Re: The 2012 East Broad Top Photo Charter and Winter Spectacular that wasn't!

Had a wild time my first visit in August 71. Had just moved to PA taking a new job after retiring from the Air Force. Had a Nissan pickup with a camper on the back. My wife and son were still in Colorado Springs so my son could finish his senior year in HS there. My second weekend in PA, went to the EBT on a spur of the moment whim. Got there late and everything was closed. Parked my truck next to the depot and prepared to get in my sleeping bag. Someone tapped on my back window and it was the EBT GM who was the hostler that night He told me someone had robbed the depot and the town sheriff might not like me parking there, he told me to move the truck by the roundhouse. After I did I walked over to thank him and he said he had a pot of coffee in the cab of #15 which was on the turntable and did I want to join him. He said he had just been out to Colorado helping the D&S get their four hoppers. We talked until about 1am when he said he needed to move the 15 to the water spout and asked if I wanted to help...of course I did. So I threw switches as he directed and he filled the tank with water then backed up and spent some time dumping ashes and then onto the turntable again. As I was riding the next day in the caboose and the parlor car, I decided I better get some sleep, so shook hands and I went to bed. When I got up the next morning, he was gone by one of the EBT guys came over and asked if I wanted a fresh cup of coffee. He must have told them about me. What an experience. I have been a hard core D&RGW fan since I was 15 years old in 1955, but I think I could become an EBT fan without much pushing.

Few more photos from 1981.