Looking for an adventure that blends exploration, history, and nostalgia? A visit to Steamtown National Historic Site is just the ticket. It's located on nearly 63 acres in downtown Scranton, where the old Scranton yards of the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad used to be.
A Journey Through History
This working museum is made up of multiple buildings built between 1899 and 1932. Inside, you’ll find over 20 locomotives and other vintage artifacts, including diesel engines, passenger cars, and cabooses. It’s a fantastic way to learn about the golden era of rail travel and the role it played in the nation’s history. Best of all? You can even enjoy a train ride.
The Locomotive Legacy
As a railroad museum and functioning railyard, the Steamtown National Historic Site showcases an amazing array of steam engine locomotives that fueled America’s Industrial Revolution. It also includes a few diesel engines, which are the models that made the steam locomotives obsolete.
Explore the Roundhouse
One of the site’s perennial favorites is the restored 1902 roundhouse. Largely extinct today, these turn-of-the-century buildings featured a circular or semicircular shape so that steam locomotives (which were designed to run in one direction) could be brought in for repairs and storage. Inside, it houses an impressive collection of steam engines and exhibits.
Turntable Tales
In the center of the roundhouse is another historic artifact: the turntable. A rotating device that provides access to the roundhouse so that locomotive repairs can be made, the turntable also functions as a way for steam locomotives to turn around, because they can not run in reverse,
Big Boy No. 4012
Another thrilling experience? Climbing aboard one of the biggest steam trains ever built: the restored Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4012. Weighing in at 1.2 million pounds and boasting 6,200 horsepower, these gigantic locomotives did the work of three smaller engines and pulled trains over and around mountains.
Notably, Big Boy No. 4012 is one of only 25 articulated steam locomotives built solely for the Union Pacific Railroad by the American Locomotive Works in the early 1940s. Even more impressive, it’s one of only seven remaining Big Boys on public display around the country.
Interactive Exhibits
There are interactive exhibits as well. You can climb aboard some of the trains and see the controls, ring the bell, and meander through an old business class car, a caboose, and a box car. Interestingly, you can also climb aboard a mail car, which postal workers used to carry mail throughout the country in the early 20th century.
Behind the Scenes
If you’ve ever wondered how a steam engine works, you can see it up close and personal, thanks to a cutaway locomotive on display. The only exhibit of its kind in the country, it features the body of a 74-year-old steam locomotive with windows cut into its body, which allows guests to see its major components, including valves, the boiler, and the smokestack.
Take a Train Ride
You can ride the trains! Short rides are available on weekends starting May 4, 2024, with Fridays added from June 1. For longer excursions, Summer 2024 rides start running on May 25, Fall Foliage rides begin on October 5, and the 2024 Holiday Express rides will be held on 11/29, 11/30, and 12/01.
Please note that rides are subject to cancellation due to various factors, so it's wise to check ahead. While entrance to the park is free, fees apply for train rides. Tickets for short rides must be purchased on-site at the Information Kiosk. Tickets for all other rides can be purchased here.
Extend Your Adventure
After you’ve explored the Steamtown National Historic Site, be sure to stop by the Electric City Trolley Museum. Located next door, it features old trolley cars and memorabilia, a children's play area, and the opportunity for a leisurely trolley ride. Most notably, it also includes the model railroad of Scranton gifted to the city by John Oliver of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver."
