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Big Boy No. 4014 hauls cars in Union Pacific's classic and distinctive "Armour Yellow" livery through Woodbine, Iowa on its 2024 "Heartland of America" tour.
Union Pacific
On Display Through June 30
Timed Entry Reservations Required Through Recreation.gov.
Steamtown National Historic Site is honored and thrilled to be hosting a visit from Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014, the largest operating steam locomotive in the country, as it makes its way from coast to coast to honor America's 250th birthday.
Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to see No. 4014 reunited with Steamtown's own Big Boy No. 4012 ! It'll be the only place to see two Big Boys lined up side by side and for two weeks in June Steamtown National Historic Site will be the center of the railfan universe!
We're pleased to partner with Union Pacific to offer two public display days on Monday, June 15 and Tuesday, June 16. Visitors can get up close and personal with both Big Boys, visit the Union Pacific Museum Experience car, and check out Union Pacific's special commemorative diesel engine No. 1776 on display in our core complex.
No. 4014 will remain at Steamtown from June 17 through June 30 while Union Pacific completes servicing on the locomotive. Both Big Boys will remain on view side-by-side and visitors will be able to get closeup views of both throughout that time. The exact route past No. 4014 may vary a little based on the crew's needs for the boiler wash or other servicing. In addition, the park will have the cab of Big Boy No. 4012 open for visiting from June 17-30 (No. 4012's cab will not be open on June 15 & 16). Union Pacific's commemorative diesel No. 1616, honoring President Lincoln, will also be joining No. 1776 on display towards the end of the visit.
Timed Reservations Required
We're expecting a huge crowd for this event every day, and an especially massive turnout on the public display days. To accommodate the number of visitors and to get as many people as possible the opportunity to visit, timed reservations will be required for entry to the park. Reservation times will range from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, and all ticket holders are welcome to visit until the park closes at 5 p.m.
Reservations are available through www.recreation.gov (though there is no entrance fee for the park, recreation.gov does charge a nonrefundable $1 service fee for each ticket).
Big Boy No. 4014's Coast-To-Coast Tour
Union Pacific’s legendary Big Boy No. 4014 launched its first-ever coast‑to‑coast tour at Milepost 0 in downtown Sacramento where construction of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad began in 1863—kicking off a nationwide celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
For weekdays through June 30, visitors on foot will enter and exit Steamtown National Historic Site via the Steamtown Mall at 300 Lackawanna Avenue. On weekend days, an additional pedestrian gate will be open along the state and county employee parking lot directly behind the Lackawanna Transit Center (30 Lackawanna Ave, Scranton, PA). Follow the signage and have either a printed copy of your reservation or a digital version on your cell phone ready prior to reaching the park's pedestrian gates.
Getting to Steamtown
Steamtown is located at 350 Cliff Street, Scranton, PA. (See parking info below)
Thousands of visitors are expected for this event, and there will be greatly increased traffic in and around Scranton throughout the duration of No. 4014's visit. Visitors should prepare for possible delays and plan ahead to park and arrive at the park at the reservation time.
Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of public transportation. Buses with the County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) and the Luzerne County Transportation Authority (LCTA) drop passengers off at the Lackawanna Transit Center, directly adjacent to the entrance gates.
Visitors are also encouraged to explore additional travel tips, lodging options, and things to do in the region through the Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau. For more information, visit VisitNEPA.
Parking & Shuttle Transportation
From June 17-30, a limited amount of parking will be available in the Steamtown National Historic Site parking lot on a first-come, first-served basis. Tiimed entry reservations will be checked atthe park entry gate at 350 Cliff Street. Please have printed copy of your reservation or a digital version or email confirmation on your phone ready at the entry gate.
Paid parking will be available through downtown Scranton via parking garages ($1.25 per hour, $15 daily maximum) and limited metered street parking ($2.25 per hour). See map and info below and please check Scranton Parking for the most up to date city parking information. If parking outside Steamtown, enter the site via Steamtown Mall (entrance at 300 Lackawanna Avenue).
Visitors to the Scranton area should allow extra travel time and expect increased traffic in the downtown area and along roadways leading in to the city.
PAID PARKING GARAGES AND LOTS
Marketplace at Steamtown- Enter on 100 block of south Washington Ave. Estimated available spots: 2,000.
Marketplace at Steamtown- Enter on 100 block of Lackawanna Ave.
Casey Garage- 101 Adams Ave. Estimated available spots: 360
Connell Garage- 117 N. Washington Ave. Estimated available spots: 110
Electric City Garage- 300 Biden St. Estimated available spots: 450
Medallion Garage- 140 Adams Ave. Estimated available spots: 350
Linden Street Garage- 417 Linden St. Estimated available spots: 550
Forum Garage- 230 Franklin Ave. Estimated available spots: 150
Jefferson Avenue Lot- 321 Jefferson Ave. Cash Only. Estimated available spots: 50
SHUTTLE SERVICE (June 15 & 16 Only)
Courtesy shuttles were provided by COLTS on June 15 & 16. Note that shuttle busses from the Scranton High Schools and PNC Field will not be running after June 16. Visitors may park at Steamtown National Historic Site untill that lot is full. Once the park's lot is full, visitors should check paid parking options at Steamtown Mall and other garages in the downtown area.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Public transportation will be available from COLTS and LCTA. Riders using buses that are not part of the courtesy shuttle loop must pay standard fares. COLTS buses are cash-only, with $1.75 fares for a one-way trip or day passes for $4. Buses are ADA accessible.
