Steamtown offering increased hours and features for summer
Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pa., will begin increasing visitor services this week, with additional features to open on July 7. As of this Saturday, June 26, the park’s summer hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. go into effect, and the theater will open, allowing the resumption of daily showings of “Steel and Steam,” an 18-minute film following one man’s railroading career to illustrate the major changes in railroading in the early 20th century. On July 7, the Steamtown History Museum will reopen, including the Railway Post Office car and Erie business car. More information is available at the Steamtown website; general information is available by calling (570) 340-5206 during normal business hours.
Former James J. Hill car to be restored by Minnesota Transportation Museum
A private car which once belonged to the Great Northern’s James J. Hill has been found in California, purchased by a great-grandson of the “Empire Builder,” and donated to the Minnesota Transportation Museum in St. Paul. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports the car, worth an estimated $1 million, is currently en route to the museum. The 70-foot car A-18 was used by Hill from 1900 until his death in 1916, bears little resemblance to its original condition — its wood carbody had been sheathed in metal before being disposed of by Great Northern in the 1950s, and the interior has been changed over the years. But Larry Paulson, who will manage the car’s restoration says that thanks to the generosity of donor James J. Hill III, the museum “will fully restore the A-18 to its original condition,” a project expected to take about two years. The museum is also planning a $350,000 renovation to its roundhouse to house the car.
New England museum’s Naugatuck Railroad to resume operations
The Railroad Museum of New England will resume operation of its Naugatuck Railroad on July 9-10, with tickets on sale for four types of trip: The Naugatuck River Scenic Train; the Torrington Twilight Express; the Chocolate Decadence Tour, for ages 21 and over, including wine pairings with appetizers and chocolate, as well as a chocolate factory tour; and the Taste of the Litchfield Hills Train. Tickets are available here; for additional information, visit the museum website.
Notice 4012 all by itself fills Steamtown’s 90 foot turntable. Maybe one axle of the tender is on the table.