By Railfan & Railroad Staff
ROCKHILL, Pa. — The Friends of the East Broad Top, Inc. has awarded the EBT Foundation an $86,000 grant to stabilize a prominent building at the narrow gauge railroad’s shop complex in Rockhill. The carpenter shop is one of a number of structures in the 1900-era yard and was the base for the original railroad’s bridge and building crew.
The wooden, post-and-beam Carpenter Shop has been endangered by the rotting of its posts, sills and lower walls, causing it to list badly, according to the non-profit group. The railroad’s long-time practice of leaning stacks of steel driver tires against the east wall further weakened the structure. The FEBT grant will pay for professional straightening and repair of the Carpenter Shop by Woodford Bros., the historic building restoration experts who previously righted the EBT Blacksmith and Machine Shops. Their work is expected to be done this winter.
Once renovated, the building will offer additional workshop space for FEBT volunteers and railroad employees alike.
Visit febt.org and eastbroadtop.com for more information.