East Broad Top Railroad (RP)

Ron’s two-level layout is an outstanding evocation of the East Broad Top in south-central Pennsylvania. The railroad hauls coal and gannister rock from ten deep mountain-top mines to a coal cleaning/sizing plant and refractory brick plants downgrade. The layout is “around the walls” with a peninsula. Power is steam hauling coal, gannister rock and general merchandise. There is industrial switching. The towns of Mt. Union, Orbisonia, Robertsdale and Wood are modeled.

Operation sessions incorporate Ron's extensive research on the EBT as to schedules and other operating practices.

The mineheads at the ten deep mines and the coal cleaning plant, timber transfer, etc., closely follow the construction of the prototypes. Mines and other structures are considered "museum quality", the result of extensive research, on-site measurement of existing prototypes, maps and period photographs, plus high levels of craftsmanship.

The Jacobs Coal Mine and GREFCO Refractory Brick Plant were added in early 2015 on a new peninsula.

Ron's layout was featured in Model Railroader magazine, October, 2014. Ron has written numerous historical articles in the Friends of the East Broad Top "Timber Transfer" magazine

Layout Owner

Ron Pearson

Location

Cincinnati, OH

Scale

HOn3

Layout Size

500 square feet

Mainline Size

180 ft

Era

1946-50

Crew Complement

4 - 8

Completion

Track: 100%
Scenery: 100%
Electrical: 100%

Control System

Digitrax

Communications System

Voice

Dispatching Method

Timetable and Train Order

Pets

Yes - Cat