FEBT Timber Transfer
Vol 11, No. 4
Spring, 1995
Contents:
- East Broad Top's 1995 Season Starts With Great Expectations by Phil Padgett, p. 6
- East Broad Top Railroad Restoration First Phase Considered: Colgate Grove to Mount Union by Ron Morgan, p. 8
- FEBT Station Museum Open Weekends, p. 9
- LaRue Ohler Makes Bequest of $2,500 to F.E.B.T. - Decendent of Rudolph Sechler, Early E.B.T. Agent in Mt. Union by Henry Inman, p. 9
- As I Recall..., A Boiler Shop Remembrance of Working On The East Broad Top's Locomotives - Part I by Frederick "Bud" Laird and George Cook and Craig Williams, p. 11
- As I Recall..., Remembering the E.B.T. In Mount Union - Part I: An Interview with Mike Dimoff by Craig Williams and Richard Keller, p. 14
- Robertsdale Company Square: Building the R.I.&C.Co. Company Store - Part II: The Cinder Block Addition and Ancillary Structures by Ronald L. Pearson, p. 18
- The Friends of the E.B.T. Oral History Project, p. 23
TT 11-4 Mixed Freight:
A Preview of FEBT's Annual Reunion, October 7-8
Part of the good news of the EBT's 1995 season is that service through the
month of September has been added back into the schedule and the railroad's
famous Fall Spectacular is on for October 7 and 8. Friends of the EBT's 13th
Annual Reunion will be held concurrently. Having two facilities worked well
last year. So, once again, FEBT will serve Saturday evening supper in the
Orbisonia Fire Hall and use the Orbisonia Lions Club throughout Saturday and
Saturday evening for registration, dealers, contests, and events. Ruthie and
Rick Keller are handling registration and setting up the daytime events and
dinner. Phil Padgett has volunteered to coordinate the evening Program, but
he needs volunteers. You can reach Phil by phone at (301)949-0564 or E-mail
at ebt4evr@aol.com. In addition to the contests, we would like to have a
silent auction again, so bring your artifacts and checkbooks for the benefit
of the Restoration Fund. The basic Reunion package will have a redone No.14
pin, a new coffee mug (with permanent colors), and a special item in which to
receive the registration package. Premium packages will include a train ride
ticket.
As always Reunion tours will be scheduled weather permitting. There will be
an outside tour of the Iron Furnaces on Saturday afternoon. Let's hope the
EBT repeats last year's outstanding tour of the Shops. Sunday tour
possibilities include the mining ruins around Robertsdale, the self-guided
tours of Robertsdale or Mount Union, and a trek back into Rocky Ridge and the
tunnel portals. Should you wish to help with any of these tours or arrange
another, please write to Rich Keller at 211 Hampton Rd., Hatboro, PA 19040.
You will receive more information on the Reunion and the Spectacular in the
September Newsletter.
Less-than-Carload News
An HOn3 kit for East Broad Top stock car No.701 is in development for
possible release at the 1995 Fall Reunion, announced FEBT Company Store
Manager Mike Kandolf. Brian Budeit generously is sharing his research on the
EBT stock cars to make the kit possible. Production will be by Funaro &
Camerlengo.
October also is the projected release date for Deane Mellander's EBT book.
The all-color book is moving forward, but the publisher had to back off from
the hoped-for target of release in time for the August national Narrow Gauge
Convention.
EBT videotape being remastered. FEBT has produced so many copies of its
videotape on the railroad that the master has begun to wear out. That has
been producing delays that vex Company Store manager Mike Kandolf as much as
they try the patience of customers. A remastering is being done to solve the
problem.
Free for '95, Horseshoe Curve Will Institute a Visitor's Fee in 1996
A popular extension of visits to the East Broad Top is viewing Conrail and
Amtrak trains rounding the spectacular Horseshoe Curve west of Altoona.
Beginning January 1, 1996, guests at the Horseshoe Curve National Historic
Landmark will be asked to pay an adult admission charge of $3.50. Children
ages 3 through 12 will be charged $1.50. The admission fee will include two
one-way fares on the funicular between the visitors center and the trackside
viewing area. Recognizing the large number of frequent Horseshoe Curve
visitors (translation: railfans) the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum, the
operators of the site, also announced a $5.00 "grounds pass" that will
entitle holders of the card to unlimited site access for an entire year. The
grounds pass does not include use of the funicular. One-way trips on the
funicular will be available for $1.00. Going one step further in deference to
those truly dedicated to the Curve, the Museum announced that by visiting the
Museum in Altoona between January 1 and February 15, and asking, Curve
devotees can get a free grounds pass. Executive Director Peter Barton stated
that institution of the fee is actually a result of success. Heavy visitation
to the Curve challenges the museum to keep up with wear and tear. The fee
structure is a response intended to keep the Curve a "world class" site while
meeting the needs of the most frequent visitors.
