EBT Locomotive Roster
'Silver Sightseer'

"Speeders" are small self-propelled rail cars, used by railroad employees to inspect or maintain the tracks. They replaced handcars and could hold four to eight persons.

The Silver Sightseer is the EBT's largest speeder. It is a Fairmont A Series model, one of their larger designs. It is the only known EBT speeder to have a sprung suspension. It is one of very few EBT MOW cars to be photographed in the common carrier era. It's name comes from the silver appearance of its aluminum body panels.

Various reports say that the car originally had a Ford Model A or Model B industrial engine. Some reports say the unit was re-motored around 1988 with a 1972 Chevrolet Vega 4 cylinder engine (Vega 2.3L), which provided greater reliability (even the EBT's current website roster says this as of 8-2026.) However EBT Foundation Master Mechanic Dave Domitrivitch has stated (Facebook 8-12-2023) it is a Pontiac Iron Duke (2.5L), the engine that replaced the Vega 2.3L in General Motors automobiles starting in 1977. Vega engines were not known for reliability due to their aluminum block with no iron cylinder sleeves, and inadequate cooling systems. Current photos of the engine in the Sightseer confirm that the car currently has an Iron Duke engine. Whether there was an intervening installation of a Vega engine is unclear.

The Sightseer continues to serve as the road's primary MOW transportation for true maintenance service. It frequently pulls two or more trailers for tools and supplies on its runs.

In the early 2000's the unit started experiencing mechanical issues where it eventually had to be push-started when the clutch was let out due to clutch slippage. It was reported that the problem was oil leaking from the engine crankshaft rear main seal onto the clutch plate. In the summer of ?2004? the unit failed out on the line with EBT General Manager Stanley Hall on board and had to be towed back. It was then sent offsite for full repairs, including clutch and ingnition system repairs. Since returning in October of ?2004? it has been much more reliable.

Under the EBT foundation, modifications were made to the air intake and other peripheral engine systems to increase reliability.

In July 2026, the unit was moved to Saltillo where the "March to Satillo" track restoration project restored an isolated section of EBT mainline track. The speeder was used to transport track workers and supplies to the point of track reconstruction.