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The Illinois Railway Museum will be operating special trains after dark this year on Labor Day Weekend. Saturday and Sunday, August 31st and September 1st, steam and diesel trains will remain in operation long past the museum’s normal closing time of 6:00pm and will carry museum visitors until 9:30pm.
Take a Step Back in Time This Labor Day Weekend
The museum's goal is to provide a different, more immersive experience. Riding trains at night is very different than during the day and nighttime operations in previous years have provided a thrilling "time machine" experience to visitors. The museum's restored neon signs will be lit up and visitors will be able to see things not usually encountered during the day, like kerosene lanterns and headlights on all the trains. The Santa Fe sign from Michigan Avenue located at the front of the parking lot will be illuminated as will the recently-restored Union Pacific sign from Omaha. There will be many great twilight photo opportunities for photographers.
Nighttime operations are open to all visitors on Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day Weekend. The museum will also be operating trains during the day on Labor Day itself, including the steam train and electric streetcars.