Pictures have been posted to Facebook of East Broad Top 0-6-0 #3 sitting outside of the Mt. Union, PA engine house. The standard gauge locomotive has called the engine house home since 1956 when the East Broad Top shut down common-carrier operations. #3 was the last locomotive to operate on the railroad before the shutdown.
The pictures show that the valve gear rods have been removed and the main rod appears to have been cut off. The locomotive appears the have a fresh coast of paint, with a white/light grey smokebox, brass boiler bands, and red accents on the cab. The appearance is leading to speculation that #3 is being readied to be moved and displayed. Full operational restoration is unlikely as the locomotive is reportedly in poor shape.
The tender was previously spotted outside of the engine house with a fresh coat of black paint.
A sister locomotive, standard gauge 0-6-0 #6 now resides at the Whitewater Valley Railroad in Indiana after being sold in 1975.
It is still unclear who owns #3, what the future plans are for the locomotive, and why this work was being done. The northern most portion of the East Broad Top, which includes the dual-gauge yard in Mt. Union, is owned by the East Broad Top Preservation Association. The trackage and land was purchased before the East Broad Top Foundation purchased the rest of the railroad from the Kovalchick family in 2020 and is not affiliated with the EBTF in any way.
Photo from James Copenhaver on Facebook
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