I've been very anxious to get my Star rank in scout, so that I can get my Life rank quicker and begin working on Eagle. Because of that, I have caught myself*cough, cough*allowed*cough, cough* thinking of various Eagle projects that would be fun to do. Several of them are not feasable for use as an Eagle project, but would be an awesome community service project for a group of volunteers to do.

It was suggested to me that, because I would like to do an Eagle project that somehow reflected my love for the East Broad Top, I make Colgate Grove wheelchair accessable.

The Friends of the East Broad Top recently converted an open boxcar to being wheelchair accessable, but the facilities in Colgate Grove are far from that. Therefore, it would make a fun, enjoyable, EBT-related, and feasable Eagle project.

I have pretty much boiled it down to the following steps, with a little help:

>Convince the preservation association that the improvements were needed
>Create a plan showing exactly where the pad, a path and picnic tables would be installed
>Fundraise
>Coordinate getting all the materials and the volunteers out to Colgate Grove
>Build it

However, I wanted to ask all of you Eagle scouts(yes you guys), and those not Eagle but who may have experience in this sort of thing, what you all thought and if you have any advice that you may have to give me.

I think this is a very admirable idea. Best wishes!
Ralph

I've never been to the East Broad Top, but it sounds like a great idea. You might run it by the preservation association to see what their plans are. Federal law and probably state laws require handicap access for all public locations. They may have the plans already in place, but need the funding. At the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the La Mesa Club building the Tehachapi layout were delayed for something like 10 years putting in the loop because they had to raise the money and put in a ramp for handicap access before they were allowed to do any building in the upper level of the layout.

I would think most non-profit organizations like the EBT would have a list of potential projects. Before you spend time planning a specific project, I think it would be wise to contact the EBT and tell them you are interested in doing an Eagle project involving their railroad. They may have other tasks, projects, or suggestions in mind or provide resources and guidance that you need.

An admirable project, indeed! Us handicaps need all the help we can get! Although I'm not chair-bound, I do use the ramps when they are available. (It saves wear and tear on the hips, etc.)