East Broad Top Best of 2009

by Lance Myers

This set of pages includes the 128 most interesting photographs that I shot at the EBT in 2009.
This collection of images best represents the 2009 season and is not necessarily good photography.

February 14 - A Look Inside the Shops
	A shelf of miscellaneous items.
	This packaging contains glass for the boiler sight glasses. The label says: Standard Gauge Glasses Uniform in Size For General Low Pressure Use At 200 Lbs. Per Square Inch Maximum Pressure for Lengths 24" or Less Manufactured By Corning Glass Works, Corning, NY, USA
	This looks like a bycicle tire pump, so I'm guessing it was for the railroad's rubber tired vehicles. The ring at the top says: Pat. March 15, 1898
	This photo shows how the stone house additions are sinking into the ground on the ends, but not so much in the middle.
	Spare pistons and liners for #M-1.
	A spare crank shaft for #M-1.
	Oil-burning headlight for a steam locomotive.
	A shelf of parts in the stone house additions.
	Now we walk over to the boiler house to check on the FEBT progress here. The FEBT "boiler rats" have started a project to replace the main beam between the boiler house and machine shop. Years ago this beam failed, but luckily the park service installed cribbing before the beam gave way. At previous work sessions the old rotted beam was removed and the roof carefully lifted. There is still more lifting to do.
	This cribbing above the shop boilers helps to support the boiler house roof.
	A view of the machine shop from the skafolding.
	Here we're looking south along where the new beam will be.
	The dual boilers.
	Looking at this corning of the boiler house roof there is obvious fire damage from many many years ago. The roof is a different shade, which tells me the roof was burned off at some point in history.
	Another look at the cribbing above the boilers with the stacks behind.
	The new composite main beam will soon be in place here.
	This speeder, powered by a 1920's Fairmont, is the only EBT speeder that is not operational.
March 5 - Speeder Line Work
	During March 2007, the EBT Speeder crew cleared trees from a 300 foot section of EBT track south of Rockhill yard in their effort to extend the speeder operations to Rt 475. In the middle of this 300 foot section is this hole, a drainage ditch dug through the right of way.
March 7 - Speeder Line Work
	Today a group of six works to bring half of what was cleared a year ago into service. This gauge bar will hold the rails at the proper gauge of 36".
	Beyond the hole, the gauge gets wide as can be seen in this photo. The gauge here has since been fixed but this shows you what the crew had to deal with.
	At the end of the day, the group poses again next to an adjacent lawn. Left to right: Ray Davidowski, Mike Gray, Bob Clipinger, Nevin Byers, Courtney Brown.
March 14 - Speeder Line Work
	The Fairbanks has transported one of two large pipes to be used in a drainage ditch.
	A full-on assult on the tree which have been growing here for over 50 years.
	The drainage ditch has been cleaned out, and the two pipes have been slid in place.
	Taking a break. Notice the kinks in the rail caused by the tree stumps. They have since been straightened out.
	With the pipes in the drainage ditch, it's now time to fill it in. The trailer is filled with a load of dirt and the Fairbanks will haul this heavy load nearly 1 mile.
	The second load of dirt has been shoveled into the drainage ditch. After four loads of dirt, this fill is nearly finished.
	The fill for our culvert came from one of the hoppers in the yard that has a load of dirt in it.
March 22 - Speeder Line Work
	After the outer ties were anchored in, we spread out the fill to create a good surface for the ballast.
	Loading ballast onto the trailer.
	After two loads of ballast we have a finished culvert.
March 28 - Misc. Views around the shops.
	The Fairbanks poses after a day working on the speeder line.
	The only EBT Fairmont not in operation. This one is stored inside the boiler shop and is pictured earlier on this page.
	Gears on one of the shops drill presses.
	This is the data plate on the shops generator.
	A pile of wrenches in the roundhouse.
April 3 - Li'l Phil Returns to the EBT
	We have arrived at the Raynes residence and the speeder is in the garage.
	Phil discusses the the history of the car and work he has done on it with the new owners.
	Loaded up and ready to depart.
April 4rd - Li'l Phil Testing
	After some minor adjustments, Li'l Phil is operated to the south end of track
	At the coal dock.
April 5rd - Speeder Line Work
	Courtney and Nevin cutting trees and vines.
	A photo from the current (as of this photo) end of gauged track toward the end of cleared track.
	Li'l Phil 'official photo.'

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