East Broad Top Pictorial 2003

FEBT Rockhill Restoration Session, August 23-24, 2003

This was an extra restoration session, scheduled on short notice to continue in assisting Rockhill Trolley Museum volunteers with tie replacement on the lead to the joint EBT/RTM carbarn. FEBT participation on this job had started on the Aug 9-10 session. This project was necessary to move the M1 into the carbarn so that needed repairs could be made prior to the Fall Event in October.

M7 [2003aug23,m7bay] 327x480 (35k) - 614x900 (87k)
M7 is in the west bay of the locomotive shop, ready for duty.

Digging Ties [2003aug23,dig1] 600x407 (52k) - 1200x813 (140k)
As always, the first task is to dig out the old ties.

Digging Ties [2003aug23,dig2] 600x409 (59k) - 1200x809 (163k)
And the digging never seems to end.

Spiking [2003aug23,spike] 600x409 (40k) - 1200x818 (108k)
Spiking down the rails. Some of the track was spiked using air from the trolley museum shop.

M7 [2003aug23,m72] 600x402 (54k) - 1200x804 (149k)
At the far end, the M7 was used to provide air to run the spiker and tamper.

M7 [2003aug23,m71] 600x406 (74k) - 1200x811 (217k)
M7 ventures down the carbarn (and track 3) lead as spiking progresses.

Tamping [2003aug23,tamping] 600x403 (70k) - 1200x806 (203k)
Taping the ties as M7 sits on the switch between the carbarn lead and track 3.

Diesel/Steam Meet [2003aug23,meet] 600x409 (59k) - 1200x817 (169k)
One of the scheduled trains passes on the main.

Testing the Track [2003aug23,test1] 600x406 (77k) - 1200x811 (231k)
M7 and its MOW cart are used to give the track a final test before bringing out the M1.

Testing the Track [2003aug23,test2] 327x480 (38k) - 613x900 (104k)
M7 and its MOW cart are used to give the track a final test before bringing out the M1.

M7 [2003aug23,m7barn] 600x408 (36k) - 1200x815 (100k)
M7 on the east track into the carbarn. It had been hoped to get some photos of M1 and M7 side by side at the carbarn, but problems with the 3pm train required the M7 to get back to work.

M1 [2003aug23,m1rear1] 326x480 (31k) - 612x900 (80k)
As the issue of the 3pm train was sorted out, the M1 was fired up and brought out of the roundhouse. This is the view out of the rear door as the M1 backs down the enginehouse lead to the main.

M1 [2003aug23,m1rearbag] 325x480 (27k) - 610x900 (66k)
The rear of the baggage section of the M1.

M1 [2003aug23,m1frontbag] 600x410 (43k) - 1200x819 (115k)
The front of the baggage section of the M1.

M1 [2003aug23,m1rear2] 328x480 (23k) - 615x900 (61k)
No. 14, cut off earlier from the train, heads back to it again.

M1 [2003aug23,m11] 600x408 (45k) - 1200x816 (129k)
The M1 trundles down the carbarn lead.

M1 [2003aug23,m12] 600x408 (42k) - 1200x816 (122k)
M1 is parked at the carbarn switch for pictures.

M1 [2003aug23,m13] 600x411 (44k) - 1200x822 (125k)
M1 is parked at the carbarn switch for pictures.

M1 [2003aug23,m14] 600x415 (62k) - 1200x830 (186k)
M1 is parked at the carbarn switch for pictures.

M1 [2003aug23,m15] 600x412 (45k) - 1200x824 (126k)
All pictures taken, the M1 is eased ino the carbarn.

M1 [2003aug23,m16] 6332x480 (41k) - 622x900 (104k)
M1 tucked away inside the carbarn, ready for repairs.

Blacklog Narrows [2003aug23,blacklog1] 600x409 (60k) - 1200x817 (185k)
Looking east through Blacklog Narrows from the old GRefCO gannister quarry site. The cleared hillside is preparation for realignment of the highway.

Blacklog Narrows [2003aug23,blacklog2] 600x412 (71k) - 1200x824 (209k)
Still looking east, this curve with an intersection is cited as the reason for the highway re-alignment. People would drive too fast and wreck. The new alignment will have a more gradual curve located higher over the creek. This will allow people to drive even faster as they approach Orbisonia's 25mph zone.

Blacklog Narrows [2003aug23] 600x148 (31k) - 1600x394 (109k) - (labeled 1600x394 (117k))
A panorama of the north side of the Blacklog Narrows. On this hillside was an early gannister quarry of the General Refractories Co. prior to the large quarry being opened at Stanton. A tram carried stone across the creek to a loading siding on EBT Shade Gap Branch. The footings of the tram bridge are still in the creek. The labeled version provides some location details.

Blacklog Narrows [2003aug23,blacklog3] 600x408 (73k) - 1200x816 (210k)
A perpendicular view of the southwest side of the bridge, showing its pronounced skew.

Blacklog Narrows [2003aug23,blacklog4] 600x412 (50k) - 1200x823 (147k)
At the east end of the narrows, the grading of Blacklog Mtn shows the new route ofthe highway, to cross the creek in the area of the excavators. The excavators are parked on the EBT's ROW (theShade Gap Branch), which has been relaid in standard gauge by the trolley museum. The new crossing will be five feet above grade, making it impractical for the trolleys to ever cross even though the ROW is intact to Shade Gap. An at-grade crossing of a high speed highway would be too dangerous, going under would put the track in the creek, and going over would require regrading 400' on each side (assuming 5% grade), a major undertaking to be sure.

Blacklog Narrows [2003aug23,blacklog5] 600x414 (75k) - 1200x828 (222k)
To the east of the present-day (but soon to be replaced) bridge over Blacklog Creek are the stone abutments of an even older bridge.

page by Bill Adams