Celebrate 200 years of American railroading at Railfest 2026

Steamtown National Historic Site will celebrate the past, present and future of American railroading during Railfest 2026, taking place Sept. 4 to 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The park’s premier annual celebration features three days of historic train rides, visiting railroad equipment, locomotive shop demonstrations, exhibits, music, ranger programs, hands-on activities and displays from community and railroad partners. General admission to the park and Railfest is free.

This year’s Railfest marks an extraordinary convergence of national and local milestones: the 200th anniversary of railroading in the United States, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service and the 40th anniversary of Steamtown’s enabling legislation. The celebration officially kicks off with an opening ceremony on Sept. 4, at 10:30 a.m.

“Railfest celebrates not only America’s railroad heritage but also the people, partnerships and communities that keep that history alive,” said Jeremy Komasz, superintendent of Steamtown National Historic Site. “Following an incredible summer that brought more than 111,000 visitors to Northeastern Pennsylvania for the Big Boy Reunion, we’re excited to build on that momentum and welcome visitors back to Scranton for another celebration of our shared history.”

Steamtown’s 1929 Baldwin Locomotive Works No. 26 will take center stage with “No. 26 in ’26,” providing steam-powered Scranton Limited rides throughout the weekend. Visitors can also experience caboose hops, photo run-bys, maintenance-of-way equipment rides, Big Boy No. 4012 cab tours, model railroad layouts and demonstrations inside the park’s historic Locomotive Shop.

Railfest will bring an impressive collection of visiting railroad equipment to Scranton, including the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad’s famed Nickel Plate Road PA No. 190 and a special commemorative locomotive from Norfolk Southern. Visitors can also see the public debut of a half-scale replica of Union Pacific No. 119, representing one of the locomotives present at the 1869 Golden Spike ceremony. The Union Pacific Railroad Museum’s traveling exhibit, All Set for the West, will also explore the historic relationship between America’s railroads and national parks.

Throughout the weekend, dozens of railroad, cultural, historical, recreational, educational, civic, tourism and preservation organizations will participate in Railfest’s Community Partner Expo. Additional activities include railroad-themed musical performances, special walking tours, hands-on demonstrations and World War II-era military vehicle rides supporting restoration of Steamtown’s historic Troop Sleeper. Visitors can also participate in evening railroad photography opportunities in partnership with the Iron Horse Society and the park’s first “Life on the Railroad” Costume Contest on Sunday.

General admission and parking at Steamtown National Historic Site are free. Fees apply for train rides and some special activities. Some advance train tickets will be available through Recreation.gov beginning Wednesday, August 26, with a limited number available for walk-up purchase during Railfest.

For the complete Railfest schedule, ticket information, parking details, participating organizations and the latest event updates, click here. Programs, equipment, train rides and activities are subject to change.