For information on lodging, services and tourism resources in the area please see Tourism in the East Broad Top Railroad Region.
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#15 rests at Colgate Grove.
NOTE: The EBT resumed operations starting in 2020 after not operating from 2012 to 2019.
This is not the official site for the EBT. For official train information visit Train Excursions at the OFFICIAL East Broad Top site eastbroadtop.com.
The East Broad Top Railroad's 2022 schedule begins May 6th and operates Fri-Sun through October 30th plus special events.
Trains depart Orbisonia Station (located in Rockhill Furnace, PA) for Colgate Grove at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Fares start at $20 for adults and $18 for children 2-12, cost depending on class of car. Free parking is adjacent to the station.
The interior of
EBT coach #8.The excursions are 9 miles round trip and 1 hour in length. Excursions are pulled by vintage diesel M-7 until steam locomotive #16's rebuild is completed, at which time it will take over. The train passes through wooded areas and farmland and passes through cuts and over fills and bridges. There are no restroom facilities or concessions available on the train. A handicapped accessible passenger car with a wheelchair lift is available. Handicapped riders are encouraged to make advance reservations so they can be sure to be accommodated.
Facilties at Colgate Grove are being redeveloped and are not currently available.
Tours of the Historic EBT Maintenance Shops are available Wednesday through Friday during the season. Tour tickets are available online
Picnic tables are available at Rockhill across the street from the staion. A gift shop and snack bar are located in the station and restrooms are adjacent to the parking area. The Rockhill Trolley Museum, adjacent to the EBT, gives restored antique trolley rides on a one mile line. Trolleys depart from the trolley platform diagonally across the road and tracks from the train station. Trolley tickets are available at the platform and their own gift shop is also available.
Rockhill Trolley
Museum car #315.Rides are often available on one of the East Broad Top's original antique speeder cars for a small fare. Speeders depart across the street from the station.
Contact the railroad for more details
The East Broad Top Railroad
421 Meadow Street
P.O. Box 158, Rt. 994
Rockhill Furnace, PA 17249
Phone: 814-447-3285
Web: eastbroadtop.com
E-mail: info@eastbroadtop.com
Tell them at the railroad you saw them on the Old Eastie site.
Check the AccuWeather Forecast for the EBT.
Check the Weather.com Forecast for the EBT.
The East Broad Top Railroad is located in the Allegheny Mountains of south-central Pennsylvania.
Travel by Auto
From the south take the Pennsylvania Turnpike I-76 to exit 180 (formerly exit 13) at Ft. Littleton (between Breezewood and Willow Hill) to US 522. Travel north on 522 for 19 miles to Orbisonia. Turn west (left) on PA 994 and drive about 1/2 mile to Rockhill Furnace and look for Orbisonia Station on the north side of the road.
From the north take US 22 to Mount Union (between Lewistown and Huntingdon) and take US 522 south 11 miles to Orbisonia. Turn west (right) on PA 994, and drive about 1/2 mile to Rockhill Furnace and look for Orbisonia Station on the north side of the road.
Approximate Travel Times: Altoona, PA - 1.5 hours Atlanta, GA - 13.5 hours Baltimore, MD - 3 hours Boston, MA - 9 hours Chicago, IL - 11.5 hours Cleveland, OH - 5.5 hours Columbus, OH - 5.5 hours Detroit, MI - 8.5 hours Harrisburg, PA - 1.5 hours Memphis, TN - 17 hours Montreal, QC - 11 hours New York, NY - 5 hours Philadelphia, PA - 3.5 hours Pittsburgh, PA - 3 hours Raleigh, NC - 8.5 hours Scranton, PA - 4 hours Strasburg, PA - 2.5 hours St. Louis, MO - 14 hours Washington, DC - 3 hours Travel by Rail
Amtrak has stops in Lewistown, Huntingdon, Tyrone and Altoona. Hertz has a car rental location in downtown Altoona, less than a mile from the Amtrak station. Enterprise has a location in Huntingdon.The New York-Pittsburgh Pennsylvanian (trains 42, 43 and 44). Call 1-800-USA-RAIL for the latest fares and schedules.
Travel by Bus
There is no bus service in Orbisonia, Rockhill, Mount Union or Huntingdon. Greyhound Lines does service Lewistown and Altoona. Hertz has a car rental location in downtown Altoona. Enterprise has a location in Huntingdon.Travel by Air
The Huntingdon County Airport is no longer in operation. There is the Altoona-Blair County Airport in Martinsburg, but the Hertz office is in downtown Altoona 15 minutes away by car. Harrisburg International is the nearest large airport. It has Hertz service at the airport.Auto Rental
Huntingdon
Enterprise
Located in the lobby of the Days Inn (see lodging section).
RT 22 BOX 210A
(814) 643-5778Altoona
Hertz
829 24th Street
(814) 944-3591Harrisburg
Hertz
167 Airport Dr
(717) 944-4080
Each year on the Saturday closest to August 13th, the East Broad Top holds a celebration of the reopening of the railroad as a tourist carrier on August 13, 1960. The day often coincides with the homecoming celebrations of the twin boroughs of Rockhill Furnace and Orbisonia (aka, the Homecoming Day Festival), just as it did in 1960.
The 2022 Orbisonia/Rockhill Homecoming Celebration will be on August 17th-20th. While not as big nor as railfan-oreinted an event as the Spectacular, the day sees additional trains and many vendors and carnival style events.
For details visit the events page at the official railroad site.
Past years' shcedules:
Info on 40th Anniversary Celebration (2000 C.A.D.)
Info on 2001 Community Appreciation Day
Info on 2002 Community Appreciation Day
Info on 2003 Community Appreciation Day
Info on 2004 Community Appreciation Day
Info on 2005 Community Appreciation Day
Info on 2006 Community Appreciation Day
The railroad offers a number of other smaller special events. These vary from year to year. They include:
- Easter on the Rails
- EBT Goes to War! A living History Event
- Central PA Ragtime Festival (in conjunction with the Iron Rail B&B)
- Orbisonia Antique Power Show
- First Responder's Day
- Train & Trolley PumpkinFest
- Christmas in Coal Country
For details on upcoming events visit the events page at the official railroad site.
If you have a scanner the EBT is assigned 461.950 or 154.570 MHz for operations, but historally does not usually use those.
There are several pull-offs along the current excursion line where photos and video can be taken. Favorite spots include:
- The Little Creamer (ice cream stand).
- The overpass at McMullens Summit.
- Runk Road Brdige, visibome from US 522.
The railyard at Rockhill is currently closed to visitors beyond the wood fence, except those on guided tours. This is due to the large number of restoration projects in progress in that area. Visitors are welcome to observe from behind the wooden fence beside the roundhouse.
The dormant portions of the East Broad Top are private property, and the EBT Foundation has asked that trespassing on it be avoided. However, many features can be viewed from public property. Consult The Unofficial Guide to the EBT, by Vagel Keller. Be respectful of private property along the right-of-way and of equipment and employees on the operating portion! As you explore, take only pictures and leave only footprints. It only takes one irresponsible act to spoil things for everyone else.
Old Eastie
The East Broad Top Railroad History Site
© 1994-2023 Christopher D. Coleman
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