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This article, East Broad Top Railroad Mikado locomotives, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools:Inform author
This article, East Broad Top Railroad Mikado locomotives, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools:Inform author
Comment: Quite a lot remains unsourced here, particularly in the infoboxes. Good start, though - just needs some more references to reliable sources! Mattdaviesfsic (talk) 14:02, 4 January 2023 (UTC)
East Broad Top Railroad doubleheader with two Mikado locomotives, October 1987
The East Broad Top Railroad owns six Baldwin Locomotive Works built three foot gauge Mikado locomotives. These engines original to the railroad have survived from their construction to the present day, with various members of the fleet having ran in steam for excursion train service on the preserved route.
History
Mikado locomotives provided the primary motive power of the East Broad Top's narrow gauge mainline from their initial deliver in the early 1910's until the railroad's abandonment in the 1950's. The locomotives share several features to ensure smooth handling of heavy coal traffic, including double air brake pumps and two sand domes.[1] The railroad began installing airbrakes on their equipment in 1913 along with new steel cars to operate alongside the growing Mikado fleet.[2] Although the East Broad Top did briefly consider replacing the Mikado fleet with diesels, the line's abandonment and sale to Nick Kovalchick saved the historic steam locomotives with all six locomotives still preserved at the original East Broad Top's Rockhill Furnace shops.[3][4]
Four of the engines would run in steam on and off again from the 1960's to 2011 during the East Broad Top's era of preservation under the Kovalchick family, with three of them (#12, #14, #15) already back in service by the early 1960's to haul excursion trains.[5] The fourth engine to run in the Kovalchick era, #17 would return to steam in 1968.[6] The locomotives provided the star attractions of the East Broad Top's Winter Spectaculars, until the Winter Spectacular runs were terminated in the 1980's due to the stress being placed on the locomotives and rolling stock.[7] When the railroad shut down at the end of 2011, all of the engines were placed in storage from then until 2020 when the newly founded EBT Foundation Inc. bought the moribund railroad and began restoration work on locomotive #16. #16 is expected to return to service sometime in the early 2020's. The railroad has also begun preliminary work to potentially restore #14 at a future date and inspected the other locomotives for restoration potential as well. The EBT Foundation Inc. has stated they desire to see all six locomotives someday restored to steam.[8]
East Broad Top #12 is the first Mikado locomotive built for the railroad in 1911. The new Mikado began the process of modernizing the East Broad Top locomotive fleet, replacing the aging mixed roster of various locomotive types which ran on the railroad prior. The locomotive was designed to haul 15 loaded coal hoppers on the railroad. The locomotive derailed on its maiden trip on the railroad at Siding Hill Tunnel.[13] Despite these teething issues, the engine proved successful and served as the template for the following five Mikados to come. The locomotive operated on a sporadic as needed basis from the late 1940's into the 1950's due to its light weight and lower power compared to its five larger successors.
The locomotive was named "Millie" in 1960 after then EBT owner Nick Kovalchick's daughter and was the first steam locomotive returned to service to operate the excursion line in 1960.[14] The locomotive proved popular in the preservation era due to its smaller size and lighter weight which was believed to be easier on the track.[15] #12 last operated in preservation in 2000 and has been stored since.[16]
Built in 1912 and following up on the design of #12, #14 had increased tractive effort compared to its predecessor with the estimated ability of hauling 18 loaded hoppers from the coal mines along the East Broad Top. Despite #14 sequentially following #12, East Broad Top skipped over the potential #13 roster spot and never owned a locomotive with that number. #15 would arrive two years later as a response to increased passenger demands while also sharing the same basic design as #14.[18]
Locomotive #14 last operated in 2005. #15 ran in preservation from 2005 until 2011 when the East Broad Top was shut down, making #15 the last steam locomotive to run in the Kovalchick era. Both #15 and #14 have been inspected and partially disassembled after the railroad's revival in 2020 and are potential candidates for a full restoration after #16 is completed.[19]
The Class 16 Mikados were the largest locomotives on the East Broad Top roster. Unlike the previous EBT Mikados, these three locomotives used Southern valve gear and had boilers equipped with superheaters.[22] The first of these Baldwin 12-341⁄4-E's (#16) arrived in 1917 with the final class member #18 delivered in 1923. It was estimated that these locomotives could handle 22 loaded hoppers, with reports of #16 once pulling a train of 60 empty hoppers.
At the time the East Broad Top shut down in 1956, #16 was undergoing an overhaul. During the first preservation era on the East Broad Top from the 1960's #16 and #18 were stored on property. Locomotive #17 ran in excursion service on the preserved line from 1968 until 2001 as the only example of the Class 16's to steam in the Kovalchick era.
After reopening of the East Broad Top was announced in 2020, #16 was chosen as the first engine to be restored for steam service. An FRA mandated hydrostatic test was conducted in May 2022 on the boiler.[23] A steam test on the boiler was conducted in June 2022.[24] After the steam test, work remained on the superheater, cab and boiler jacketing before the engine could return to service.[21]
Comment: Quite a lot remains unsourced here, particularly in the infoboxes. Good start, though - just needs some more references to reliable sources! Mattdaviesfsic (talk) 14:02, 4 January 2023 (UTC)
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