Railroad preservation museum

FEBT Robertsdale Museum

About 25 min southwest

A free, volunteer-run museum in East Broad Top’s former Robertsdale station and post office, with coal-region exhibits, historic structures, scheduled walking tours, and weather-dependent track rides.

The place

About FEBT Robertsdale Museum

Friends of the East Broad Top operates this museum complex in Robertsdale, the historic southern end of the railroad’s coal-hauling network. Exhibits occupy the restored East Broad Top station and the former post office across the street, giving visitors a grounded view of the mines, communities, and workers behind the narrow-gauge line.

The campus includes preserved railroad structures, hopper cars, track, and a gift shop. On published open days, volunteers lead walking tours through the Robertsdale and Woodvale historic areas; weather permitting, the museum also offers short rides on human-powered rail equipment over part of the main line.

Friends of the East Broad Top is a preservation partner, not the public excursion operator. The regular passenger train departs from Rockhill Furnace, not Robertsdale. Treat this as a complementary history stop rather than an alternate boarding station.

What stands out

Historic station and post office

Two restored buildings house exhibits about the railroad, mines, and Broad Top communities.

Coal-country context

Robertsdale explains the industrial purpose of the East Broad Top beyond the better-known Rockhill shops and passenger trains.

Volunteer-led walking tours

Scheduled tours connect the museum buildings with the broader Robertsdale and Woodvale historic landscape.

Preservation partner perspective

The museum shows how Friends of the East Broad Top supports the railroad while remaining a separate nonprofit organization.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in an East Broad Top Railroad trip

Robertsdale is about a 25-minute drive southwest of East Broad Top’s Rockhill Furnace departure point. Visit it before or after a train only when the published open dates align, and leave enough time for the rural drive plus a walking tour if that is central to the day.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • Remaining 2026 datesPublished open Saturdays are August 15, 22, and 29; September 5, 12, 19, and 26; October 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31; November 28; and December 5, 12, and 19.
  • HoursRegular open-day hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. The November and December holiday dates are published as 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
  • AdmissionMuseum admission is free; donations support the volunteer preservation work.
  • Walking toursTours are scheduled for 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. on regular open days. The route includes uneven terrain, so wear suitable shoes and ask ahead about access needs.
  • Track activityWeather permitting, volunteers may offer short rides on human-powered rail equipment over more than a mile of historic main line. This is not the East Broad Top passenger excursion.
  • Departure warningEast Broad Top excursion trains do not depart Robertsdale. Board the public railroad at 421 Meadow Street in Rockhill Furnace.
  • Contact timingThe Robertsdale phone is answered only while the museum is open. Use the Friends contact form or public email outside those hours.

Add an operating trolley ride

Add Rockhill Trolley Museum

Back at the East Broad Top departure campus, ride historic electric cars on a separate museum ticket.

View the guide →

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

Do East Broad Top excursion trains leave from Robertsdale?

No. Public East Broad Top excursions depart from Rockhill Furnace. Robertsdale is a separate museum and historic site about 25 minutes away by car.

Is Friends of the East Broad Top the train operator?

No. Friends is a separate preservation nonprofit and partner. The East Broad Top Foundation owns and operates the public railroad.

Does the Robertsdale Museum charge admission?

The museum publishes free admission and welcomes donations.

When are walking tours offered?

The current museum page lists walking tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. on regular open days. Check the official page again before a long drive.

Is the walking tour accessible?

The official guidance warns of uneven terrain and recommends good walking shoes. Contact Friends before traveling if terrain or mobility access will determine your visit.

Can I ride the railroad at Robertsdale?

The museum may offer weather-dependent rides on human-powered rail equipment. These are not scheduled East Broad Top passenger excursions and should not be treated as a substitute for the Rockhill train.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-12. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.