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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
Public Display Days - June 15 & 16
On View June 17 - June 30
Timed Entry Reservations Required. Reservations available on Recreation.gov starting at 10 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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 two Union Pacific special commemorative diesel engines (No. 1616 and 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 during that time, though viewing of No. 4014 may be more distant than the up close opportunity on the public display days.
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 will be available starting on Wednesday, April 29, at 10 a.m. EDT 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).
As additional site logistics are confirmed, there may be additional releases of tickets for some entry days and times. Check back here or watch the park's social media channels for updates.
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 the Public Display Days on June 15 & 16, visitors will enter and exit Steamtown National Historic Site via pedestrian gates 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 gate.
Tens of thousands of visitors are expected for this event and visitors should be prepared to wait for entry and should be equipped for the weather as there may be significant waiting outside exposed to the elements. The entrance route will be via a gravel path railroad crossing that requires crossing several sets of railroad tracks (see FAQ below for Handicap Accessible parking).
Getting to Steamtown and Parking
Tens of 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.
There will be no visitor parking (other than a limited quantity of Handicap-Accessible Parking - see FAQ below) within Steamtown National Historic Site on the Public Display Days (June 15 & 16). All entries to the site will be via pedestrian entrances near the Lackawanna Transit Center. 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.
On the viewing days 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.
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.
Rideshares
Rideshares may stop at designated drop-off points along Lackawanna Avenue in front of the Steamtown Mall, a short walk to the Steamtown pedestrian entry gates.Paid parking will be available through downtown Scranton parking garages, including the parking facility at the Steamtown Mall right next to the park. Scranton also has limited metered street parking (though maximum parking stays may not be enough to experience the event fully). Shuttle buses for other satellite parking areas may be available. Please check Scranton Parking for more city parking information.
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. Vehicles should enter via the 350 Cliff Street park entrance and have their placards clearly visible. Follow signage to the Handicap-Accessible parking area in the main parking lot directly adjacent to the Electric City Trolley Museum. No other vehicles will be allowed past park entrance gate on Cliff Street. Once that parking area is full, all vehicles will be re-directed back up Cliff Street. 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. Additional reservation timeslots may be released in the future.
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 commemorative locomotives, No. 1616 and No. 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, though the Museum Experience Cars and commemorative locomotives will not be on view. 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.
Last updated: April 28, 2026
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Contact Info
Mailing Address:
150 South Washington Avenue
Scranton,
PA
18503-2018
Phone:
(570) 445-1898
General park information. Phone monitored 9:30am-4pm, daily
