Friends of the East Broad Top

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Friends of the East Broad Top, Inc. (FEBT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt educational and historical society dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the East Broad Top Railroad National Historic Landmark in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.

National Historic Landmark formal designation assigned by the United States federal government to historic buildings and sites in the United States

A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Of over 90,000 places listed on the country's National Register of Historic Places, only some 2,500 are recognized as National Historic Landmarks.

Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania County in the United States

Huntingdon County is a county located in the center of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,913. Its county seat is Huntingdon. The county was created on September 20, 1787, mainly from the north part of Bedford County, plus an addition of territory on the east from Cumberland County.

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Activities

FEBT and its members are currently engaged in several activities. The most visible is restoration work on the East Broad Top Railroad (EBT), focused around the Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania and Robertsdale, Pennsylvania stations. FEBT volunteers and FEBT-paid contractors work to stabilize and restore historic parts of the EBT.

Robertsdale, Pennsylvania Unincorporated community in Pennsylvania, United States

Robertsdale is an unincorporated community in Wood Township in southern Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is situated on Broad Top Mountain near the eastern slope. It was founded in 1872 as part of the construction of the East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company as the original terminus and mining location. The town was created by the EBT's parent company, the Rockhill Iron and Coal Company, which operated most of the mines on the east side of the Broad Top Coal field. The initial focus of mining was the Houk Mine which predated the town, though as a much smaller producer. Later RI&C #5 became a large producer. Mines #2, #3 and #4 were in Robertsdale but were not large producers and operated only briefly. Later the EBT was extended to Woodvale, Alvan and new Alvan as the focus of mining moved along the coal seams, though Robertsdale remained the mining headquarters. Robertsdale was a typical coal ming town complete with company owned miner houses, a company store, a company owned water and power system and other company owned facilities. Coal mining and its support industries were the principal employers.

FEBT operates a developing museum in Robertsdale in the original EBT railroad station. The museum displays artifacts and memorabilia from the 150 years of EBT history. The museum is housed in the FEBT-owned original EBT Robertsdale station. FEBT also owns the adjacent Rockhill Iron and Coal Company Post Office, which is being restored to become larger permanent museum, at which time the station will be restored to its period interior.

Ownership

FEBT owns the EBT Robertsdale station and the Rockhill Iron and Coal Company Post Office, also in Robertsdale. FEBT owns two former EBT passenger cars, combine car #18 and baggage car #29 and plans to restore them to service. They also own the only existing original EBT handcar and an original EBT Fairmont speeder. The group has a long term lease on original EBT combine car #16 and are working to build reproduction trucks for the car.

Combine car railroad car with space for passengers and baggage

A combine car in North American parlance, most often referred to simply as a combine, is a type of railroad car which combines sections for both passengers and freight.

Handcar railroad car powered by its passengers, or by people pushing the car from behind

A handcar is a railroad car powered by its passengers, or by people pushing the car from behind. It is mostly used as a maintenance of way or mining car, but it was also used for passenger service in some cases. A typical design consists of an arm, called the walking beam, that pivots, seesaw-like, on a base, which the passengers alternately push down and pull up to move the car.

Speeder may refer to:

Public awareness

FEBT promotes public awareness of the EBT as a unique historic resource through a variety of outreach programs. They operate booths and a variety of railroad and model railroad shows and meets throughout the eastern US.

The Timber Transfer

FEBT publishes a quarterly magazine called The Timber Transfer. Articles focus on the history of the EBT; its current condition, operations, and future; description and documentation of buildings, rolling stock, and other EBT resources; and other information for railroad historians, railfans, and railroad modelers interested in the EBT.

FEBT has a substantial collections of artifacts, documents, photographs, records, and other materials related to the EBT and is currently working to scan and index that material for reference use.

FEBT organizes meetings and programs for FEBT members, including an annual Fall Reunion, and special public events that celebrate the EBT and its heritage.

Restoration

One of FEBT's most important activities is the restoration work performed on several parts of the East Broad Top. In Rockhill Furnace, FEBT restoration crews have worked on the following projects:

Structures

Foundry factory that produces metal castings

A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal into a mold, and removing the mold material after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminium and cast iron. However, other metals, such as bronze, brass, steel, magnesium, and zinc, are also used to produce castings in foundries. In this process, parts of desired shapes and sizes can be formed.

Coal bin

A coal bin, coal store or coal bunker is a storage container for coal awaiting use or transportation. This can be either in domestic, commercial or industrial premises, or on a ship or locomotive tender, or at a coal mine or processing plant.

Rolling Stock

Caboose North American brake van for freight trains

A caboose is a manned North American railroad car coupled at the end of a freight train. Cabooses provide shelter for crew at the end of a train, formerly required in switching and shunting, keeping a lookout for load shifting, damage to equipment and cargo, and overheating axles.

Hopper car

A hopper car (US) or hopper wagon (UIC) is a type of railroad freight car used to transport loose bulk commodities such as coal, ore, grain, and track ballast. Two main types of hopper car exist: covered hopper cars, which are equipped with a roof, and open hopper cars, which do not have a roof.

Flatcar

A flatcar (US) is a piece of railroad (US) or railway (non-US) rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck mounted on a pair of trucks (US) or bogies (UK), one at each end containing four or six wheels. Occasionally, flat cars designed to carry extra heavy or extra large loads are mounted on a pair of bogies under each end. The deck of the car can be wood or steel, and the sides of the deck can include pockets for stakes or tie-down points to secure loads. Flatcars designed for carrying machinery have sliding chain assemblies recessed in the deck.

Track

Other Rockhill Furnace Projects

Robertsdale

Saltillo

Coles

Membership

Yearly membership fee is $35; several other membership categories are available. Membership includes subscription to the Timber Transfer and the Newsletter, member discounts at the Company Store and FEBT event admissions

Coordinates: 40°10′59″N78°06′55″W / 40.18311°N 78.11523°W / 40.18311; -78.11523

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