Vision

Our vision is to preserve the East Broad Top as an operating National Historic Landmark

preservation & operation

Our first priority was to rebuild track between Rockhill Furnace and the Colgate picnic grove, where the railroad operated from 1960 to 2011. This work was mostly completed by the fall of 2021 and regular passenger service resumed immediately afterward. We will offer train rides, primarily powered by the EBT’s own historic steam locomotives, along the railroad’s scenic mainline — the oldest extant narrow-gauge line in the country. We’re also seeking financial support to reopen the line to the historic towns of Three Springs, Saltillo, Robertsdale, and beyond. 

We also plan to return the historic, and equally important, EBT shop complex to replicate the original operating condition. We know visitors will be intrigued to tour this unique and expansive facility, where they can see demonstrations of the belt-drive system, the individual machines, and the processes the antique power distribution system made possible (such as replacing side sheets on hopper cars). 

Education & Interpretation

We will catalog, digitize, and preserve the wealth of archival material in the Orbisonia station, and elsewhere on our property, as resources for historians and other scholars. The EBT can be an invaluable teaching and research resource for students of all ages. We are committed to working with elementary and secondary schools and nearby colleges to provide enhanced learning experiences. 

Economic Development

We see the railroad as providing connectivity to the rural communities of southern Huntingdon County by providing significant opportunities for economic development based upon tourism and recreational pursuits. By offering visitors a variety of destination options we will gain important flexibility in marketing the resources of the entire region.
Taken together, these goals will allow us to make the railroad, the shops, and the neighboring Rockhill Trolley Museum a key economic driver for tourism in southern Huntingdon County and the surrounding region. We have already taken the first steps in building ties with other local attractions. We welcome all ideas, suggestions, and reactions to our vision for the EBT, and of course, we welcome your help in making the dream a reality.