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<p>SCRANTON &#8212; A stream of visitors began descending on the Steamtown National Historic Site on Saturday for the two-day celebration of railroading known as Railfest 2015.</p><p>Thousands are expected to attend the event before it ends Sunday.</p><p>The annual tradition includes train rides, equipment displays, musical entertainment, special demonstrations and ideas for enthusiasts who want to bring a little of the experience to their backyards, among other activities.</p><p>On Labor Day, the site will also provide a steam locomotive excursion to East Stroudsburg&#8217;s Dansbury Depot, where visitors will be able to tour the former East Stroudsburg Railroad Tower.</p><p>Debbie Conway, superintendent of the park, said the event is designed to highlight the railroad industry and the large part it played in the development of the country.</p><p>&#8220;Steamtown NHS preserves the story of steam railroading in America. This weekend we highlight all railroading &#8212; historic and modern. It is a great family friendly event,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Several of the park&#8217;s railroad partners delivered equipment for display, including a nickel-plated steam engine from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Conway said the engine is a &#8220;sister&#8221; to one currently displayed in the Steamtown roundhouse.</p><p>Also on display are an engine and exhibit car from Norfolk Southern which honors first responders, an engine from Amtrak which is a tribute to veterans and other cars from Canadian Pacific, Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society and Erie Railroad Stock Restoration Association.</p><p>Vince Pulski and his two young sons, Evan and Drew, drove from the Binghamton, New York, area to see the displays. He said his sons were &#8220;awestruck&#8221; when they looked at the huge steam engines and heard them operate.</p><p>Judy and Fred Minella from Carbon County came up to spend the day at the site walking the museums and then taking the free bus ride to the La Festa Italiana, which is also taking place this weekend in Scranton&#8217;s Courthouse Square.</p><p>Visitors can choose from several train rides to Moscow during the weekend or take Electric City Trolley Museum excursions.</p><p>They can also visit the locomotive repairs shop with equipment demonstrations taking place and tour the museums to learn about the technical aspects of railroading in America, Conway said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Gavin Cook, 2, left, his father Jim, and brother Keenan, 8, all of Tamaqua, look over the cockpit of the Union Pacific &#8216;Big Boy&#8217; locomotive during Railfest at the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton on Saturday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090615Railfest_2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Gavin Cook, 2, left, his father Jim, and brother Keenan, 8, all of Tamaqua, look over the cockpit of the Union Pacific &#8216;Big Boy&#8217; locomotive during Railfest at the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton on Saturday morning. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090615Railfest_1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Visitors watch a steam locomotive pull out of the roundhouse during Railfest at the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton on Saturday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090615Railfest_1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Visitors watch a steam locomotive pull out of the roundhouse during Railfest at the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton on Saturday morning. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090615Railfest_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Josh Marshall of Sellersville, Bucks County, left, and Paul Marshall of Garnet Valley, Delaware County, look over look the Union Pacific &#8216;Big Boy&#8217; locomotive during Railfest at the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton on Saturday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090615Railfest_3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Josh Marshall of Sellersville, Bucks County, left, and Paul Marshall of Garnet Valley, Delaware County, look over look the Union Pacific &#8216;Big Boy&#8217; locomotive during Railfest at the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton on Saturday morning. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Annual Railfest event held at Steamtown</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ralph Nardone</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>The Times Leader newsroom may be reached at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Event celebrates history of railroading