Friends of the East Broad Top

10/20/2026

The 3rd and final day of FEBT's October Work Weekend has come to a close, and even with it being a Monday, our volunteers were still able to make remarkable progress.

Storehouse 2 is looking even more complete, the interior of the Saltillo Station has gained a partition wall, even more windows were being worked on, and even our track volunteers joined us as they spiked and gauged track to a point 1300' south of the Village of Pogue!

While FEBT's restoration session is winding down, there is still one more chance to join us this year on November 7th and 8th! All you have to do to join in is join FEBT as a member, and sign up to volunteer at www.febt.org/volunteer

10/19/2026

This is by no means everyone who has helped out over the course of our October Work Weekend, but sometimes you just have to take advantage of a moment when you can.

And yesterday's crisp fall morning didn't disappoint.

10/19/2026

Day 2 of FEBT's October Work Weekend saw our Sunday volunteers pick up right where they left off on Saturday. With even more progress on Saltillo Station, Windows, Storehouse 2 and more!

The final day of the work weekend is tomorrow and rumor has it, that not only is the progress going to continue, but our track volunteers are going to be joining us as well; picking up where they left off on Thursday. See if you can see how far track extends south of the Village of Pogue.

With one more day to go, that means there is one more chance to join us for the month of October. All you have to do is join FEBT as a member, and sign up to volunteer at www.febt.org/volunteer

10/18/2026

Day 1 of FEBT's October Work Weekend is in the books with our volunteers venturing out into the fall weather to continue the year's incredible progress.

With work on Windows, Boxcars, Storehouse 2 and more there was plenty of work to go around, so much so that even the Young Easties joined in for a lesson from Ron and Matthew from the EBT's Mechanical Department and Brake Shop!

The action continues tomorrow so if you want to join in, you can by joining FEBT as a member and signing up to volunteer at www.febt.org/volunteer

10/16/2026

Over the last two weeks we've been showing off everything covered by the 2027 FEBT Campaign, but for easy reference here are the highlights and fast facts.

$375,000 - Total 2027 FEBT Campaign Goal

$150,000 - The March to Saltillo
- Rebuilds the Mainline, Station Siding, and PA-994/Church St. Crossing in Three Springs and will reconnect Three Springs and Saltillo by rail, once more.

$95,000 - The EBT Archives and Special Collections
- Continues the incredible work of the Archives as the continue to process countless volumes of company records and continue the Archival Arrangement Project.

$70,000 - Rockhill Restoration
- Funds the remain roof work on the Meadow St. side of the Roundhouse and new roofs for Storehouses 1 and 2.

$25,000 - Locomotive #15
- Supports the restoration of EBT Locomotive #15 through raising funds to help with the rebuild and repair of the locomotives tender frame.

$35,000 - Contingency Fund
- Allows us to support ongoing projects when costs increase or even tackle entirely new projects that come up as the opportunity allows.

That's the 2027 FEBT Campaign in a nutshell and if you would like to find out more, you can by visiting www.febt.org/campaign and if you would like to make a direct contribution, you can by visiting store.febt.org/donate

It is your generosity that makes everything we do possible, we thank all of you for your continued support and can't wait to see what we accomplish this coming year with your help!

10/16/2026

Join us at the FEBT Museum in Robertsdale, PA (and every Saturday from May through October) from 10 AM to 5 PM. Take in several of the exhibits on offer inside the museum or take a walking or railbike tour of the coal mining area; there is something for everyone to enjoy. You can even wander over to the Coal Miners Museum, too.

For more information on the museum, visit https://febt.org/robertsdale-museum/

10/15/2026

A fantastic article from Next Gen Easties member Hannah, about the recent Ladies of Steam event at the EBT!

Lady of Steam Hannah joined us for our Women Teaching Steam Retreat at East Broad Top and wrote a beautiful reflection on her experience!

This is one of our favorite articles about Ladies of Steam because it comes directly from one of our attendees and captures the impact of what women experience when they come. We measure success not by the numbers, but by the impact on those who attend.

Have you ever wondered what Ladies of Steam is truly all about, or what it would feel like to learn alongside other women with steam engines? Hannah’s experience offers a glimpse into just that!

To read her full article, “Be the Community You Wish to See,” in the link in the comments!👇

East Broad Top Railroad

10/15/2026

The Volunteers of our Saltillo Station Crew were hard work during FEBT's September Work Week, continuing the progress on both interior and exterior of the station.

More beadboard siding was installed, all of the drywall in the bathroom was hung, several original doors were repaired and returned to the same positions they occupied in the original station. But that's not all.

The train order signal post was painted, the train order signal was fully installed and made functional, and the replica station sign was mounted in the same location it would have been historically.

If you want to help out on any of FEBT's projects, all you have to do is join FEBT as member and signup to volunteer at www.febt.org/volunteer and remember to join us for our next work weekend on October 17th, 18th, and 19th!

10/14/2026

The 2027 FEBT Campaign continues FEBT's commitment to the March to Saltillo and aims to continue the incredible progress made throughout 2026 thanks to your incredible support.

As we continue towards our goal of building 1.5 miles of track this year, with our partners the EBT Foundation, we keep one eye on the future.

Thanks to your generosity to the 2026 Campaign, the remaining clearing and grading work between Saltillo and Three Springs was previously authorized by the FEBT board and the EBT Foundation received a generous donation through the joint EBTF/FEBT Naming Rights Opportunities program to purchase the track material needed for this soon to be cleared and graded section of the line.

This brings us to the 2027 FEBT Campaign, through which we want to reconnect Three Springs and Saltillo by rail once more.

We hope to raise $150,000 to support the complete rebuilding of:

- The Mainline in Three Springs
- The Station Siding in Three Springs
- The PA-994/Church St. Road Crossing

And with your help, we can make it happen!

If you would like to find out more about the 2027 FEBT Campaign, be sure to checkout www.febt.org/campaign and if you would like to make a contribution visit store.febt.org/donate

10/13/2026

On Saturday, October 10th, we mentioned that Combine 14 was now in the hands of the EBT's capable Mechanical Department. But that doesn't mean their work just started...

Over the last several months, the EBTs Mechanical Department have been busy overhauling Combine 14's original trucks back to like new condition. Still stamped for the car’s original owner, the Boston Revere Beach and Lynn, these trucks have been with the car since it was built new in 1882 and arrived on the East Broad Top in 1916.

After decades of passenger, and later, freight service as a caboose prior to 1956, as well as decades of constant use in tourist service, the trucks were quite simply, worn out.

To date, the truck frames have been completely disassembled and steel components straightened and repaired. The trucks were measured and trammed for the new wheel sets (funded by FEBT). These measurements were then used to machine the original pedestals and journal boxes to ensure the trucks ride correctly while traveling down the track.

The original wooden components were deemed to be beyond repair so new wood beams were fabricated to match the originals. This will ensure proper strength and fit of these components as well to increase longevity of the repairs. More work remains on the trucks to include machining shoes to fit the newly machined pedestals and journal boxes and installation of new, proper coil springs.

Once the truck work has been completed, work will begin on replacing all the original brake piping on the car and inspection and repair of the coupler and draft gear assemblies. The final step will be to install the trucks and make appropriate repairs to the draft gear pockets, body bolsters, and side bearings on the car body to ensure the car rides at the appropriate height and is ready to return to service.

But progress is progress and we thought it worth celebrating all of the work and hours that our partners at the East Broad Top Railroad, and more specifically the EBT Foundation’s Mechanical Department, have already put into returning Combine 14 to service!

(📷 by Brad Esposito and Al Gallo)