How close did the East Broad Top 3 foot gauge RR come to the B&O? Did they ever interchange in any way? My guess is no because I think the EBT did interchange with the PRR. My guess also is that if the PRR never existed the B & O interchange might make sense. I have asked this question on another forum but I have received no answer. This question is being asked for the same reason as the UP and NYC question was asked on this post.
Peter Smith, Memphis
EBT interchanged with the PRR at Mount Union, PA - its only connection to the outside world. South of Mount Union, it climbed up into the coal fields on Broad Top Mountain. It was several dozen miles (and a mountain range) away from the closest B&O trackage.
The EBT still exists. Most of it hasn’t been operated since 1956, but the rails were never taken up.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
The previous answer is correct however the mountains run SW-NE in Pennsylvania. If you check a topographical map of the area you may find a valley that could have extended far enough to tie into the B&O but I doubt it. If so the connection would have been somewhere soutwest of where the EBT is located.
The railroad that most likely would have been the “other” connection to the EBT was the Ma & Pa. It started as a narrow gauge line and it proosed at one time to build west to connect to the EBT and then east to Philadelphia. Obviously neither proposal was acted on, in part because there was no good way to cross the mountains other than the route used by the B&O and WM through Cumberland.
Dave H.
Thank you guys for helping me to answer this question Your answers were interesting and informative . In regard to this question, you may want to refer to the current thread on the general model RR discussion forum entitled:
“Tell Me About HOn3”
Peter Smith, Memphis