The IRM is a fantastic place. The Thomas The Train is a wonderful time of course, but you MUST visit and see all the amazing Steam, Diesel and Electric Streetcars on display, being restored and running. When you ride an electric streetcar, you have to wonder why they are not still used! With the same (or greater) capacity as a modern bus and with no vehicle emissions, they are just great. The Illinois Railway Museum is a Must See.
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What our visitors are saying about their experience
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So much fun for our little boys! They love riding the trains and they have so many old restored trains. Some of their restoration jobs are fantastic and really capture the feel of the height of rail travel. I don’t know of any other place quite like this. It’s a great educational experience even if you don’t love trains.
Andrew Ryan -
The largest railway museum in the USA – and they run demonstrations of many working trains. The trains vary from 1800s steam engines to the recently retired CTA Red Line trains. They have old Pullman cars which are nicely displayed.
Lenore Ettinger -
In The News
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28 Feb
Opening Day set for April 11th
Read moreThe Illinois Railway Museum is opening for its 2021 season starting Sunday, April 11th. During the remainder of April the Museum will be open on
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18 Dec
Museum acquires 25-ton diesel
Read moreThe Illinois Railway Museum has acquired a 25-ton diesel-electric locomotive built in 1942 by General Electric. The engine was built for Lone Star Cement and
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17 Nov
Holiday event modified for 2020
Read moreThe Illinois Railway Museum has further modified the Museum’s popular Holiday event:Â “Happy Holiday Railway: The Holiday Light Experience.” Instead of streetcar rides and strolling the
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