A business trip will drag me down out of the mountains in a week or so. Since my client in Scranton, PA insists on actually meeting me after paying me regularly for the past couple of years, I figured I’d make the trip as long as they paid for the trip & hotel and I’d have time to spend at Steamtown.
The question is how much time should I reasonably set aside for a visit? I know from their website that they close early during the winter months.
Wayne
Depends upon how much it catches your interest. It could be a couple of hours or a full day. There is also a trolley museum on the grounds.
Dale
If you’re interested at all in steam engines, plan a full day. And don’t skip the gift shop. Excellent selection of books.
Now as to hotels. If you’re not staying at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel … you’ve got the wrong client after all. And if you don’t stay there, at least have dinner. Absolutely fine restaurant in the old station waiting room. Magnificent room.
Definitely a full day thing. I’ve been there twice now. Last time, on the caboose ride, I got to ride in the cupola. That was a great time.
–Randy
Steamtown is a definately must see if you are into steam. Unfortunately, they do not have excursions this time of year, although I believe they did do one to Tobbyhanna for their Ice Harvest Festival in either January or February. The museums are a wealth of information on everything from how a steam locomotive works to how the tracks were laid to the jobs that were a part of the railroads. In addition there are displays on railroad history, uniforms, equipment, etc., etc., etc. I would plan at least half a day maybe more just to get through the museums. Don’t forget to go into the working Roundhouse and watch work being done on some locos that are being repaired or restored! On second thought spend a couple days there and enjoy!! [:D] The photo in my signature was a shot I took of the Canadian Pacific 4-6-2 sitting on the turntable before moving into the roundhouse on an excursion weekend last fall. Some of the photos I took are at: http://home.rochester.rr.com/howmus/WebPhotoRR/
Wayne,
I was there last Memorial Day. Steamtown is a must see! A half day minimum; a full day preferable. There’s a 4-8-8-4 Big Boy just to the left of the parking lot as you drive in.
It’s about $6 to get into Steamtown. The National Park Service has done a good job of trying to keep the place going. Unfortunately, there are several old steamers and rolling stock just rusting away out there in the yard. It’s a shame.
The museum is fascinating. Unfortunately, we had to breeze through there a lot faster than I really wanted to. Lots of good info and historical relics, footage, and data. I took the same ride as Randy. There must have been 20+ or so of us squeezed in that caboose. I really wanted to ride up in the cupola but the little tikes deserved to be there more.
Wayne, if you can arrange to be there in the late afternoon, you can watch them bring in the locomotives. (They were running the Canadian 4-6-2 when we were there.) They park them on the turntable, swing 'em around, then bring them into the roundhouse. It was A LOT of fun to watch. The engineer even came out and asked everyone hanging around if they had any questions they wanted to ask him. What a great time to pick his brain. My wife was actually asking better questions than I was.
Wayne, enjoy your trip to Scranton. Let us know if you are able to make it to Steamtown and how you liked it. Bring us back some pics, too. [:)]
Tom
Thanks all for the replies, advice & recommendations. Sounds like I’ll leave a full day for the visit & a good meal at the old station restaurant. Looking forward to the trip. Actually, I’m looking forward to just getting out of town for a few days. Maybe just to somewhere above freezing.
There was a Consolidation from one of our North Country shortlines that made it there in the mid-60’s. (The Lowville & Beaver RIver no. 1923.) A book I have from 1973 shows it at Steamtown, all painted up but not operable. (It’s not the one in Ray’s photo album.)
I’m planning to bring my camera and hope the Kodak gods smile on me that day. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a RR museum. Maybe 15 years ago I went to the B&O museum on a trip South.
Wayne