Union Pacific 4014 Crossing the Tunkhannock Viaduct on the way south from Binghamton NY

[mahatmakanejeeves]

8. I don't know the area. Thoughts:

You can always drive to a grade crossing or some stretch of track and wait an hour for the train to arrive. At the last minute, a bunch of railfans will show up and yell at people to be quiet and get out of their way while they shoot video. You'll see ithe train go by for thirty seconds, and then you go back home.

My bet would be to head to Reading.

https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule

Thursday, July 2
Jim Thorpe, PA
NO PUBLIC ACCESS Depart: 9:00 a.m. EDT
Reading, PA
Reading & Northern Outer Station
3501 Pottsville Pike Arrive: 1:30 p.m. EDT
Depart: 2:15 p.m. EDT
Pottstown, PA
51 South Hanover Street Arrive: 3:30 p.m. EDT
Depart: 3:45 p.m. EDT

The train stops there for 45 minutes. You'll be able to walk right up to 4014 and get pictures of your grandsons standing next to it. You and the kids will have the time to look it over. You can watch the crew lubricate the bearings, which is always a neat display. You get to listen to the air pumps. Stean will be leaking from somwhere. Even when steam locomotives are resting, they're not resting.