• An engineer inspects the running gear of a steam locomotive at Steamtown NHS

    Steamtown

    National Historic Site Pennsylvania

News

A yellow handcar in operation with 3 visitors aboard.

Handcars were also known as "pump" cars for the physical action needed to operate this equipment. The handcar was primarily used by railroad Maintenance of Way personnel to transport men or equipment to a work site.

Newspaper and News Releases

Steamtown produces a semi-annual newsletter that highlights events at the Park. Click on Park Newspaper to see the most current issue, as well as archived back issues. Sorry, to conserve resources, print copies are not available - but you may download a printer friendly copy!

News releases, including upcoming scheduled and special events, as well as, when necessary, cancellation notices, are available here. Click on News Releases for these documents.

Did You Know?

The Wright Flyer flew 120 feet on its first flight.  The largest steam engine at Steamtown is 12 feet longer!

The first flight of the Wright Flyer was 120 feet.  That is 12 feet less than the length of one of the steam locomotives at Steamtown National Historic Site.  The Union Pacific 'Big Boy', built in 1941, is 132 feet, 9 3/4 inches long! More...