Misty East Broad Top: Leaving the House. On a cool, misty fall morning, EBT's last operable Mike leaves the Orbisonia Round House to begin what would be the last of the railroad's Fall Spectaculars. For decades, the former coal hauler-turned-tourist line had hosted an annual fall event in October, featuring as many as 4 steam locomotives in operation, along with lots of special trains, freights, railcar operations and tours. Until about 2000, those "spectaculars" really lived up to their name. After the FRA imposed the Part 230 regulations on the operation however, things were never quite the same. Most of the subsequent events featured just one steamer in operation, and as the years went by the available rolling stock declined as well. By the time this photo was taken in 2011, there were probably more operable EBT coal hoppers in Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon and Alaska than there were in Pennsylvania. EBT ceased operations altogether just a few weeks after this photo was taken. The railroad has now been dormant for 7 years, and there is little hope that will change in the foreseeable future. It is probably the saddest story in preservation railroading today.
A look at the one-time coal-hauler, which ran as a tourist railroad for decades and finally ceased operations in 2011. The album includes photos from an October 2010 charter as well as images from the very last Fall Spectacular in October of 2011.
