Policies & FAQ's

Ticketing FAQ's

Our regular operating season is from early May through late October! Special events occur year-round, including President’s Day Weekend, Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. 

In 2023, our regular season runs from May 5th through October 30th with trains at 11am, 1pm and 3pm, and guided tours at 11am, 1pm and 3pm Friday – Sunday. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, trains and tours operate Wednesday – Sunday. We will reopen Black Friday Weekend for Christmas in Coal Country with regular excursions and holiday trains Friday – Sunday. We will run daily between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. 

For best availability, especially during special events and themed weekends, we always recommend advanced reservations. Of course, we know that sometimes life gets in the way and you may need to modify, reschedule, or cancel your visit. All sales at the East Broad Top are final. There are no refunds on ticket purchases. 

In the event of a cancellation, the total value of the ticket may be transferred to credit in the form of an online gift card so long as changes are made prior to the start of your train excursion, shop tour, trolley ride, or other experience. Any changes to a reservation may be subject to a $6.00 fee per ticket. Special events may be subject to different Tickets are not transferable. 

Please call our station at 814.447.3285 if any changes are needed PRIOR to your arrival with any questions, we want to work with you to make visiting the EBT a fun experience! 

We are proud to offer at least one wheelchair accessible train car on most EBT excursions. Our enclosed coach class of service features one car equipped with two hydraulic lifts capable of accommodating up to 600lbs. Those requiring use of the lift should use the “Wheelchair | Coach” customer type when making their reservation to help us best prepare for your arrival. If this customer type is not available on the excursion you are trying to book, it is likely not available on that train.

Currently, our trains travel 4.5 miles northbound from the Orbisonia Station to a picturesque picnic grove in the scenic Aughwick Valley. Along the way, you’ll pass through lush forests, farms, and rolling hills over our 150-year-old railroad. Trains turn around and return via the same route back to the Rockhill Furnace Railyard and make a stop at the Rockhill Trolley Museum before turning around once more and returning to the Orbisonia Station. The trip is nine-miles total and take approximately one hour to complete. 

Visitors taking shop tours should come prepared with the proper clothing for the weather, including umbrellas, jackets, and proper shoes. 

All regular excursion trains and special events are scheduled to be powered by an authentic century old steam locomotive. Any excursion that is not powered by steam will be labeled as “diesel-powered”. 

Of course, working with vintage equipment can be unpredictable, and sometimes mechanical conditions or unexpected maintenance requirements require us to modify our operation to accommodate. While we work hard to maintain published schedules, consists, and itineraries, The EBTF can change equipment or motive power at any time, for any reason, without notice. The EBTF reserves the right to cancel any experience, tour, or excursion for any reason, including but not limited to inclement weather or mechanical problems. The EBTF will not be held liable for any delays regardless of the cause. Safety is our number one priority. 

Unless extreme conditions arise, our experiences continue rain, snow or shine! All of our trains feature enclosed coaches, and in the colder months, heat! In the event of a cancellation due to weather or other circumstances, passengers will be notified by email, text, or phone call and compensated accordingly. 

Visitors taking guided tours should come prepared for the weather, including jackets, hats, umbrellas, and proper footwear. 

Trolley rides may be paused during periods of lighting or severe wind. 

We do offer group rates for reservations of 20 passengers or more. We also offer packages for weddings, birthday parties, corporate retreats, and more! Send an email with your request, party size, type of gathering, and other information to groups@eastbroadtop.com 

150 years ago, the East Broad Top was among the earliest railroads in America to try a revolutionary new technology: narrow gauge. The rails of a standard gauge railroad are 4’ 8.5” apart. Narrow gauge is anything less than that, with the rails of the EBT being only 3’ apart. Narrow gauge trains are 3/4 the size of standard gauge trains, making them more cost effective to construct in mountainous terrain. 

At this time, bathrooms are not available onboard the train. Public restrooms are located at the Orbisonia Station, Rockhill Trolley Museum, and mid-route at Colgate Grove. 

Only trained service animals who are actively working and performing a service are permitted aboard any EBT train or guided tour. 

YES! Food, drinks and snacks are permitted aboard EBT trains. Passengers are not permitted to bring any glass containers or alcohol aboard the train. 

Smoking is prohibited outside of designated areas on EBTF property. Smoking is strictly prohibited aboard any train, shop tour, or vintage trolley. This includes cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and vapor pens. 

The East Broad Top Railroad is a living museum! While we don’t have walk-through-style exhibits or a dedicated display building, you are immersed in history the minute you step out of your car. In other words… the entire property is one big museum. 

Our guided tours are the best way to experience the history of the EBT, and to understand its historical significance in the wider context of America’s industrial story. Access to the railyard is only available via guided tour, with at least one offered every operating day. 

We always recommend advance reservations to ensure ample choices for seating and party size. That said, reservations can always be made at the ticket window if space is available. Always arrive no later than 1/2 hour prior to the departure of the train’s departure.

Our immersive guided tours take visitors through the EBT’s remarkably intact late 19th/early 20th Century shop complex. You’ll almost literally step back in time as you walk through machines and buildings that have gone unchanged since the railroad closed in 1956, but stopped evolving in the late 1920’s. You’ll see six narrow-gauge steam engines housed in the Roundhouse, and an operational belt-driven machine shop. 

We are building a NEW picnic and event facility at Colgate Grove, which should be ready by the start of our 2023 season. Keep checking our website for more info!

