Planning a visit to a National Park can generate many questions. Below are some of the more frequently asked questions, some with links to help you find the information within this website.

How and why was Steamtown National Historic Site created?

Steamtown National Historic Site was created by Public Law #99-591 in 1986 to preserve the history of steam railroading in America. The new entity was placed under the administration of the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, as authorized by law.

Where is Steamtown NHS?

Steamtown NHS is located in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania. Click for directions.

Why is Steamtown NHS located in Scranton, Pennsylvania?

When Steamtown National Historic Site was created in 1986, the collection, belonging to a non-profit organization called Steamtown USA (The Steamtown Foundation for the Preservation of Steam), occupied the former railroad yards of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. Rather than move the collection to a different locale, the yard was acquired through donation via Lackawanna County and the city of Scranton. The yard itself has been in continuous commercial use since 1851 and includes a selection of steam-era buildings including part of the original Locomotive Shop (1865), a portion of the second Roundhouse (1902/1917/1937), the Sand Tower (1912), as well as other buildings. The combination of the large collection of locomotives and rolling stock from the heyday of steam railroading, and a reasonably complete railroad yard, made Scranton a good location for a National Park telling the story of steam railroading in America.

When is Steamtown NHS open?

The Park is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (Winter Hours vary). Click for more information.

Is food available at the park?

There are no restaurants, snack bars, or food vending machines at Steamtown. However, restaurants and grocery stores are available throughout downtown Scranton. Click for more information.  Picnic tables, located outside of the Complex, are available seasonally, but remember that food and beverages are not allowed inside the Complex, including the Visitor Center, Theater, and Museums.

When do the trains run?

Steamtown's short train rides run seasonally; for 2008, they will operate on Wednesdays - Sundays, April 19 through December 6. Also, there are no train rides offered on Mondays or Tuesdays - except during July and August. Longer excursions to destinations such as Moscow and Tobyhanna, PA operate seasonally (approximately July, August and October) on selected weekends. Click for more information. Reservations are strongly recommended for all excursions.

I did not find any reference to the former STEAMTOWN in New England.

Steamtown National Historic Site was created in 1986 to preserve the history of steam railroading in America, concentrating on the era 1850 through 1950. This is the mission of the park. The park was not created to preserve the history of Steamtown USA.

Our site does touch on the history of railroad preservation, specifically in our HistoryMuseum. The work of F. Nelson Blount, creator of the former Steamtown USA, and other pioneers of the steam preservation movement, is a part (albeit a small part) of the story Steamtown NHS has been charged with preserving.

What is happening with the Pennsylvania Railroad K4s 1361?

This locomotive is owned by the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum, and is awaiting return to Altoona, PA. Information about this locomotive may be found at their website, or by writing directly to their organization:

Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum
1300 9th Ave
Altoona PA 16602-2413

When will the Reading 2124 (or other locomotive) be restored to operation?

For Steamtown's response to this "Frequently Asked Question", please click here (PDF, 267k) or here (Word, 167k).