East Broad Top Railroad in Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania · Updated October 19, 2026 · 14 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesTrain rides, shop tours and special events by season; check the online schedule

Built as a three-foot gauge coal hauler beginning in 1872, the East Broad Top Railroad is the oldest narrow gauge railroad in the United States and the last original narrow gauge common carrier east of the Rocky Mountains, with its steam locomotives, 1882 roundhouse and belt-driven machine shop still on the site where they worked.

  • Built beginning in 1872
  • Three-foot narrow gauge
  • National Historic Landmark since 1964
  • 1882 roundhouse still in use
  • Belt-driven machine shop tours
  • Rail bikes and locomotive cab rides

East Broad Top Railroad at a glance

Hours
Train departures vary by season; regular rides Wednesday and Thursday through October 29, 2026 at 10:30 am, 12 pm and 1:30 pm, with event trains on other dates
Admission
Ticketed by experience. Event train fares seen: adult (13+) $25, child (2 to 12) $15, caboose $30 and $20
Train rides
One-hour steam train rides north to Colgate Grove and south to Pogue, M-1 motorcar trips, rail bikes and adult cab rides
Seasonal events
Pumpkin Patch Express, Christmas In Coal Country, Easter on the Rails, The EBT Goes to War living history weekend
Plan for
Half a day for a train ride plus shop tour; a full day with combo tickets
Best for
Families, steam fans and anyone curious about industrial history
Best ages
Ages 2 and up; cab rides are 18 and over
Accessibility
Trains, most guided tours, the gift shop and restrooms are ADA accessible; locomotive cab rides are not.

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to East Broad Top Railroad? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Rockhill Furnace.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

The coal railroad whose crews just went home

The East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company was chartered in 1856 to bring semi-bituminous coal down from the Broad Top Mountain plateau. Money troubles and the Civil War delayed it, and a new group of investors built the line as a three-foot narrow gauge railroad from 1872 to 1874. Trains reached Orbisonia in 1873 and Robertsdale in 1874. At first much of the coal went to Rockhill to feed the iron furnaces of a sister company; later it went to Mount Union and the Pennsylvania Railroad, along with ganister rock for the silica brick plants there.

The EBT stayed profitable from the 1880s into the 1940s and modernized far more than most narrow gauge lines. It built its roundhouse in 1882, along with a coal cleaning plant and a full shops complex, and bought powerful steam locomotives from Baldwin in Philadelphia. When coal demand fell and the brick plants switched to oil and gas, the railroad closed on April 14, 1956. Its crews simply went home, leaving the shops and equipment in place, a scene the Smithsonian later described as one of the most intact 19th-century industrial sites in the country.

The Kovalchick family bought the line for scrap but chose to let it sit. In 1960, for the twin boroughs' bicentennial, Nick Kovalchick put two locomotives and four miles of track back in service, and tourist trains ran every summer through 2011. The railroad became a National Historic Landmark in 1964. After a nine-year quiet spell, a nonprofit foundation bought the EBT in 2020, and regular trains returned in 2021. Today volunteers with the Friends of the East Broad Top work alongside the foundation's crews to bring more of it back.

Ride the valley, then walk through the shops

A visit usually starts at the ticket window inside Orbisonia Station. The core experience is a narrated one-hour train ride through the Aughwick Valley over the route that once carried coal to market, pulled by a 1916 steam locomotive when steam is running. You can head north to Colgate Grove, a picnic grove reachable only by rail, or south toward Pogue on the newly reopened track. Seats come in enclosed coaches, open air cars, a roofless cinder car right behind the engine, and historic cabooses.

Back in Rockhill Furnace, guided tours lead through the roundhouse, where steam locomotives built in the early 1900s still live, and the machine shop, which the railroad calls the largest and most intact belt-driven shop of its kind in the country. Overhead line shafts, pulleys and leather belts once powered every machine tool, foundry tool and woodworking machine. Other options include rides on the 1927 M-1 motorcar, rail bikes from Allegheny Rail Riders, and steam locomotive cab rides for adults.

Don’t miss

  1. The belt-driven machine shopLine shafts, wood and iron pulleys and leather belts still connect antique machine tools, a setup the Smithsonian has called an incomparable national treasure.
  2. The 1882 roundhouseOne of the oldest railroad roundhouses still in operation in the U.S., it houses steam locomotives that have lived here since they were built.
  3. The cinder carAn open, roofless car right behind the locomotive, where riders feel and hear the engine at work. Safety glasses are recommended.
  4. M-1 motorcarThe railroad built this doodlebug itself in 1927 from scaled-down Brill plans, and it now runs its own excursions.
  5. Colgate GroveA wooded picnic grove at the end of the northbound run that you can only reach by train.
  6. Locomotive No. 16 cab ridesAdults 18 and over can ride in the cab of No. 16 and watch the engineer and fireman work, on Friday to Sunday steam days.

