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Steamtown National Historic SiteThe air pump, which supplies compressed air for the brakes, sits above the main drive rods. NPS Photo, Ken Ganz
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Steam engines excite the senses, Steamtown keeps their stories alive!

Feel the heat from the firebox. Hear the bell and whistle. Smell the hot steam and oil. Feel the ground vibrate under your feet. See the one ton drive rods turn the wheels. Hear the chuff-chuff-chuff of the smokestack. Today, you can relive the era of steam as the engines come back to life. The cinders, grease, oil, steam, people and stories of railroading have returned.
 
A steam locomotive roars past a grove of trees, white steam against the blue sky.

Ride a Train

The 2009 Excursion Schedule is now available with a printer-friendly option!

Our "Scranton Limited" short excursion rides (within the Steamtown NHS Yards) are scheduled to begin again on April 19, 2009, and operate through December 5, 2009, on selected days. Click the "Scranton Limited" link for more info.

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flames envelope a spoked locomotive wheel as a tire is heated, expanded, and placed on the wheel.

Visit the Locomotive Shop

Steamtown offers walking tours of the Locomotive Repair Shop almost every day of the year. This building (parts of which date from the 1860s) houses the machinery used to make parts for steam locomotives, and provides space for repairs and restoration projects. (All ages are welcome on this tour, but we recommend ages 12 and above).
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A young visitor and her mother  are 'Exploring Steamtown'.

For Kids

Steamtown NHS has Junior Ranger programs for children ages 6-8 or 9-12. We also have an "Exploring Steamtown" activity sheet available for children 5 and under - while not a Junior Ranger program, you and your child can enjoy some time "exploring" onsite, and prepare to become a Junior Ranger on your next visit!

The National Park Service also offers a WebRanger program online, with a new, special "Railroad Connections" module!  Check it out!
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Visitors discover the History and Technology of railroad in Steamtown's museums.  Families view exhbits in an indoor dislplay area.

Explore our Museums

Steamtown offers a Technology Museum and History Museum. These modern buildings explore the people, history, technology and lore of steam railroading. The museums include images, artifacts, films, restored freight and passenger cars and a sectioned steam locomotive.
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Write to

Superintendent
150 South Washington Avenue
Scranton, PA 18503-2018

E-mail Us

Phone

Visitor Information
(570) 340-5200

Train Ride Info & Reservations
(570) 340-5204

Climate

Warm and sometimes humid summers; cold and rainy or snowy winters. Wear seasonable clothing and good walking shoes. For travel aboard our seasonal excursion trains, please note that the commuter-type coaches are not air-conditioned in summer, and may not be heated during the fall. Therefore, we recommend that you dress appropriately for the weather.
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Drawing of mechanical engineer Elijay McCoy, creator of the 'real McCoy' automatic lubricator.  

Did You Know?
Elijah J. McCoy, a brilliant African-American mechanical engineer, invented an automatic lubricator cup (or drip cup) for steam locomotives and other machines. It worked so well that inspectors, when checking in a new piece of machinery, would ask, "Is it the real McCoy?"
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Last Updated: April 20, 2009 at 15:28 EST