The East Broad Top Railroad is proud to announce the acquisition of a unique 1946 diesel locomotive from the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Durango, Colorado. Built by H.K. Porter Inc. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this 80-ton locomotive will provide crucial backup power for the EBT’s steam locomotives and support the EBT Foundation’s expansion efforts.
“The acquisition of this locomotive boosts our capacity for efficient operations,” said EBT Foundation General Manager Brad Esposito. “While the restoration and operation of our historic steam locomotives remains the Foundation’s primary focus, the growth of our business and expansion of our footprint demands greater flexibility in our motive power.”
Currently numbered 1203, the locomotive has a storied past. Having first served in Plaster City, California on US Gypsum’s industrial railroad until 1979, it later worked for several of America’s most iconic 36” gauge tourist railroads before being traded to the Durango & Silverton in 2015. The EBT plans to renumber the Locomotive as #19 and repaint it to fit the railroad’s historic character.
“While there are many narrow-gauge railroads around the world, 36” gauge presents unique technical challenges in sourcing locomotives,” offered EBT Foundation President Henry Posner III. “In this case, we were lucky in that the Durango & Silverton had this one-of-a-kind locomotive available. As a Pittsburgher, it will be good to have the locomotive back home in Pennsylvania.”
The East Broad Top’s current 55-ton diesel, M-7 — originally built in 1964 as a plant switcher for the Algoma Steel Mill — has proven to be a reliable workhorse. As the railroad’s operations grow, its capacity no longer meets the increasing demand. The M-7 has undoubtedly secured its place in EBT history and will continue to support the Foundation’s ambitious expansion projects, including the nine-mile track extension known as the “March to Saltillo.”
“The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has greatly enjoyed seeing the East Broad Top’s remarkable progress in preservation and railroad operations,” added Durango and Silverton General Manager Jeff Johnson. “We are thankful that this equipment transfer is a win-win for both of our railroads, and we wish the greatest success for the EBT in the years ahead.”
The EBT Foundation would like to thank the Durango and Silverton for their collaboration on this project. Their partnership reflects a shared dedication to preserving America’s narrow-gauge railroad heritage.
