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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This place is unbelievable! Awesome history you can touch, ride, and learn. We will definitely be back! If you love trains you will not want to leave!
Jeff Wardlow -
We had a great time here! Our 3 year old loved seeing all the trains and getting to ride on the steam engine. The little park was a nice bonus for our lunch time break. The model train museum was impressive. We learned a lot. Thank you for preserving this history!
Emily Anderson -
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 -
I loved coming here as a kid with my dad and grandpa and my kids seemed to have just as much fun as I did back in the day. We went for the Day Out with Thomas and had a great time. There were some major improvements since I was there as a kid and it looks like more are on their way. Can’t wait to go back.
Jake Glimco -
In The News
- 30 Sep
Museum Receives Two 2024 Heritage Rail Alliance Achievement Awards
Read moreAt the 2024 fall conference of the Heritage Rail Alliance (HRA), held in Springdale, Arkansas, the Illinois Railway Museum received two HRA Achievement Awards. The
Comments off - 17 Jun
Photography Exhibition Opens in Museum’s Post Office Gallery
Read moreAn exhibition of renowned photographer David Plowden’s photographs has opened at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM). Requiem for Steam: The Railroad Photographs of David Plowden
Comments off - 05 Mar
IRM Awarded John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust Grant
Read moreThe Illinois Railway Museum is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a grant of $25,000 by the John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust.
Comments off