Scranton, PA – Steamtown National Historic Site, downtown Scranton, is the place to be this Labor Day weekend, especially on Saturday, September 4th, as the National Park Service offers a “Whistle Stop” special excursion in conjunction with “Railfest 2010”!

Historic diesel locomotives, Reading Railroad FP-7s 902 and 903, which pulled the Reading Railroads fastest passenger train the “Crusader” between Philadelphia and Jersey City, will power the special “Whistle Stop” excursion from East Stroudsburg to Steamtown NHS. The “special” will board passengers at two stations, East Stroudsburg and Cresco, along the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad’s historic Pocono Mainline. While at the Park, guests make board free trolley bus shuttles to Scranton’s Courthouse Square area for food, fun and music at La Festa Italiana before returning to visit Railfest activities at the Park. The return-trip “Whistle Stop” excursion will depart from Steamtown at 4:00 p.m. Ticket sales for this special excursion started today, June 14th, at 9:30 a.m. Excursion reservations may be made by calling (570) 340-5204 or toll free at 1-888-693-9391 between 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

“Whistle Stop” Excursion Schedule September 4, 2010

• Departs East Stroudsburg at 9:45 a.m. and arrives at 6:10 p.m.
• Departs Cresco at 10:15 a.m. and arrives at 5:30 p.m.

Roundtrip fares are as follows:

• From East Stroudsburg, $51 for adults 17 to 61, $46 for seniors 62 and older and $30 for children ages 6-16. Children 5 and younger require a “no-charge” ticket. * Limited ”First Class” seating aboard Lehigh Valley #353 is $100 for all ages.
• From Cresco, $46 for adults 17 to 61, $40 for seniors 62 and older and $25 for children ages 6-16. Children 5 and younger require a “no-charge” ticket. * Limited “First Class” seating aboard Lehigh Valley #353 is $100 for all ages.

In addition to the excursions on Railfest weekend, the Park will have numerous activities occurring on Saturday and Sunday, including the steam-powered 'Scranton Limited' short train rides, caboose rides, live music and dancing, special interpretive programs, tours of Amtrak equipment and a close up look at a variety of vintage and modern rail equipment. Additionally, the Union Pacific #4012 'Big Boy' locomotive cab will be open to the public and the Locomotive Shops will be open for self-guided tours. Special guest speakers have also been invited to join in the festivities with theater presentations on each of the Railfest days. Steamtown National Historic Site is the only place in the National Park System where the story of steam railroading and the people who made it possible is told. Additional Railfest details and the full 2010 Excursion Schedule is available online at www.nps.gov/stea.