Thursday Proto Photo, Oct 8/15

[Lenny53]

[Jesse6669]

Roof detail on a NS SD60E and track variations.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I think I actually like those SD60Es.

I've got two from my trip to the N Scale weekend. I'm still working on the blog post, but here they are:



There's something noteworthy about this photo, can you spot it?

[davefoxx]

There's something noteworthy about this photo, can you spot it?

I'm going with:

(1) there's a hopper in the picture ; or

(2) the dual gauge track.

DFF

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The dual gauge track.

There were a bunch of Conrail hoppers stored in the old EBT interchange area in Mount Union.

[Rich_S]

Nice photo's ED. It's amazing just how much EBT trackage stills exists. Not sure what the future holds for the EBT, they stopped operating in 2012, it would be great to see trains operating again before everything deteriorates to the point where it is not feasible to restore.  It would be nice to see the EBT once again run between Mount Union and Rock Hill / Orbisonia as I think the majority of the rails may still be in place? Unfortunately I think the rails between Rock Hill and Robertsdale have already been removed?   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I agree, it's such a charming, interesting railroad, but its prospects are somewhat dim.

One of the biggest problems, when it comes to relying on tourist revenue, is that it's really, really, in the middle of nowhere.

That doesn't mean it's impossible (look at Cass), but it does mean it's tough.

[Rich_S]

I agree, it's such a charming, interesting railroad, but its prospects are somewhat dim.

One of the biggest problems, when it comes to relying on tourist revenue, is that it's really, really, in the middle of nowhere.

That doesn't mean it's impossible (look at Cass), but it does mean it's tough.

Ed,  Cass was the first place I thought of when I heard the news that the EBT had stopped all operations. I contacted my local representatives in Harrisburg to see if the railroad could be purchased by the state and turned into a Historical site much like the Cass railroad. I informed them it is the last and oldest narrow gauge railroad East of the Mississippi, unfortunately I was met with dead silence   I'm not sure what the Friends of the East Broad Top Railroad have tried, but hopefully we will not loose this treasured piece of Pennsylvania history to the hands of time. Museums are nice, but an actual operating narrow gauge railroad allows you to actually step back in time and view how things were once done in this country.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I agree, but there are a myriad of sticky situations there, too.

It has been studied though...

If you want to sink some time into understanding the issue, go take a look through this thread on RYPN and start pulling on some of the threads:
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35102

[Rich_S]

I agree, but there are a myriad of sticky situations there, too.

It has been studied though...

If you want to sink some time into understanding the issue, go take a look through this thread on RYPN and start pulling on some of the threads:
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35102

Ed, I read though most of the forum but still I do not have a good understanding of the future of the line. One of the reasons I though this would be a good historical site, all of the original structures still exist along with the original shop machinery. Even if the trains were not running, say in the winter months, the shops could be open for tours. I'm not sure if the FEBT folks would be willing to volunteer as tour guides for the shops and offices etc. with the State running the rail line?  Also the line would need to be revamped from Rock hill to Mount Union. Just because Rock Hill use to be the center of the EBT, it seems that arrangement will not work today. I think Mount Union needs to be the center of operations as the tourist base. Wonder if Amtrak would add a station stop at Mount Union to the Pennsylvanian? The EBT would Run the trains from Mount Union to the picnic area outside Shirleysburg and to the Shop complex at Rock Hill with trains running on a 90 minute or so schedule. Mount Union is not that far from Altoona. I know it's a pipe dream with the biggest problem being I don't have deep pockets  It's just a shame railroads like the The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic and Cass can make it, but everyone is walking away from the EBT. I hear everyone saying Mount Union and Rock Hill are in the middle of nowhere, but so are Chama NM, Antonito CO. and Cass WV. It seems all the railroad really needs is someone with the desire and finical backing to make a go of it like the Durango & Silverton. In a nutshell I guess that is probably what is killing the EBT the most, the line from Rock Hill to Robertsdale that once had the grades, high bridges and tunnels is now gone. There are still firsts left in tact, like the first concrete viaduct in Pennsylvania. It's just South of Mount Union where the tracks cross Aughwick creek along side Aughwick mills road.

OK, my EBT rant is over, I feel better now     

[bnsfdash8]

A rare treat on the Norfolk Southern Chicago Line Wednesday, UP 1995. I got the train as it's rolling through M.P. 412 in Goshen, IN.

[bdennis]

Here are a few shots from my recent holiday up in remote North West Australia.

There are near Tom Price
[/URL]
[/URL]
[/URL]
[/URL]
[/URL]

Near Port Hedland.
[/URL]
[/URL]
[/URL]
[/URL]

Perhaps the ATSF is missing this car? (Currently being used in a park in Port Hedland as a cafe)
[/URL]
[/URL]

[reinhardtjh]

A rare treat on the Norfolk Southern Chicago Line Wednesday, UP 1995. I got the train as it's rolling through M.P. 412 in Goshen, IN.

The C&NW heritage unit was on a train with an NS leader, sitting on a siding in West Chester, OH (near Cincinnati) Friday night (10/9) when I was on my way to an ops session.

[bnsfdash8]

The C&NW heritage unit was on a train with an NS leader, sitting on a siding in West Chester, OH (near Cincinnati) Friday night (10/9) when I was on my way to an ops session.

They must've turned the train around in Elkhart and sent it east then.

[davefoxx]

Teaser!  I got cell service up here in the mountains of Pennsylvania just enough to post this:  The Juice Train on Sand Patch.  Wait . . . what?  This train was detoured due to flooding in South Carolina.



Still railfanning.  More next week.

DFF