Rover Winning Name for Steamtown Locomotive

The winner of a locomotive naming contest conducted by Steamtown National Historic Site is Rover.

That name will be applied to a Baldwin Locomotive Works 0-6-0 switcher that the museum uses to pull its Scranton Limited excursion train on short trips on select days.

The winning entry was submitted by 3-year-old Gracee Straut, of Old Forge, Pennsylvania.

The contest was limited to contestant age 6 and younger.

The Rover name will be used through the 2020 railroad operating season.

In a news release, Steamtown said several dozen youngsters offered names during Railfest 2019, the park’s annual celebration of railroads.

This year’s themes commemorated the 150th anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad  and the 60th anniversary of the first Reading Company’s Iron Horse Rambles that operated in eastern and central Pennsylvania.

The winner was chosen by a panel of three Steamtown employees with the longest park tenure: Preservation Specialist John Melliand, Supervisory Park Ranger John Mucha, and Trainmaster Willard Sturdevant.

Steamtown said the judges thought Rover best fit the personality of BLW No. 26.

Gracee received a certificate, tickets for her family to ride behind Rover on the Scranton Limited, and several of the site’s collectable trading cards showcasing some of the park’s locomotives and rolling stock.

No. 26 was built in 1929 at Baldwin’s assembly plant south of Philadelphia and was used by the builder in its own railroad yard.

It can carry nearly seven tons of coal and 1,750 gallons of water. It is capable of producing 29,375 pounds of tractive effort.

Free Steamtown Admission on April 22-23

The National Park Service is offering free admission to Steamtown National Historic Site on April 22 and 23 to celebrate the 101^st anniversary of the national park system.

The Park Service said free admission also will be offered on Sept. 30 for National Public Lands Day and Nov. 11-12 for the Veteran’s Day weekend.

Steamtown plans to have Baldwin Locomotive Works 0-6-0 No. 26 fired up for the April event and offer short train rides around the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western rail yard for $5. Locomotive No. 26 returned to regular service in 2016.

Steamtown Drew 99,000 Plus in 2016

Steamtown National Historical Site reported this week that it drew more than 99,000 visitors in 2016.

That was a 10 percent increase over the 89,500 who came in 2015. The park drew 84,200 in 2014.

Steamtown Superintendent Deborah Conway said visitation last year might have topped 100,000 but for poor weather in December. Steamtown last drew more than 100,000 visitors in 2012.

Park officials attributed the uptick in visitors in 2016 to the return of steam locomotive powered excursions and the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.

Through 2000, Steamtown regularly attracted more than 150,000 visitors, hosting 211,000 in 1995. The low point was 2006 when visitation bottomed out at 61,000.

By comparison, the California State Railroad museum draws nearly 500,000 a year and the B&O Railroad Museum has annual attendance around 200,000.

Steamtown’s Baldwin Locomotive Works 0-6-0 No. 26 pulled short trips around Scranton, Pennsylvania, during 2016.

Steamtown Attendance Up in 2016 by 35%

Steamtown National Historic Site is crediting the return of a working steam locomotive for an uptick in attendance during the first three months of this year.

Last December the park completed restoration of Baldwin 0-6-0 No. 26 and rededicated it during a ceremony this month to mark National Parks Week.

Through March 31, more than 10,000 had visited Steamtown, an increase of 35 percent.

Park officials also credit a visit last year of Nickel Plate Road No. 765 with bolstering the 2015 attendance, particularly during September.

In September 2014, Steamtown saw 6,900 visitors, but in September 2015 when the 2-8-4 Berkshire was on the property the number of visitors exceeded 13,000.

For the year, Steamtown had 89,592 visitors in 2015 compared with 84,257 in 2014, an increase of 6 percent.

Recent attendance figures, though, are well below what the park has seen in the past.

More than 211,000 visited Steamtown in 1995 – the year it held a grand opening – and visitation was around the 150,000 through 2000. The record low visitation was 61,000 in 2006.

By way of comparison, the The Colorado Railroad Museum draws 100,000 annually, the B&O Railroad Museum sees 200,000 a year and the California State Railroad Museum enjoys annual attendance of 500,000.

Steamtown Superintendent Deborah Conway told Trains magazine that one reason for the lackluster attendance in recent years has been that it hasn’t done enough to encourage repeat visits.

Conway, who took at Steamtown in 2014, said the park is seeking to create new and interesting events that will make people want to come back.

This includes excursions and having more working steam locomotives.

The Steamtown shops are currently working to restore former Boston & Maine 4-6-2 No. 3713.

Other attractions will include new locomotives, new exhibits and new excursions.

The park plans to repeat in September its Railfes event, although it is not expected to feature main line steam like it did last year.

Steamtown To Offer Free Admission

As part of the 100^th anniversary of the National Park Service, Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania will offer free admission.

The 100th anniversary celebration will take place the week of April 16-24. A dedication ceremony on April 17 at 11 a.m. will feature restored Baldwin 0-6-0 No. 26. The locomotive was returned to steam last December.

Built in 1929, No. 26 served the Jackson Iron & Steel Company. Steamtown acquired the 0-6-0 in January 1990. The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 17.

No. 26 will pull trips of the Scranton Limited between 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. on April 17. The fare will be $5 per person.

Steamer Moves Under Own Power at Steamtown

Former Jackson Iron & Steel Company 0-6-0 No. 26 moved under steam last week at Steamtown National Historic Site, thus giving the park an operable steam locomotive.

It was the first time in 15 years that the Baldwin-built engine has moved under its own power.

Built in 1926, the locomotive was test fired in December 2014. Steamtown acquired it in January 1990. Steamtown last had an operable steam locomotive in 2012.

No. 26 backed out onto the turntable in Scranton and ran back and forth through the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad yard for much of the afternoon.

Crews had fired up the locomotive earlier in the week and fixed a few minor problems that they encountered.

Mechanic and preservation specialist Bruce Mowbray told Trains magazine that most of the issues stemmed from a troublesome air compressor.

Steamtown officials expect No. 26 to be ready to pull yard excursions in 2016.

Next up on the restoration list at Steamtown will be Boston & Maine 4-6-2 No. 3713.

Steamtown Superintendent Deborah Conway has said that the park hopes to eventually have three or four operating steam within the next 10 years.