What's Nearby

Ticketing Policies

Ticketing & Cancellation Policy: 

  • Fares and schedules are subject to change without notice
  • All sales and transactions are final. There are no refunds on ticket purchases. The total value of the ticket may be transferred to credit in the form of an online gift card so long as changes are made no less than five days prior to the date of your train excursion, shop tour, trolley ride, or other experience. Any changes to a reservation may be subject to a $6.00 fee per ticket. Tickets are not transferable. 
  • Your credit card will be processed at the time of booking. Any reservations without payment will not be held for individual reservations without previous arrangements. 
  • Passengers must be checked in at the ticket window no later than 15 minutes prior to their first train ride, trolley ride, or tour. Any reservations which are not checked in after that time may be released to the waiting public without refund. 
  • While we work hard to maintain published schedules, consists, and itineraries, The EBTF can change equipment or motive power at any time, for any reason, without notice. The EBTF reserves the right to cancel any experience, tour, or excursion for any reason, including but not limited to inclement weather or mechanical problems. The EBTF will not be held liable for any delays regardless of the cause. Safety is our number one priority. 

Smoking, Food & Beverage, Firearms Policy: 

  • Smoking is prohibited outside of designated areas on EBTF property. Smoking is strictly prohibited aboard any train, shop tour, or vintage trolley. This includes cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and vapor pens. 
  • Visitors are not permitted to carry firearms on any train, shop tour, or vintage trolley. 
  • Passengers are permitted to bring personal food and beverage aboard the train. However, passengers are not permitted to carry any glass containers or alcohol aboard any train, shop tour, or vintage trolley. 

Accessibility Policy:

  • Due to the historic nature of our facilities and equipment, not every EBTF experience is ADA accessible. However, we make every reasonable effort to accommodate guests that require special accommodations. Please contact our ticket office PRIOR to booking any experience if you have questions regarding the accessibility of an event, ride, or experience. 
    • Train Rides: We are proud to offer at least one wheelchair accessible train car on most EBT excursions. Our enclosed coach class of service features one car equipped with two hydraulic lifts capable of accommodating up to 600lbs. Those requiring use of the lift should use the “Wheelchair | Coach” customer type when making their reservation to help us best prepare for your arrival. If this customer type is not available on the excursion you are trying to book, it is likely not available on that train.
    • Trolley Rides: The Rockhill Trolley Museum (RTM) offers one trolley equipped with a hydraulic lift. Passengers must utilize the “accessibility requirement” checkbox while reserving their trip or inform the ticket agent of the need for special accommodations to ensure this option is available PRIOR to booking. 
    • Guided Tours: Every reasonable effort is made to accommodate those with special requirements on guided shop tours. However, some areas of the tour are not accessible due to the historic nature of the complex. Public tours are one-hour in duration and require long periods of walking and standing over several uneven surfaces, including gravel, grass, and many train tracks. For this reason, please contact our ticket office PRIOR to booking any shop tour for someone requiring a wheelchair, as special arrangements are needed. 
    • Trained service animals who are actively working and performing a service are permitted aboard any EBT train or guided tour.

Photography Policy:

  • Safety is the number one priority for the East Broad Top Railroad. While we want visitors to our National Historic Landmark to leave with memories, photographs, and videos of their experience, it is also important to note that the EBT is an active railroad and requires visitors to comply with the following policies.
    • Photography is permitted on most EBT trains, tours, and activities. The railroad reserves the right to limit photographs in active work areas or other places designated by signs or staff instruction. 
    • Do not enter buildings, work areas, or other places not designated as publicly accessible by sign or staff instruction.
    • Photography is NEVER permitted on any active mainline or yard track. Always give active tracks at least ten feet of clearance and never stand between the rails. Always maintain situational awareness and never put yourself in dangerous situations. 
    • Climbing on standing equipment, locomotives, or railroad structures is not permitted. 
    • Photography of trains from publicly accessible areas, such as public grade crossings and station platforms, is permitted. Do not walk along railroad tracks to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. 
    • The EBT asks all visitors to respect our neighbors and their privacy. Do not block driveways, trespass on private property, or engage in disrespectful or unlawful behavior. 
    • Obey all traffic laws and instructions from law enforcement. Do not block roadways or disrupt the flow of traffic. 
    • Remote-controlled aircraft, or drones, are only permitted on EBT property with prior authorization from railroad staff. Otherwise, drones are not allowed to take off from railroad property. Never operate a drone in a manner that would endanger yourself or others. Otherwise, from publicly accessible areas and at all times during flight, follow all applicable guidelines and laws for operating these devices. 

Use of Likeness Policy:

  • Every visitor to the EBT Foundation, Inc. or Railways to Yesterday, Inc. property may participate in any experience on the condition, and by participating in any EBTF or RTY activity agrees that, the EBTF, RTY, and each of their respective agents and licensees, shall have the unrestricted rights and license to use his or her image, likenesses, name, voice, comments or other proprietary or public rights and that of any minor accompanying visitors in any photograph and/or video and/or audio sound recording taken during the course of visitor’s experience which includes but not limited to all property associated with the train such as the railyard, stations, gift shops, historic shop complex, car-barns, mechanical shops, Colgate Grove, right of ways, departure and boarding areas in Rockhill Furnace, PA for all purposes, without consent or compensation. The rights granted herein to the EBTF and RTY are assignable.