Pumpkins, cabooses and a train to a picnic grove

For kids, the hour-long ride is a good length, and the caboose and open air cars make it feel like an adventure. The Pumpkin Patch Express in October and Christmas In Coal Country in December are built around families, and a picnic at Colgate Grove or the tables behind Orbisonia Station gives everyone a place to stretch. The Rockhill Trolley Museum is right next door for a second ride.

Trains and tours run rain, snow or shine, so dress for the weather. Kids under 18 cannot ride in the locomotive cab, and the cinder car can send soot and cinders toward riders, so safety glasses are a good idea there.

Plan your visit: tips for East Broad Top Railroad

  • Check in at the ticket window inside Orbisonia Station before any experience, especially with combo tickets.
  • Book online; walk-up tickets are sold if space allows, so arrive at least 30 minutes early.
  • Tickets are not refundable, but their value can be moved to a credit.
  • Wear closed-toe shoes and bring safety glasses if you plan to sit in the cinder car.
  • Groups of 20 or more should call (814) 447-3285 for group rates.

The EBT's calendar follows the seasons. In October the Pumpkin Patch Express runs four departures a day on select dates, and as the weather turns cold, Christmas In Coal Country runs departures from late morning into the evening, with the last train at 7 pm. Spring brings Easter on the Rails, and in May the EBT Goes to War living history weekend sets up Civil War, World War I and World War II camps beside the tracks. See more options in our roundups of Christmas train rides in Pennsylvania and fall and Halloween train rides in Pennsylvania.

A foundation, a Friends group and a lot of volunteers

Since 2020 the railroad has been owned by the nonprofit EBT Foundation, whose staff and contract crews restore and run the line. Volunteers with the Friends of the East Broad Top Railroad do hands-on preservation work in the shops and on the property. Visitors help by riding, booking a tour or combo ticket, buying a season pass, shopping the online store, or joining the Friends as volunteers.

More rail history in central Pennsylvania

The Rockhill Trolley Museum is right in Rockhill Furnace, so you can ride a trolley the same day. About 29 miles west, the Everett Railroad runs its own excursions, and the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona is about 32 miles away. Find more stops on our list of train museums in Pennsylvania.

Every train museum in Pennsylvania

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

In our book, the train slips into a dark tunnel, and then there's a big bright light and happy cheers. I imagine the EBT's Christmas In Coal Country trains rolling out after dark with families watching for the first glow of lights, and it feels like that same moment. My kids are just learning to read, and our list of train books for toddlers is where we started.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at East Broad Top Railroad?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

East Broad Top Railroad: 20 questions before you ride

Where is the East Broad Top Railroad in Pennsylvania?

The East Broad Top is in Rockhill Furnace, Huntingdon County, in central Pennsylvania's Aughwick Valley, near the Raystown Lake region. The station address is 421 Meadow Street, Rockhill Furnace, PA 17249. Trains depart from Orbisonia Station, where you check in at the ticket window before your ride or tour.

What is the East Broad Top Railroad schedule?

As of October 2026, regular train rides run Wednesdays and Thursdays through October 29 at 10:30 am, 12 pm and 1:30 pm, with Pumpkin Patch Express trains on October weekends and Christmas In Coal Country later in the year. Schedules change by season and day, so check the Book Now calendar on eastbroadtop.com for today's departures.

What are the East Broad Top Railroad hours?

The EBT posts departure times rather than fixed opening hours, and they change through the year. As of October 2026, regular rides leave at 10:30 am, 12 pm and 1:30 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and steam cab rides run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when steam is operating. Call (814) 447-3285 to confirm.

How much are East Broad Top Railroad tickets?

Prices depend on the ride and the car. As of October 2026, the living history weekend listed one-hour train rides at $25 for adults 13 and up and $15 for children 2 to 12 in coach, open air or the cinder car, with caboose seats at $30 and $20. Check eastbroadtop.com for current regular and holiday fares.

Are there senior or discount tickets at the East Broad Top Railroad?

The railroad's posted fare tables show adult and child prices but no separate senior rate. Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more, and combo tickets and season passes bundle rides and tours. Call (814) 447-3285 or email info@eastbroadtop.com to ask about senior pricing before you book.

How long is the East Broad Top train ride?

