Purchase Single-Day General Admission Tickets (Daytime Only)

Museum Showcase Weekend is your opportunity to see and ride some of the less frequently run equipment at IRM as we honor the volunteers who make the museum work. There will be great photo opportunities too! Attractions planned during Showcase Weekend include operation of many less commonly seen items of diesel and electric equipment. Memberships good through the end of calendar year 2024 will go on sale on the 16th.

SPECIAL FOR 2023: In honor of the Museum's 70th anniversary, the IRM will remain open between 10:00am Saturday and 6:00pm Sunday and trains will run all night! This is a unique opportunity for visitors to experience late night and early morning rides and photo opportunities. Visitors between 6:00pm Saturday and 9:00am Sunday must have either a 2023 or 2024 membership or a two-day ticket. Single-day tickets are good only for 10:00am to 6:00pm on either Saturday or Sunday.

Purchase Two-Day General Admission Tickets (Valid Overnight)

Additional Showcase Weekend Attractions

Trains will be in passenger service on the main line as will a number of streetcars on the loop. In addition:

• Trains will operate through the overnight hours Saturday night into Sunday morning
• There will be demonstrations of mail collection / delivery from the RPO car
• A steam-powered freight train will operate at dawn on Sunday morning
• Limited rides will be available on some of the less commonly seen equipment
• Rarely seen equipment will be operating to provide photographic opportunities
• The Bus Stop Shop will be open at Electric Park selling books and memorabilia
• Overnight traction freight service will operate
• Some scenes will be staged for photography

Dinner on the Nebraska Zephyr

Saturday, September 16, 2023 - train boards at 5:00 PM CDT - please arrive at least 30 minutes in advance

Enjoy a two-hour evening aboard the Nebraska Zephyr while dining in classic railroad style. Your four-course meal will be served aboard the train while you ride through the Illinois farmland on IRM’s main line.

We begin the evening with an antipasto plate, followed by a garden salad. While enjoying these courses, your main entrée of fillet mignon with gilled shrimp, roasted asparagus, and garlic mashed potatoes is being prepared and cooked in the galley. We finish your dining experience aboard this vintage streamliner with cheesecake.

You may bring a bottle of wine aboard, and we will gladly serve it to you.

All proceeds from the evening support the continued operation/restoration of this 87-year old streamliner.

Pricing: $140 per person. Observation car (table for up to 4) $600. Riders must also purchase a general admission ticket or be current IRM members.

A First for IRM - Breakfast on the Nebraska Zephyr

Join us Sunday morning, September 17th, for breakfast aboard the Nebraska Zephyr. This is first time in museum history we have offered the opportunity to enjoy breakfast aboard the Zephyr while riding along the museum mainline.

Begin with a bowl of fresh-cut fruit, followed by your choice of either CB&Q French Toast or sausage gravy and biscuits, prepared aboard the train. Both meals include scrambled eggs, bacon, fresh-squeezed orange juice, non-alcoholic mimosas and coffee. Finish your approximately 90-minute ride with a light dessert.

All proceeds from these trips support the continued operation/restoration of this 87-year old streamliner.

Pricing: $45 per person. Riders must also purchase a general admission ticket or be current IRM members.

Boarding times: 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, CDT - please arrive 30 minutes in advance

The Saturday dinner trip and both Sunday breakfast trips on the Nebraska Zephyr are sold out. Thank you for your support!

Hours / Admission / Operating Schedule Information:

Electric trains and Diesel or Steam trains will be operating.

Equipment Scheduled to Operate on Saturday, September 16th (Daytime):

• Frisco 1630 and the Steam Heavyweight Train
• Shay 5 and Steam Caboose Train
• Chicago Burlington & Quincy 9911A and the Nebraska Zephyr
• Chicago Aurora & Elgin 36 and 319
• Indiana Railroad 65 (afternoon only)
• Chicago Transit Authority 4391
• Chicago Transit Authority 3142

Equipment Scheduled to Operate on Saturday, September 16th (Evening and Overnight):

• Frisco 1630 (before midnight) / Diesel TBD (after midnight) and the Heavyweight Train 
• Chicago Burlington & Quincy 9911A and the Nebraska Zephyr
• Shay 5 and Steam Caboose Train (before midnight)
• Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee 714 (before and after midnight) and 749 (before midnight)
• Indiana Railroad 65 (before midnight)
• Illinois Terminal 101 (before midnight)
• Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee 229 (after midnight) 
• Chicago Transit Authority 3142

Equipment Scheduled to Operate on Sunday, September 17th:

• Frisco 1630 and the Steam Heavyweight Train 
• Shay 5 and Steam Caboose Train
• Chicago Burlington & Quincy 9911A and the Nebraska Zephyr
• Illinois Terminal 101
• Chicago Aurora & Elgin 431 and 460
• Chicago Transit Authority 4391

One-Day Admission Rates (only valid between 10:00am and 6:00pm):
Adults $18, Seniors $16, Children $14

Two-Day Admission Rates Including Overnight Trains:
Adults $34, Seniors $30, Children $26

Museum Hours:
On Saturday, trains operate every 30 minutes from 11:00am to 8:30pm or more often as needed, with a pause of approximately two hours at dinnertime.
Overnight and then on Sunday, trains operate every hour to 5:00pm or more often as needed.
The Museum grounds open at 10:00am and close one hour after the last train departure.
The parking lot opens at 9:30am and closes 30 minutes after the grounds close.

All equipment, schedules and prices subject to change without notice.

 = this train is wheelchair-accessible