ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The Friends of the East Broad Top has launched its 2026 fundraising campaign, which seeks to raise $350,000 for projects including the heritage railroad’s ongoing “March to Saltillo” extension of its operable trackage.
The 2026 campaign, announced last weekend in connection with the annual EBT Fall Reunion, follows a 2025 campaign by the non-profit group that set a goal of $270,000, but more than doubled that target, reaching $540,399.
This year’s goals include $115,000 for the March to Saltillo project; $35,000 for completion of the interior of the rebuilt Saltillo station; $15,000 for new staybolts for steam locomotive No. 15, which is expected to be the second returned to operation by the EBT Foundation mechical team; $95,000 to continue the work of the EBT Archives and Special Collections program; $55,000 for restoration work at the EBT headquarters and shop complex in Rockhill Furnace; and $35,000 to be held in reserve for unanticipated restoration needs.
“Our generous donors have provided funds to buy the materials our tireless volunteers need to bring ever increasing portions of the EBT back to life,” Friends of the EBT President Andrew Van Scyoc said in a press release. “Without either our donors or volunteers, FEBT, and the EBT itself, would not have the overwhelming success that we are experiencing.”
The funds raised in 2025 helped pay for work including clearing and grading of the EBT right-of-way south of the current end of operable track at Pogue bridge; HVAC, plumbing, and electrical work at the Saltillo station; purchase of materials to redeck the Rockhill Furnace turntable; restoration of more than 5,400 feet of track from Jordan Summit to the north approach of the Pogue Bridge; archives work including scanning 1,197 pages of EBT directors and stockholders minutes, plus 561 additional catalog records from 13 distinct collections; structural work in Rockhill Furnace including five new roofs; work to restore combine No. 14 to operation; and work on the tender tank for locomotive No. 15.
The Saltillo station, closely modeled after the original structure, was the site of an open house on Oct. 5 as part of the Fall Reunion weekend, which drew some 267 registrants, the most in Friends history.
Donations to the Friends campaign can be made here or by sending a check payable to the FEBT to: Karen Bulman, FEBT Fundraising Treasurer, P.O. Box 43063, Cincinnati, OH 45243.
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