Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton will celebrate the past, present and future of American railroading during Railfest 2026, which takes place Sept. 4 to 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.<\/p>\n
The park\u2019s premier annual celebration features three days of historic train rides, visiting railroad equipment, locomotive shop demonstrations, exhibits, music, ranger programs, hands-on activities and displays from community and railroad partners. General admission to the park and Railfest is free.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s Railfest marks a convergence of national and local milestones: the 200th anniversary of railroading in the United States, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service and the 40th anniversary of Steamtown\u2019s enabling legislation. The celebration officially kicks off with an opening ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 4.<\/p>\n
Steamtown\u2019s\u00a01929 Baldwin Locomotive Works No. 26 will take center stage with \u201cNo. 26 in \u201926,\u201d providing steam-powered Scranton Limited rides throughout the weekend. Visitors can also experience caboose hops, photo run-bys, maintenance-of-way equipment rides, Big Boy No. 4012 cab tours, model railroad\u00a0layouts\u00a0and demonstrations inside the park\u2019s historic Locomotive Shop.<\/p>\n
Railfest will bring a collection of visiting railroad equipment to Scranton, including the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad\u2019s famed Nickel Plate Road PA No. 190 and a special commemorative locomotive from Norfolk Southern. Visitors can also see the public debut of a half-scale replica of Union Pacific No. 119, representing one of the locomotives present at the 1869 Golden Spike ceremony. The Union Pacific Railroad Museum\u2019s traveling exhibit, All Set for the West, will also explore the historic relationship between America\u2019s railroads and national parks.<\/p>\n
Throughout the weekend, dozens of\u00a0railroad, cultural, historical, recreational, educational, civic, tourism and preservation organizations will\u00a0participate\u00a0in Railfest\u2019s Community Partner Expo.\u00a0Additional\u00a0activities include railroad-themed musical performances, special walking tours, hands-on\u00a0demonstrations\u00a0and\u00a0World War II-era military vehicle rides supporting restoration of\u00a0Steamtown\u2019s\u00a0historic Troop Sleeper.<\/p>\n
Visitors can also\u00a0participate\u00a0in\u00a0evening railroad photography opportunities in partnership with the Iron Horse Society and the park\u2019s first \u201cLife on the Railroad\u201d Costume Contest on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Railfest\u00a0once again coincides with La Festa\u00a0Italiana\u00a0in downtown Scranton and special programming at the neighboring Electric City Trolley Museum, creating a full Labor Day weekend of activities throughout downtown Scranton. A free COLTS shuttle will connect\u00a0Steamtown\u00a0and La Festa\u00a0Italiana\u00a0approximately every\u00a030 minutes from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.\u00a0Saturday\u00a0and Sunday.<\/p>\n
General admission and parking at Steamtown National Historic Site are free. Fees apply for train rides and some special activities. Some advance train tickets will be available through Recreation.gov beginning Wednesday, Aug. 26, with a limited number available for walk-up purchase during Railfest.<\/p>\n