Extraterrestrial Express — Iron Horse Society

The Extraterrestrial Express is a one-day steam excursion offered by the Iron Horse Society, the official philanthropic partner of Steamtown National Historic Site, for the Carbondalien Festival. It runs behind Baldwin steam locomotive No. 26 from Steamtown in Scranton, up the Lackawanna River valley to Carbondale and back, a 30-mile round trip.

The train reaches Carbondale as the festival opens and leaves in the afternoon, which gives passengers about four hours at the festival, a downtown marketplace with vendors, live music, food and an alien art walk. The operator tells the story of the route on the way up: most of it is the old Delaware & Hudson line, and Carbondale is where the D&H Gravity Railroad began hauling anthracite in 1829.

The operator describes windows that open and seats that flip so groups can face each other. A festival shuttle meets the train and runs to Russell Park, the site of the 1974 sighting that the festival celebrates; a limited number of jump-the-line passes for the Russell Park experience can be added to a booking.

A full day of about seven hours. Boarding opens at 9:00 am at Steamtown, the train departs at 9:30 am, arrives in Carbondale at 11:00 am as the festival opens, leaves Carbondale at 3:00 pm and is back at Steamtown at about 4:30 pm. Admission to the downtown festival is free. Live historical interpretation of the route and the Delaware & Hudson story accompanies the trip. Dress for the season and for windows that open.

Boards at Steamtown National Historic Site, 350 Cliff Street, Scranton, Pennsylvania; free parking is included at Steamtown. Be on the platform early: the train leaves at 9:30 am and does not wait. Everyone needs a ticket, including small children on a lap. Wheelchair spaces are in car 303 and board by lift; book the wheelchair space ticket. The on-board restroom is not wheelchair accessible. All sales are final; if the train does not operate, a full refund is given. Up to 60 passengers per car.