These photos are presented in roughly chronological order. All photos taken with a Canon Eos RebelXS camera with a Tamron 28-80mm lens and Kodak Gold 200 print film. All photos in this section copyright 1995 by William Adams.
Annual Salute [95,salute3]
584x398 (49k)
I arrived from Washington about noon Saturday, and this was the scene.
The crowd gathers around as the locomotives get sorted out for the annual
salute. From left are the M-1,#17,#12,#14,#15. The annual salute consists
of the locomotives lining up, sounding their whistles in succession, then
whistling in unison, a surprisingly emotional statement of the EBT's
persistence heard throughout the valley.
Annual Salute [95,salute1]
600x405 (31k) -
1200x809 (97k)
"This is only an exhibition, it is not a competition...", but there is plenty
of competition for that perfect roster shot of 4 live Mikes. I opted for
a different view from between some parked autos.
#12 "Millie" is hidden behind #14 from this point of view.
Annual Salute [95,salute2]
600x438 (36k) -
1200x895 (112k)
Ok, so I'm not completely immune to the lure. I squeeked this photo in
as #15 started its short trip to the station to board its passenger train.
Spare Tires [95,tires]
600x407 (39k)
Spare locomotive driver tires stored at the shops. The second stack from
the right are blind for the Mikes' two center wheels. The smaller tires
are presumably for the leading and trailing wheels. The building at right
is the south end of the machine shop.
Coaling Tower [95,coal1]
600x404 (65k) -
1200x808 (187k)
View from the coaling tower looking north towards the Rockhill shops.
This is the southern end of the currently operable line. Both the
coaling tower and water standpipe are in regular service.
#15 Seeks Service [95,15alone]
600x409 (51k) -
1200x817 (164k)
Having returned from a trip and handing over its train to another engine,
#15 backs to the coaling tower to take on coal and water. Afterward it
headed to the ash pit near the turntable.
#15 at 3-Way Switch [95,15at3way]
600x406 (39k) -
1200x811 (118k)
#15 has returned from the ashpit on the leftmost track and waits for #14
to clear the main. She is sitting over the points of a 3-way stub switch.
#14 and #15 Meet [95,14and15]
600x405 (60k) -
1200x810 (188k)
#14 has detached from its train and backs in for service of its own,
clearing the way for #15 to return to service. The three frogs of the
3-way switch can be seen in the foreground.
#14 Heads to the Ash Pit [95,14alone]
600x395 (57k) -
1200x790 (197k)
#14's first stop is the ash pit. This shows her headed down the turntable
lead track to the left, the near track leading to a small motorcar shed.
The engineer and fireman are hanging out either window in
perfect symmetry. This is one of my favorite spots on the EBT, and I'm
apparently the only one as there were no other onlookers within sight.
Millie with a Full Head of Steam [95,12]
600x387 (31k) -
1200x774 (99k)
#12 (Millie) waits for passengers to finish boarding at Orbisonia.
The crew has stoked the fire and built up a full head of steam as
the safety valve releases excess steam.
#17 Ready with a Freight [95,freight]
600x407 (52k) -
1200x813 (170k)
#17 is stoked at Orbisonia while waiting for passengers to board
the rear flatcars and caboose.
Interior of Coach #8 [95,coach8]
626x418 (58k)
The recently restored interior of coach #8. Windows, shades, and
throwover seats all work. The gold-colored equipment at the far end
is for steam heating (unknown if functional).
M-6 and M-4 Switchers [95,m6m4]
600x409 (49k)
EBT's two Plymouth switchers on static display.
M-4 Switcher [95,m4]
600x409 (39k)
M-4 switcher. At far right is one of the four Canadian 4-axle diesel
switchers recently purchased for MOW and rescue duty, and this particular
switcher earned its keep late Sunday when sent to rescue #17 which suffered
a failure at Colgate Grove. #12 was sent to retrieve #17's train, and
#17 was pushed back into Rockhill leaking water but with enough steam to
whistle.
#17 On the Turntable [95,17]
600x404 (24k) -
1200x808 (80k)
#17 is the last engine into the roundhouse on Saturday night. The crew
is busy emptying the ashes. [ambient light]
Boxcar Under the Moon [95,boxcar]
600x407 (21k) -
1200x814 (84k)
One of the EBT's two operational boxcars sits under the full moon in
the Rockhill Yard awaiting the next day's freights. [ambient light]
Shops at Night [95,shop1]
600x402 (36k) -
1200x805 (118k)
The foundry is at left, machine shop is in the rear and the blacksmith's
shop is at right. Despite some distortion from the wide angle lens, the
blacksmith's shop really is sinking.
