News Release

Steamtown NHS Suspension of Remainder of Train Operations

Steamtown remains open to the public, and many pieces of rolling stock are displayed.

NPS Photo, Tim O'Malley

News Release Date: August 27, 2020

Contact: Bill Fischer, 570 340-5339

Scranton, Pa. – Steamtown National Historic Site (NHS) continues to follow guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.

In cooperation with our destination partners, Steamtown NHS has suspended the remainder of its scheduled 2020 railroad passenger operations. This includes the Scranton Limited short train rides, fall foliage excursions through the Poconos, and the popular Holiday Trains to Moscow PA over Thanksgiving weekend. Additionally, the Iron Horse Society, the park’s official Friends group, has cancelled its North Pole Limited runs planned for December.

Steamtown NHS welcomes visitors to enjoy the following areas from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm daily: 
 

• Park grounds
• Historic 1902/1937 Roundhouse  
• Steam locomotive cutaway exhibit 
• Outdoor locomotive/rolling stock static exhibits 
• America’s National Parks Store (Wednesday through Sunday) 

Park rangers will be on duty to provide informal interpretation services while roving the site. Formal interpretive ranger programs and shop tours will resume at a later time. Park restrooms are available, however drinking fountains are not, so visitors should plan accordingly.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. At Steamtown NHS, our operational approach continues to be centered on examining each facility function and service to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and are regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public areas and workspaces are safe and clean.

The NPS encourages visitors to plan their visit by checking the park’s website and social media for current conditions and travel tips, such as visiting during less popular times like early morning, mid-late afternoon, or on a weekday. The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We ask the public to be our partner in recreating responsibly by following public health guidance from the CDC and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, social distancing, and wearing a face covering when social distance cannot be maintained.

With public health in mind, the following park facilities remain closed: 
 

• History Museum 
• Technology Museum 
• Theater 
• Locomotive Shop 
• Oil House Exhibit 
• Boardwalk and Loading Platform 
• Mall Walkway 

Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website www.nps.gov/stea and social media channels. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.  

www.nps.gov


About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.