A regular excursion lasts about one hour, through the Aughwick Valley behind a 1916 steam locomotive when steam is running. Dinner trains run about three hours. The Northbound and Southbound combo lets you ride both directions, including the newly reopened track toward Pogue, for a longer day on the rails.

How long is the East Broad Top Railroad line?

At its peak the EBT had more than 60 miles of track, with about 33 miles of main line. Almost all of that original 33-mile main line is still in place, but Wikipedia notes that only about 8 miles have been usable in recent years. The railroad has been reopening more track, including the southbound route toward Pogue.

Is the East Broad Top Railroad narrow gauge?

Yes. The EBT is a three-foot gauge railroad, with rails 3 feet apart instead of the standard 4 feet 8.5 inches. It is the oldest narrow gauge railroad in the United States and the last original narrow gauge common carrier still surviving east of the Rocky Mountains.

Is there an East Broad Top Railroad map?

The railroad's site describes its two main excursions: northbound to Colgate Grove and southbound toward Pogue, both starting at Orbisonia Station in Rockhill Furnace. The railroad's ride pages do not offer a downloadable route map. Historically the line ran from Mount Union through Orbisonia to Robertsdale, with later extensions to Woodvale and Alvan.

Does the East Broad Top have a Christmas train?

Yes. Christmas In Coal Country is the EBT's holiday train, with departures listed at 11 am, 12:30, 2, 4, 5:30 and 7 pm, so families can choose a daytime or after-dark ride. Dates and tickets are on the Find Tickets page at eastbroadtop.com, and popular times sell early.

What events does the East Broad Top Railroad hold?

Recurring events include the Pumpkin Patch Express in October, Christmas In Coal Country, Easter on the Rails, and The EBT Goes to War, a living history weekend in May with Civil War, World War I and World War II camps and a 1940s swing dance. Dinner trains also run on select dates.

Can you ride rail bikes at the East Broad Top Railroad?

Yes. Rail bikes are offered through Allegheny Rail Riders, and they are listed among the EBT's ride options with their own booking link on eastbroadtop.com. Check the website for dates, age limits and prices, since rail bikes are booked separately from the steam train rides.

Can you ride in the locomotive at the East Broad Top?

Yes, if you are 18 or older. Locomotive rides put you in the cab of No. 16 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when steam is running. You need closed-toe shoes, long pants and safety glasses, must sign a waiver, and must be able to climb steep ladder steps. Cameras are not allowed, and the ride is not ADA accessible.

What is East Broad Top No. 15?

The EBT's own equipment roster page details each of its steam locomotives, gas motors and cars, so that is the place to look up No. 15. All six narrow gauge steam locomotives from the railroad's last coal years remain on site. For the status of a specific engine, see the roster on eastbroadtop.com or ask at the station.

What is the history of the East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company?

The company was chartered in 1856 and built its narrow gauge line from 1872 to 1874 to haul coal off Broad Top Mountain. It ran until April 14, 1956, then was sold to the Kovalchick Salvage Corporation, which ran tourist trains from 1960 to 2011. A nonprofit foundation bought it in 2020, and trains returned in 2021.

Can you tour the East Broad Top machine shop?

Yes. Guided tours take you through the shop complex and roundhouse, including the belt-driven machine shop the railroad calls the largest and most intact of its kind in the U.S. Tours can be booked alone or with a train ride as a combo ticket, and most guided tours are ADA accessible.

Is there parking at the East Broad Top Railroad?

The railroad's website does not describe parking in detail. Head to 421 Meadow Street in Rockhill Furnace and check in at Orbisonia Station. The railroad welcomes motorcoach groups and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bus Association, so bus groups should call the Group Sales Office at (814) 447-3285 ahead of time.

Is the East Broad Top Railroad wheelchair accessible?

Mostly. The railroad says its trains, most guided tours, gift shop and restrooms are ADA accessible, and event pages mention a wheelchair accessible train car and a golf cart. Locomotive cab rides are not accessible because they need ladder climbing. Call (814) 447-3285 to plan specific needs.

Where can I find East Broad Top Railroad news and photos?

The railroad posts updates, photos and video on its Facebook page (facebook.com/ebtrr), Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, and publishes its Full Steam Ahead magazine online. For official news, including any legal matters, check the EBT's own website and Facebook page.

What train museums are near the East Broad Top Railroad?

The Rockhill Trolley Museum is right in Rockhill Furnace. Huntingdon County's railroad history exhibits are about 18 miles away, the Everett Railroad is about 29 miles away, and Altoona's Railroaders Memorial Museum and Horseshoe Curve are both about 32 miles away.

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Kelsey Cecil
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