The East Broad Top had a complete machine shop. They were a self contained railroad that built their coal cars and so on. Tom is running the automatic drill press in a demostration of its operation.

The EBT is located roughly half way between Altoona and Harrisburg PA off route 522. It is a narrow gauge steam line that hauled coal on a 30+ mile line that ran from Mount Union PA to the eastern portions of Broad Top Mountain. Mines were located in Robertsdale Woodvale on the top of the mountain, with an extension to a point known as Alvan.

The line shut down in 1956 because of dropping demand for coal. Nick Kovalchick and his family chose to preserve the railway for future generations. In 1960, the Kovalchicks operated their first tourist train after much hard work and dedication by volunteers and former employees to reopen the line. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964, the EBT is also the most complete historic railroad site in North America.