East Broad Top Mikados

The EBT was chartered to connect the isolated Broad Top Coal Field in southern Huntington County with the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad at the Juniata River and to serve the iron furnaces then existing at Rockhill Furnace. Over the years the iron industry faded, but the fine low-volatile bituminous coal continued to move in a volume sufficient to support the railroad. The EBT overcame the problems inherent in handling through traffic that originated or terminated on standard gauge lines. This was the nub of the problem for narrow gauge railroads everywhere. By the 1930s, EBT had two workable solutions - one for coal, the other for general ladings. It was through these measures that the railroad's longevity was assured.

The East Broad Top Railroad had six Mikados. All of them were built by Baldwin Locomotive Works and still survive today. However, only four of them are currently in operational condition. The locomotives that are operational are numbers 12, 14, 15, and 17. The ones that are not are numbers 16, and 18.

On November 21, 1955 the EBT had filed for abandonment of the entire railroad. This was granted with little protest and, by the spring of 1956, the railroad was officially dead. Today, the EBT is a wonderful tourist attraction.

Engine Number	Operational	Superheater	Notes
12	Yes	No
14	Yes	No
15	Yes	No
16	No	Yes
17	Yes	Yes	temporarily out of service for repairs
18	No	Yes

Specifications
Road Number	12	14	15	16	17	18
Wheel Arrangement:	2-8-2	2-8-2	2-8-2	2-8-2	2-8-2	2-8-2
Length:
Drivers:	48" dia.	48" dia.	48" dia.	48" dia.	48" dia.	48" dia.
Weight on Drivers:	88,000 lbs.	122,700 lbs.	125,700 lbs.	134,000 lbs.	133,500 lbs.	134,600 lbs.
Total Locomotive Weight:	112,000 lbs,	147,150 lbs.	150,150 lbs.	163,000 lbs.	163,500 lbs.	164,200 lbs.
Locomotive & Tender Weight:
Grate Area:
Cylinders (dia. x stroke):	(2) 17" x 24"	(2) 19" x 24"	(2) 19" x 24"	(2) 20" x 24'	(2) 20" x 24"	(2) 20" x 24"
Boiler Pressure:	180 psi	180 psi	180 psi	180 psi	180 psi	180 psi
Tractive Effort:	22,100 lbs.	27,600 lbs.	27,600 lbs.	30,600 lbs.	30,600 lbs	30,600 lbs
Tender Capacity:
Water:
Coal:

East Broad Top Mikados

Photos

Reference