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Fourth of July Weekend / Trolley Weekend highlights the electric railroads that once blanketed the Chicago area. From Saturday through Tuesday, enjoy special operations throughout the weekend. For the 2023 event, there will be different highlights each day:
- Saturday, July 1st, experience a never-before-seen spectacle: our 70 for 70 Trolley Pageant, featuring the largest collection of preserved traction equipment ever operated for a single event. We will celebrate the museum's 70th birthday with 70 pieces of electric railway equipment in a parade in the early afternoon.
- Sunday, July 2nd, enjoy a wide array of trains in operation such as two steam trains, including a mixed passenger and freight train; a diesel-powered caboose train; and several electric trains.
- Monday, July 3rd, take part in a reenactment of the abrupt end of service on the Chicago Aurora & Elgin on this date 66 years ago. Several trains will be swapped out for other trains at that time, affording you the opportunity to ride and photograph many different types of traction equipment throughout the day.
- Tuesday, July 4th, celebrate Independence Day at IRM and ride our steam-powered coach and caboose trains along with rarely seen electric equipment.
