SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — “For railroad enthusiasts, historians, and visitors alike, this is far more than just a locomotive visit,” said Steamtown Superintendent Jeremy Komasz. “It’s a truly historic moment.”
As Big Boy hype hits a fever pitch, Scranton and Lackawanna officials are laying down the law.
“We expect heavy congestion downtown,” said Scranton Police Chief Thomas Carroll. “There’s a lot of people coming, it’s very exciting. Tens of thousands coming to Scranton. It’s going to challenge our infrastructure. It’s going to challenge our traffic patterns. I ask that you have patience.”
With nearly 25,000 people expected to come on Monday alone, the city knows the crowd can quickly get messy.
They held a press conference outlining the city and county wide efforts to help ease traffic congestion and worries ahead of the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014’s stay.
The Scranton PD is dispatching extra officers to help coordinate the cars entering the city and drones will be used to analyze traffic patterns and see any stress points. They also emphasized being prepared for the heat, the crowds, and to go in with a plan.
But with great crowds, come great economic opportunity.
“We made sure to let the businesses downtown know that they aren’t usually open on Mondays or Tuesdays, they should plan ahead and might want to be open,” explained Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti. “There’s going to be this big influx of people. The hotels are filled for miles and miles and miles, which is really exciting.”
City officials emphasized that Scranton has much to offer in the city and hopes that after leaving, train enthusiasts, historians, and onlookers will already be planning their next trip back.
The whole city seems excited for the automotive engineering juggernaut and to see more, stick with Fox56 News for all your Big Boy train coverage as it rolls into town tomorrow.