Shops at Night [95,shop2]
600x405 (39k) -
1200x810 (129k)
The 'front door' of the machine shop. The shadow is from a steam line
running from the boilers in the machine shop to the blacksmith's shop
at right. There is also an underground mechanical linkage between the
two buildings.
Hopper in Rockhill Yard [95,hopper]
600x408 (46k) -
1200x816 (148k)
One of the many unrestored hoppers in the Rockhill yard sits without
one of its trucks.
Orbisonia Station [95,station]
600x404 (47k)
Orbisonia Station houses the ticket office and is the boarding location
for all trains. #17 pulls into the station for boarding before heading
to Colgate Grove. There are 7 tracks at this grade crossing, the nearest
is one side of the wye.
Freight at Orbisonia [95,freight2]
600x428 (44k) -
1200x857 (142k)
The crew stokes #17's fire as passengers board the rear flatcars.
Shown are the two operable boxcars and the only tank car.
Boxcar in Rockhill Yard [95,boxcar2]
600x403 (33k) -
1200x806 (107k)
These are most of the (5?) non-operable boxcars in the Rockhill Yard.
In addition to the obvious two, there is a third on the same track at
far left and a fourth on the track behind at left. Unlike the hoppers
which are so much swiss cheese, it doesn't seem a stretch to imagine that
with a little bearing work (and some track work) one of the Mikes could
couple up and put these cars back into service.
Foundry Interior [95,interior1]
600x407 (40k) -
1200x813 (126k)
This is the interior of the EBT's foundry. In the foreground is a
jib hoist used to position the packed-sand mold boxes throughout the
building. The large furnace is for melting iron, with air forced in
from the conduit around it's girth and coal fed from the top from the
bunker at upper left (the other side of the bunker faces the shop's
twin boilers). There is a smaller, high temperature furnace obscured at
right that was used for brass and other metals. At left are some of the
wooden mold boxes and molten metal crucibles.
Machine Shop Interior [95,interior2]
600x396 (43k) -
1200x792 (112k)
This is the interior of the machine shop, facing away from the twin boilers.
At extreme left is the wheel press, for pressing wheels onto their axles.
At right, behind the griding wheel, is a plane table for machining large
pieces. On it is a switch point in mid-job. Note all the overhead belts
and pulleys to transmit power from the twin boilers to the various machines.
In later years the boilers were retired and an electric motor was used
to power the belt and pulleys.
Boiler Shop Interior [95,interior3]
600x405 (43k) -
1200x809 (126k)
This is the boiler shop, behind the machine shop (connected internally).
It is where steel plate was machined for boilers, freight cars, etc.
At left is a machine for curving the plate, and obscured at right
background is a shears and punch machine.
Boiler Shop Interior [95,interior4]
600x404 (42k) -
1200x808 (123k)
This is the rear of the boiler shop with a second forge (the other is
in the blacksmith shop, naturally). You know the place was busy when
you see a floor like that.
Orbisonia Station [95,station2]
600x406 (34k) -
1200x811 (105k)
A passenger train boards at the station. On the tail is parlor car
'Orbisonia'.
Millie with #17's Train [95,rescue]
600x406 (37k) -
1200x811 (117k)
Late in the day, #17 suffered a failure at Colgate Grove. While one of the
new diesels was sent to rescue #17, Millie was sent to bring back #17's coal
drag. Here, Millie has returned with the coal drag and is backing it through
the wye at Rockhill.
#15 at 3-Way Switch
600x472 (34k) -
1200x944 (95k)
Nearly identical to a shot listed above, but a little better.
#15 Waiting for #14 to Clear
391x480 (21k) -
734x900 (58k)
Another similar picture, nice smoke.
Coach #8
600x413 (31k)
Coach #8 sits on the side of the wye after stopping to discharge
passengers. The train will continue forward onto the Shade Gap branch
and then back around the far side of the trolley museum to line up for
the next trip.
Hopper in Forest
390x480 (k)
A hopper on the grade up to the coal tower is anchored in place.
Hopper in Forest
390x480 (k)
The same hopper at frame level.
page by Bill Adams
