THE GOVERNMENT NEWS DESKPERMANENT NPS STORY ARCHIVE
Organized by publication date and destination. Each story retains its permanent State & Nation address and official NPS source.
Steamtown National Historic Site will celebrate the past, present and future of American railroading during Railfest 2026, taking place Sept. 4 to 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service (NPS) has approved the transfer of historic Norwood & St. Lawrence Railroad Locomotive No. 210 from Steamtown National Historic Site to the St. Lawrence Power & Equipment Museum in New York, marking the successful completion of a complex, multi-year effort to ensure the locomotive's long-term preservation and interpretation in the region where it spent nearly its entire operating career.
Official NPS source
Celebrate the 2025 holiday season at Steamtown National Historic Site with festive train rides, family activities, and community events. Winter hours are Wednesday–Sunday, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m. All holiday trains will run behind a historic diesel while No. 26 is offline for repairs.
Official NPS source
Steamtown National Historic Site hosts “Arts in the Park Weekend” on August 23–24, 2025, featuring presentations on art, railroad, and preservation history. Programs begin in the newly reopened Visitor Center, with Q&A sessions following each talk. The weekend leads into the National Park Service’s 109th birthday.
Official NPS source
Steamtown National Historic Site’s Visitor Center is now open for the season, offering a climate-controlled space, restrooms, park information, and staffed services. The outdoor Tickets & Information kiosk operates only on train ride days.
Official NPS source
Railfest 2025 celebrates the 100th anniversary of steam locomotive Grand Trunk Western No. 6039 and the 30th anniversary of Steamtown’s public opening. Highlights include train rides, exhibits, activities, and family-friendly programming.
Official NPS source
On Saturday, July 5, at 12:30 p.m., Steamtown National Historic Site will host an official unveiling of the cosmetically restored Bullard No. 2 locomotive.
Official NPS source
Steamtown National Historic Site will transition to its summer schedule and increase in-park operations and experiences starting on Saturday, May 3. The park and its buildings will remain free to enter, daily summer hours will expand to 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Technology Museum will reopen, and the park will fire up its popular “Scranton Limited” yard shuttles—short train rides that offer visitors a front-row seat to the sights, sounds and motion of a working rail yard, all set within the park’s historic landscape.
Official NPS source
Steamtown NHS invites the public, including families, park enthusiasts, and future Junior Rangers to celebrate Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April 19, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Official NPS source
Jeremy M. Komasz has been selected as the new superintendent of Steamtown National Historic Site. Komasz will begin his role on January 19, 2025.
Official NPS source
Winter is knocking on our door! While we are headed into the "off season" there are still plenty of opportunities to get into the spirit of the season at Steamtown National Historic Site (NHS)!
Official NPS source
For the first time since 2019, Steamtown National Historic Site’s Railfest returns to Labor Day Weekend: Saturday, 8/31, and Sunday, 9/1. The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. General admission to the park and event is free. Train rides are $6 for ages 6 and up, $1 for ages 0-5, payment by credit card only. Railfest celebrates railroading’s past, present, and future with train rides, special demonstrations, exhibits, visiting rail equipment, musical entertainment, ranger programs, and a host of activities and displays offered by community partners.
Official NPS source
Mark your calendars! Railfest returns to Steamtown National Historic Site (NHS) Labor Day weekend: Saturday, August 31, and Sunday, September 1, 2024. This year’s celebration will be offered in partnership with the Iron Horse Society, Steamtown’s official philanthropic partner.
Official NPS source
Steamtown National Historic Site (NHS) train rides resume for the 2024 season on Saturday, May 4. The Steamtown rail experience varies from short 30-minute trips exploring the park’s historic railroad yard to full-day trips along the Pocono or Carbondale lines. Our short train rides will begin on Saturday, May 4 and the first excursion trip of the season will head to Gouldsboro, PA on Saturday, May 25. Tickets will be available online through recreation.gov
Official NPS source