SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — An event happening this weekend in Lackawanna County is all steam ahead, getting ready to celebrate railroading in our region.
Learning all the bells and whistles at Steamtown National Historic Site.
“This is the Baldwin 26 060. This was made in 1929 in Eddystone, Pennsylvania,” explained Christian Mazzocchi, heavy mobile equipment mechanic at the Steamtown National Historic Site.
It’s something that’s part of Mazzocchi’s job as a heavy mobile equipment mechanic.
“We do everything from fabricating to welding to rail ops,” said Mazzocchi.
But you can get all aboard with a look at the steam engine and many others at this weekend’s annual Railfest in Scranton.
“You can ride trains, you can enjoy static exhibits, you can see partner displays, demonstrations,” explained Megan Stevens, park ranger/gateway community coordinator, at the Steamtown National Historic Site.
Firefighters honored for saving teenage boy
A lot of work goes into preservation projects, bringing them to life, as seen in the Bullard number two.
“It is an oil-fired steam locomotive, which is unique, and then in addition, it was designed to be operated by just one person, so the engineer and the fireman are the same person,” explained Jeremy Komasz, superintendent at the Steamtown National Historic Site.
Steamtown superintendent Jeremy Komasz says it’s important for people to learn about the history of trains, not just locally, but nationally.
“It was railroading that allowed the United States to be settled as fast as we did and to move things across the country. Even to this day, railroading moves a lot of the stuff that we use every day in the United States,” said Komasz.
Opening Friday and running through Sunday, Railfest will fill the roundhouse with tons of locomotives through the use of its operational turntable from the 1940s.
A perfect way to celebrate railroading’s past, present, and future.
“Grandparents coming and sharing the history of railroading from their own experiences when they were younger and now being able to share that with their grandkids and their families,” said Stevens.
Steamtown’s Railfest will begin Friday morning with an opening ceremony at 10:30 a.m.
Running through the weekend, the event will also have free colts shuttles between the historic site and La Festa happening in downtown Scranton.
