National Historic Site · PA

Steamtown National Historic Site

Feel the heat from the firebox, smell hot steam and oil; hear the whistle and the "chuff-chuff" from the smokestack, feel the ground vibrate, and watch as one-ton drive rods turn steel wheels. Discover how steam railroading helped shaped our nation's history and culture. Learn about the stories of the people who built, repaired and rode, and about the ongoing work to preserve railroading history.

nps.gov ↗

Photos

large black train with number 6039 painted in white lettering, sitting on turntable track
No. 6039 sits on the turntable within Steamtown's Roundhouse complex
Black and yellow diesel engine 514 pulling a faded red box car and a dark red caboose
Nickel Plate Road No. 514 can often be seen moving cars around in the rail yard at Steamtown National Historic Site. Here, it can be seen pulling a Box Car and Caboose.
Historic Baldwin Locomotive Works engine number 26 out for a test run on the tracks.
Did you know that Steamtown's locomotives are operated by volunteers? Every year, volunteers must complete hands-on training required by the Federal Rail Authority (FRA), Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee (NORAC), & National Park Service (NPS)
large black train stationed on a track to the left of a paved road
Union Pacific "Big Boy" No. 4012 has returned to permanent exhibition
A mechanic grinds metal in the Locomotive Shop causing sparks to fly towards ground.
Locomotive maintenance and repairs never end. Many employees and volunteers work year-round in the Locomotive Shop to repair the engines within Steamtown's collection.
An aerial view of Steamtown which falls within the boundaries of a mid-size city.
This aerial overview of Steamtown NHS, which was created within the former railyards of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western "Scranton Yards"
black train with yellow horizontal stripes and the number 514 pulling a larger black train on tracks
"Big Boy" No. 4012 is pulled along the tracks

Activities

  • Food
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Hands-On
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store
  • Gift Shop and Souvenirs