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Steamtown offers nine entrance fee-free days in 2015
I am going to wait to go until they get some steam locomotives running.
No steam no trip to Steamtown!!!
I truly understand the frustration of not having steam at Steamtown, but people need to take a step back and take a look at the business plan that was established for Steamtown. The plan states that the park is setup to be an educational facility to teach the general public about railroading in the early years and how it played an important part of the lives of people living in the Scranton area. It is a functioning railroad shop and operating railroad and the shop is close to turning out a totally rebuilt Baldwin locomotive # 26. There are a host of reasons why it has taken so long but two at the top of the list are money and the small staff that has the assignment of rebuilding her. I say these things because I was involved in the very beginning of establishing the volunteer association, setting up the bookstore,working in train operation and probably most of all learning the workings ( behind the scenes ) of the National Park Service. I ask that people give them a chance and they will turn out good operational equipment.
I am no longer involved (22years) as I have moved down south but I learned that working with management I got a totally different perspective of how the facility is run.
I apologize if I am rambling
@James Fransen - No, you are not rambling, thank you for the insightful information! Yes, steam is terrific - I live only a couple of miles from the Valley Railroad (a.k.a. Essex Steam Train) in Connecticut, but there are so many other facets of railroad heritage that enthusiasts need to consider. The impact that the DL&W had on the growth and economy of Scranton, the shop tours giving behind-the-scenes views of what it took/takes to keep a railroad running … such are very important educational experiences. Thank you for sharing!