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Mohegan Sun Pocono faces more than 200 layoffs next month

Column: Still time for college football to avoid a real mess

As the market for semi-bituminous coal dried up and business from its other customers fell off, the East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company (EBT) was forced to go out of business, closing on April 14, 1956.
				It had operated since 1871, at various times also carrying mail, clay, pig iron, ganister rock, and even passengers.
				In 1956 the railroad was purchased by the Kovalchick Salvage Company, but Nick Kovalchick left the railroad in place including track, engines, and its yard structures in Rockhill Furnace, Huntington County.
				In 1960, when the boroughs of Orbisonia and Rockhill Furnace asked him to help celebrate their bicentennial, he went further and rehabilitated enough track to offer rides that summer.
				The railroad continued as a tourist operation for another 51 years until it closed in 2011.
				There were small events over the years, but much of the track became overgrown and the steam locomotives could no longer operate. During a very limited event for photographers on the night of Nov. 2, 2019, it was evident that a lot of recent maintenance had been performed. But it was not until Feb. 14, 2020 that a public event was held to announce that the railroad and its properties had been sold to the non-profit East Broad Top Foundation Inc., and that its steam engines, structures, and most importantly scheduled passenger tourist service would be restored.
				To celebrate its 60th anniversary of becoming a tourist railroad, Aug. 13, 2020 was picked as the date for reopening.
				Foundation board member and native Pennsylvanian Henry Posner III introduced the speakers to a socially distanced crowd, including Millie (Kovalchick) Glinsky, the daughter of Nick Kovalchick.
				Mrs. Glinsky rededicated the railroad the same way she did in 1960 &mdash; by breaking a bottle of a non-alcoholic beverage over the plow of Baldwin steam engine #12, which is named &ldquo;Millie&rdquo; in her honor.
				EBT General Manager Brad Esposito unveiled the additional dedication of engine #16 as &ldquo;Nick&rdquo; to honor the late Nick Kovalchick&rsquo;s personal commitment to saving the EBT, and son Joe Kovalchick accepted on his behalf.
				This engine is the most advanced in restoration of the steam collection, which the foundation has pledged to completely restore to operation. Diesel powered train rides were offered for ticketed guests. Both railroad workers and volunteers from the Friends of The East Broad Top served as guides throughout the day.
				While the railroad has not yet established a regular operating schedule for visitors, its commitment to doing so is tangible. Track has been repaired and new ballast dropped to secure the roadbed. Notable improvements have been made to the buildings and grounds. It plans to have regular operating steam in 2021.
				All of the work on its engines has been done on site, much in a section of the engine roundhouse that has recently had a concrete floor poured to facilitate mechanical efforts that will support all of the operations in the future. It has often been said by the administration that the East Broad Top is not just about its railroad rolling stock but its buildings and shops and surroundings as well, which create a fully immersive experience for the visitor.
				This is a place that will certainly be worthy of a visit with the family in the near future to indulge in its rich heritage.

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Non-profit East Broad Top Foundation reopens historic railroad