Steamtown National Historic Site
Explore a working rail yard, locomotive roundhouse, and museums of steam-era engineering in Scranton.
Artwork inspired by George Inness
Steamtown is more than polished engines. Its turntable, roundhouse, workshops, rail yard, and museums explain how crews maintained and operated steam locomotives. The locomotive cutaway is especially useful for understanding how fire, water, pressure, and moving rods work together. Scranton's railroad history is part of the setting, not a detachable theme.
Start in the visitor center, then circle the turntable and compare engines by job, size, and condition. A short yard ride adds sound and motion; longer excursions travel beyond the park. Neither runs every day. Historic cars and platforms create access limits, so visitors needing step-free boarding should call before buying tickets. The free museums alone still make a substantial visit.
- Core
- Roundhouse and turntable
- Admission
- Free; rides ticketed
- Ride availability
- Seasonal and changeable
Quick guide
- Start with the cutaway
- Follow the path from firebox to steam pressure and wheel motion.
- Circle the turntable
- Compare how the roundhouse stores and services different locomotives.
Know before you go
- Orient in the yard
- Locate the turntable, roundhouse, and active track areas before walking.
- Look inside an engine
- Use the cutaway to understand the boiler, rods, and driving wheels.
- Ask what runs
- A displayed locomotive may not be the one operating today.
- Choose a ride deliberately
- Check duration, destination, accessibility, and ticket policy first.
Good to know
The park is free but train rides require tickets; short and long excursions have different schedules. Some historic cars cannot accommodate wheelchairs, so confirm the exact train before purchase.
Notice these
- Working turntable
- Steam-locomotive roundhouse
- Historic railroad museums