The summer begins! Steam or diesel and electric trains will operate all three days of Memorial Day Weekend. Active military personnel and their families are admitted FREE with military ID.
On Saturday, May 27th, go behind the scenes with guided tours of train storage barns normally off-limits. Scroll down for more information.
Before you visit, even if you have been a regular visitor in the past, please take the time to review the pandemic-related procedures and policies listed at this link.
Memorial Day Weekend – Hours / Admission / Operating Schedule Information:
Electric trains and Diesel or Steam trains will be operating.
Equipment Scheduled to Operate on Saturday, May 27th:
- Frisco 1630 and Steam Coach Train♿
- Shay 5 and Steam Caboose Train
- Diesel Heavyweight Passenger Train♿
- Chicago Transit Authority 4000s♿
- Chicago Transit Authority 41 & 30
- Chicago Transit Authority 6655 & 6656
- Chicago Transit Authority 4391
- Chicago Surface Lines 144
Equipment Scheduled to Operate on Sunday, May 28th:
- Frisco 1630 and Steam Coach Train ♿
- Shay 5 and Steam Caboose Train
- Diesel Heavyweight Passenger Train♿
- North Shore Line Interurban
- Chicago Aurora & Elgin Wood Interurban
- Chicago Transit Authority 4391
- Chicago Surface Lines 1374
Equipment Scheduled to Operate on Monday, May 29th (Memorial Day):
- Frisco 1630 and Steam Heavyweight Passenger Train ♿
- Wisconsin Electric Power Company L4 and Electric Caboose Train
- Illinois Terminal 277
- Chicago Transit Authority 6655 & 6656
- Chicago Rapid Transit Wood Train ♿
- Chicago Transit Authority 4391
- Chicago Surface Lines 1374
- VC 19
Admission Rates:
Adults $18, Senior $16, Children $14
Museum Hours:
Trains operate hourly 11:00am to 4:00pm or more often as needed.
The Museum grounds open at 10:00am and close at 6:00pm.
The parking lot opens at 9:30am and closes at 6:30pm.
All equipment, schedules and prices subject to change without notice.
♿ = this train is wheelchair-accessible
Go Behind the Scenes at America’s Largest Railway Museum
Join us Saturday, May 27th, for a one-time-only look behind the scenes at the Illinois Railway Museum. Enjoy guided tours of railway equipment storage barns that have never been opened to the public. See nearly 100 pieces of equipment including historic steam engines, diesels, and electric, passenger, and freight cars that have been off exhibit for years or decades – or, in some cases, have never been on public display at IRM at all. See the only surviving Baldwin center-cab diesel, the last steam engine from the Lehigh & New England, and the oldest caboose at IRM, among many other unique and significant artifacts.
Behind the scenes guided tours will be held throughout the day on May 27th only. Tours will be available of our three largest off-limits storage barns – Barn 11, Barn 13, and Barn 14 – courtesy of IRM volunteers who will describe the history of the rail equipment you’ll see. There is no extra cost for these tours; participation is included with your general admission ticket and is free for IRM members. See below for a list of tour times and equipment highlights for each building (to be announced soon).
Tour groups are limited to 20 people per group on a first come, first served basis, and meet at the northeast corner of each barn 5-10 minutes before the tour start time. Non-commercial photographer during tours is welcome. Tours of off-limits buildings are not wheelchair accessible. Participants must stay with the tour group while inside the building. We cannot guarantee specific pieces of equipment will be seen on any given building tour.