ACCESSIBLE PARKING
A limited number of handicap-accessible parking for placarded vehicles will be available in designated areas of the Steamtown NHS parking lot. Vehicles should enter via the 350 Cliff Street park entrance and have their placards clearly visible.
RIDESHARES
Rideshare services may drop off directly at the park, using the park's main entrance at 350 Cliff Street. Visitors riding will be required to present their reservation at the entrance.
FAQ for Parking, Site Entry, Visit Experience and Other Information
A limited number of Handicap-Accessible Parking for placarded vehicles will be available in designated areas of the Steamtown National Historic Site parking lot nearest the information booth and Big Boy display area. Vehicles should enter via the 350 Cliff Street park entrance and have their placards clearly visible. The route from the parking area to Big Boy No. 4014 and throughout the park's museum facilities are accessible for wheelchairs.
A bank of port-a-potties will be located at the edge of the parking lot near the queueing area. Full restroom facilities will also be available in the Visitor Center, History Museum, and Technology Museum.
There is no admission fee to see Big Boy, but due to high demand, timed reservations are required for entry (available via recreation.gov, which charges a nonrefundable $1 service fee per ticket). Reservations will be available starting on April 29, 2026 at 10 a.m. EDT.
On Public Display Days (June 15 & 16), Visitors will queue in a line to get up close to No. 4014 for viewing and photos. The line will walk past Steamtown's No 4012 Big Boy, past and around No. 4014, and over to the excursion platform to visit Union Pacific's Museum Experience car.
There may be a considerable wait in this line and the area is uncovered and exposed to the weather. There is no seating available in the queueing area and visitors should be prepared for long periods of standing. There will be a large shade and shelter tent adjacent to the queueing area in the parking lot. Union Pacific's and Norfolk Southern's commemorative locomotives Nos. 1776, will be on display on and around the turntable in the main roundhouse complex.
For June 17-30, both Big Boys will be on display side by side, though the Museum Experience Cars will not be on view and the commemorative diesel lcomotives may go on and off view and change locations. The closeness of access to Big Boy No. 4014 will vary throughout its stay due to servicing and other operational needs.
No. Cab and railcar access for Union Pacific rail equipment is not available. Union Pacific’s Experience Rail Car will also be available for viewing on the Public Display Days (June 15&16). For more information, you are invited to explore Union Pacific's online photo gallery and learn more about Union Pacific’s heritage.
Throughout the rest of the site, Steamtown National Historic Site offers a wide variety of museum exhibits and displays to visit and explore around the turntable and core complex. Rail equipment you can visit in the museum areas include the cab of the #790 Illinois Central locomotive, a Caboose and Boxcar in the Technology Museum, and the Rail Post Office car in the History Museum.
The America's National Parks Park Store will be open at the Oil House building right next to the information booth. The store will also have a satellite location tent near the main parking lot on the public display days (June 15 & 16) and other select days. The store offers a wide array of rail-themed merchandise and will have a special selection of apparel, stickers, signs, and other products featuring the Big Boy Reunion of Nos. 4014 and 4012.
Visitors are always advised to be observant of their surroundings and be especially aware of any tripping hazards. Steamtown is an active working railyard with many different types of walking surfaces, and many switches, rails and other potential tripping hazards. Locomotives and other rolling stock may have pieces that protrude that may be sharp or hot to the touch from sun exposure. Visitors are advised to use care (for themselves and any children in their charge) when around any railroad equipment.
A commercial freight railroad operates through the tracks in Steamtown National Historic Site and the park's rail equipment may be moving around on some days. Visitors should obey all signage and always be alert for the movement of any trains on any tracks. Trains can move in any direction at any time. Always look both ways before crossing tracks, and never stand on or within tracks to take photos.
Visitors should report any safety concerns to park rangers or other Steamtown National Historic Site staff.
No. 4014 will be displayed side-by-side with No. 4012 for its entire stay at Steamtown from June 15-30. Timed Reservations are required for all days and are available on Recreation.gov.
On the public display days on June 15 & 16, Visitors will be able to line up to view the two Big Boys side-by-side, with members of the Union Pacific steam team crew on hand to answer questions and talk about the experience of operating the engine. Visitors can also check out the Union Pacific Museum Experience Car and see the Union Pacific No. 1776 commemorative diesel engine on display on the turntable in the core complex. There will be no access to the cabs of either No. 4014 or No. 4012 during the public display days.
From June 17-30, visitors will line up to view the two Big Boys side-by-side. Members of the crew may be present from time to time to conduct a boiler wash and otherwise service the engine, and the exact route around No. 4014 may vary a little with servicing and crew needs. The Union Pacific Museum Experience Car will not be available. The Union Pacific 1776 commemorative will be on view, and will be joined by the Union Pacific No. 1616 honoring President Lincoln toward the end of the visit. Steamtown NHS will have the cab of No. 4012 open to visit (no access to the cab of Union Pacific No. 4014 at any time).
The America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass provides free access to federal sites that have an entrance fee.
Steamtown National Historic Site does not charge an entrance fee, so passes are not needed for free entry. For the Big Boy event from June 15-30, all visitors, including any passholders, are required to have a timed entry reservation, available on recreation.gov. There is a $1.00 non-refundable service fee for each reservation (regardless of any passes you may have).
