Event Details (U.S. National Park Service)

★

Special Event

Fee:

Free.

Dates & Times

Date:

Saturday, April 25, 2026

Time:

9:30 AM

Duration:

6 hours and 30 minutes

Type of Event

Children’s Program

Guided Tour

Ride

Description

Join us for SPRINGFEST, a special Spring Preview Weekend highlighting seasonal programming and hands on experiences for all visitors. Highlights include the first opening of the Big Boy cab in its new location since its move in September 2025, a guided ground floor walking tour of the roundhouse led by a park ranger with close access to our historic road engine locomotives, and a special new junior ranger program ! Visitors can also check out the newly painted Lehigh Valley 1776 caboose honoring America’s semiquincentennial (250th anniversary).

Enjoy free short train rides aboard the Scranton Limited, connecting Steamtown and the University of Scranton with a ranger guide onboard to interpret the experience. The train will be pulled by our 1958 Nickel Plate #514 Diesel engine and will make a short stop at the University to pick up attendees at the National History Day competition before returning to the park.

Plus lots of great exhibits, locomotives, and rolling stock to check out in the History Museum, the Technology museum, and around the Turntable.

All activities, programs, and train rides are free for this special preview weekend. No reservations required.

Scranton Limited Short Train Ride (about 35 minutes round trip from the park):

Departing Steamtown at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m., and 1:15 p.m. with one more trip back to the University at 4 p.m. for National History Day attendees.
Departing the Unversity of Scranton (near the pedestrian crossing opposite the Byron Center) at 10:50 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 2:50 p.m.

Ranger-Guided Tours of the Roundhouse Floor (approx. 30 minutes)

A rare opportunity to see, compare and photograph some of the park's big road engines up close.

Tours meet by the Track 12 Roundhouse entrance at 10 a.m., 12 noon and 3:00 p.m.

Ranger-Guided Locomotive Repair and Restoration Shop Tours (approx. 1 hour)

Meet at the Visitor Center entrance at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Visit the cab of Big Boy #4012, try out our newest junior ranger program, and become a Steamtown Junior Ranger ! 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.