East Broad Top Railroad

East Broad Top Railroad
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
EBT Engine 12 after the railroad was re-opened in 1960.
Nearest city	Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	40°14′29″N 77°53′56″W / 40.24139°N 77.89889°W / 40.24139; -77.89889Coordinates: 40°14′29″N 77°53′56″W / 40.24139°N 77.89889°W / 40.24139; -77.89889
Area	500 acres (200 ha)
NRHP Reference #	66000666
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Designated NHLD	January 28, 1964

The East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company (EBT) is a for-profit, 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge historic railroad headquartered in Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania, 19 miles (31 km) north of Interstate 76 (the Pennsylvania Turnpike) and 11 miles (18 km) south of U.S. Route 22, the William Penn Highway.

Operating from 1871 to 1956, it is one of the nation's oldest and best-preserved narrow-gauge railroads, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. The railroad, now preserved for use as a tourist attraction, has not operated public excursions since December 2011 and has operated no excursions since October 2013. The intention is to reopen the railroad after a phased sale to a new nonprofit owner.

The East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company was chartered in 1856. Due to financial constraints and the American Civil War, the railroad was not built by its original charterers, but a new group of investors began to acquire right-of-way in 1867 and was able to construct the railroad as a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge line in 1872–1874. Service began from Mount Union, Pennsylvania to Orbisonia, Pennsylvania in August, 1873, and to Robertsdale in November, 1874. The line later was extended to Woodvale and Alvan, with several short branches. At its height, it had over 60 miles of track and approximately 33 miles of main line.

The primary purpose of the railroad was to haul semi-bituminous coal from the mines on the east side of the remote Broad Top Mountain plateau to the Pennsylvania Railroad in Mount Union. The railroad also carried substantial amounts of ganister rock, lumber and passengers with some agricultural goods, concrete, road tar and general freight. In its first three decades the railroad supplied much of its coal to the Rockhill Iron Furnace, operated by the railroad's sister company, the Rockhill Iron and Coal Company, and in turn hauled the pig iron from the furnace.