Date: April 6, 2009
Scranton, PA – Armed Forces Day, a day set aside to celebrate and thank all branches of the U.S. military, will be honored locally with a special passenger excursion provided by Steamtown National Historic Site in downtown Scranton, PA. The destination is the borough of East Stroudsburg, nestled in the valley of the Brodhead Creek in the Pocono Mountains. The excursion is scheduled to depart the Steamtown boarding platform at 9:00 a.m., for a planned arrival in East Stroudsburg at approximately 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
Its arrival will be the keynote attraction of the 2009 Armed Forces Day Railroad Spectacular, produced by the East Stroudsburg Railroad Tower Society. The event takes place near the Dansbury Depot, a former passenger station of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad built in the 1850’s. The excursion will be pulled by historic diesel locomotives and along with the train, a day-long festival will take place near the station that is scheduled to include performers and musicians, an antique auto display, model train layouts, preserved military vehicles, railroad memorabilia and numerous other activities. The East Stroudsburg Community Alliance will also sponsor a festival titled, “Books, Brushes & Blooms,” featuring local writers, visual artists, florists and gardeners, at Miller Park. More information about the event is available at http://www.eastburgalliance.com/coe.html. Members of the tower society will offer tours of the building and discuss its preservation work completed so far. After a three-hour layover in town, the train departs for Scranton, with an expected arrival at 4:30 p.m.
Ticket prices are $51.00 for adults 17 to 61 years old, $46.00 for ages 62 and older and $30.00 for children 6 to 16. Children up to the age of 5 are free with a paying adult, but a ticket is required. Additionally, the excursion will stop to pick up passengers at the restored Cresco station at approximately 10:45 a.m. Roundtrip fares for the Cresco to East Stroudsburg trip are $21.00 for adults 17 to 61 years old, $19.00 for ages 62 and older and $15.00 for children 6 to 16. Children up to the age of 5 are free with a paying adult, but a ticket is required. Excursion fares include the Park Entrance Fee and ticket sales open on Monday, April 6. Reservations must be pre-paid, and tickets are non-refundable unless an excursion is cancelled by Park Management. We accept all major credit and debit cards. Phone (570) 340-5204 to purchase tickets.
Located in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, Steamtown National Historic Site is open 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. from January 2 – April 11, 2009; regular Park hours, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., resume on April 12. From I-81, follow exit 185 (Central Scranton Expressway); then follow the signs to the Park entrance at Lackawanna and Cliff Avenues. Additional details regarding interpretive and educational programs and activities may be obtained by calling (570) 340-5200 or toll free (888) 693-9391, or by visiting the Steamtown NHS web site at www.nps.gov/stea.
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