Awaiting a call to service that never came... Part of a fleet of narrow gauge hopper cars that once numbered close to 275 sit pending their fate at EBT's Mount Union yard. A few hoppers were sold to museums and other narrow gauge lines. The White Pass & Yukon purchased 15 cars in 1968 for ballast service, and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic got five cars about 10 years ago.
Fortunately, scrap dealer and railroad president by default, Joe Kovalchick, had been in no rush to scrap these cars, nor the East Broad Top railroad which may have been nothing but a memory otherwise. Back to the cars, - while they survived for over a half a decade, there is yet no guarantee they'll be around forever for $7,500.00 a piece will buy you as many hoppers as you'd like. If they're not protected and stabilized,a large part of EBT will be lost forever. On a positive note, however, the land in which the hoppers sit has been purchased just this year on June 3rd 2013 by a group known as the East Broad Top Preservation Association. The yard is secure, though the hoppers await their fate. You can help! Click HERE for more information and help make scenes like this possible for future generations!
