretty good shape back then. Dulce would be doable
but much further would have issues.

Out 

the durango sprawl would be the western limit, unless cdot would help them get into town, navajo reservoir maybe neat to see

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't the abandoned portion between Chana and Durango under some trail scheme as well? 
I will say, it is kind of telling that after 50+ years since abandonment there hasn't really been much interest or movement about rebuilding some of the narrow gauge ROW beyond the occasional unserious/foamer-esque comment.

That's pretty much true and beyond the casino with Indian ownership there hasn't been much serious talk on
West out of Chama.

Out 

dan Wrote:
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> not for you then

Sometimes it is best to preserve what you have already (which includes the best parts of the original route).

I fortunately had a ride in June 1966

That's an excellent article on the East Broad Top.  The work of the Volunteers and the Foundation is amazing.

The success of the Cumbres & Toltec is that it runs into higher and cooler climate.  The NG coaches are not air conditioned and a ride to Dulce is scenic but would quickly become hot and boring. Support what was saved.

The EBT Foundation is pretty amazing, only raised $493K on a $300K goal.

Out 

callum_out Wrote:
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> The EBT Foundation is pretty amazing, only raised
> $493K on a $300K goal.
>
> Out 

One accomplishment is their communications to donors.  When you can see, in pictures, what your contribution is helping to create, you feel your gift is making a difference.  Necessary stuff like fire suppression in the ancient shops, is harder to visualize and appreciate. Same with scanning the old log books.  But no less important.

I was probably on the same excursion in June, 1966. Alamosa to Durango. Illini RR Club I believe.

Posted from Android

ABB Wrote:
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> I was probably on the same excursion in June,
> 1966. Alamosa to Durango. Illini RR Club I
> believe.

Yep! We were running late and if I recall arrived at Durango after midnight. It was cold in those coaches.

I had a great time.

To clarify - there are 2 separate organizations that should be recognized for the amazing progress in restoring the East Broad Top railroad. 

The first is the East Broad Top Foundation (EBTF), a 501 C3 organization that purchased the dormant EBT in 2020 from the Kovalchick family.  The EBTF owns and operates the railroad.  It's full time staff restored Baldwin 2-8-2  no. 16 in house, and is committed to restoring additional EBT steam locomotives with no. 15 next up.  (all 6 of EBT's original 100+ year old Baldwin 2-8to the old wye just past the Saltillo station. .

The second is the Friends of the East Broad Top (FEBT) organization, which since 1983 has worked with the railroad's owners to preserve/archive records, operate a museum, and through the efforts of volunteers restore structures, track, and rolling stock.  The FEBT has 2203 active members.  The organizations 2025  fund raising goal was set as $270,000, and to date has exceed the goal by $218,000 - with 2 months to go!  A notable event this year was the EBTF building a replica of the razed Saltillo station.  A FEBT funded contractor has almost completed the building's exterior.  FEBT volunteers will do the interior work.  One feature will be installing an ornate ticket window salvaged from the original station before it was razed. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/30/25 17:35 by Keystone_Ed.

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