East Broad Top Vintage Film

[@CelestialDynamicsYT]

That is so unbelievably cool to see all of the equipment operating in its day. It always fascinates me to see the men at work doing their thing.

[@MarkRBlackwell]

Opening scene is my favorite. Exceptional footage I'm so glad to have stumbled upon! Let's hope some of these scenes can be recreated as the line begins to awaken from its' long slumber.

[@jay600katana]

Had some fireman that knew their business in these shots, nice clean stacks most of the time. Great Video, love the EBT.

[@brianmorroni3566]

Opening scene loco was number 17 that screecher whistle is unmistakable.

[@dennislivesey8282]

This is an excellent film I did not know of. It was so difficult to do audio for films then. So even though this copy is very poor in quality, I will take it over not at all. I can only hope the original film and audio exist somewhere. If that shows up, the quality would be excellent.

[@TrainznProgress]

I found this on a DVD I had and I figured no one knows this exists, so I wanted to get this out there

[@dennislivesey8282]

@@TrainznProgress thank you.

[@TrainznProgress]

@@dennislivesey8282 Your very welcome!

[@robertmohler9131]

@@TrainznProgress What DVD is this film on?

[@TrainznProgress]

America's railroads: Steam Train Legacy. Volume 3

[@MySteamChannel]

Thanks, not seen this one before...love the Fred McLeod films...greets from Australia

[@NW-gi1cp]

And 16 just returned too 🥳

[@ralphd.love-baldwin3262]

Head on a swivel while driving Meadow Street in those days, LOL!

[@wabisabi6875]

Great footage, thanks for sharing!

[@michaelcolucci5734]

At 2:45 and 5:12 is that locomotive 16 with the original sound of her whistle from the common carrier days?

[@reagansmith8859]

Yeah it is

[@robkrasinski6217]

Was the EBT one of the last railroads to use steam locomotives in revenue freight service? Were standard gauge railroads starting to dieselize by 1956?

[@countrypaul]

EBT was one of the last fully zsteam railroads. There was still other steam in servicwe into the 1960s, but it was pretty rare. Others know more details than I do. Please chime in.

[@Railfan105.]

Dieselization had been well under way since the turn of the decade. As far as I know, the EBT was one of the last US railroads that kept steam in consistent revenue service at this point in time. The only other one I can think that might have operated steam like this at this point was the N&W. They were a major coal hauling railroad so that's not too surprising.

[@TheOneTrueDragonKing]

@@countrypaul As far as I know there's at least one standard-gauge shortline railroad that still uses steam in revenue service: The Strasburg still uses steam to haul passengers and even freight on occasion to this very day. It's not full steam of course, but it does use steam in revenue service so it counts.

[@countrypaul]

@@TheOneTrueDragonKing, true re: Strasburg. Reading & Northern has also hauled a few revenue freights with steam. The uniqueness of East Broad Top is that except for a doodlebug and some track cars their revenue service was all steam until the close of operations, and everything they operated is still on the premesis. EBT's great reawakening is a joy to behold!

[@TheOneTrueDragonKing]

@@countrypaul Agreed RE: EBT's reawakening. It really is a joy to behold. Unlike the R&N though, Strasburg regularly runs steam-hauled revenue freights and passenger services. It's more than "a few revenue freights". Most people think Strasburg is a tourist outfit. They're not - they're a common carrier shortline. And they use steam to do the job it was made for, to actually transport passengers and freight. And they earn money for doing so, unlike pure tourist outfits like the EBT or the Cass Scenic, etcetera. On those lines, the freight cars are only trotted out for photo charters and maybe for the occasional maintenance of way task. They're not actually moving cargo for paying customers and clients. The Strasburg is not a tourist outfit, reliant on donations and "a wheel and a prayer" to survive. She's a functioning railroad that still regularly uses steam to power loaded trains and make money. And that's what makes the Strasburg unique.

[@ebt12]

The part that starts at time mark 5:10, where is that road crossing? Thanks.

[@TrainznProgress]

Looks to be on the grade up from coles

[@vagel2022]

The train is coming downgrade. This is the grade crossing at Kimmel approaching the Sidling Hill tunnel.

[@nicholasmedovich8691]

Which steam locomotive was this?? I think it was other 16 or 18

[@jeremylando40]

17 14 and 16 for sure

[@reagansmith8859]

@@jeremylando40 it’s 15 not 14 at 6:41 you can clearly see the number 15

[@agwrr71productions79]

Was this filmed in the 1940s or early 50s?

[@dennislivesey8282]

This film was made after the EBT ended passenger service in 1954. Once that happened, the freight train crews used the passenger cars instead of the rougher riding cabooses. The film shows this plus states that passenger service has ended. The EBT had less than two years left of service before it shut down April 14, 1956.

[@agwrr71productions79]

@@dennislivesey8282 I do know that they put the combine on the end of freights in the 1950s. They were also doing that in 1953, as seen in the footage shot by Emery Gulash.

[@paulhare662]

Somehow, Breakheart Pass brought me here.

[@railroadhistoryarchives]

Wish it was easier to read the text. Almost pointless to have it on screen

[@cmphighpower]

Stupid narrow gauge. Why would they not just charge the gauge? Would have saved a lot in labor

[@TrainznProgress]

Because why would you relay the entire line?

[@countrypaul]

Turns were too tight and they'd have to re-dig the tunnels and rebuild the trestles.

[@jeremylando40]

If you ever visit you’ll understand especially when they complete the line that narrow gauge was the only option