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    Illinois Railway Museum > Exhibitions > Illinois Railway Museum > Model Railroad Exhibit

Model Railroad Exhibit

The Model Railroad Exhibit, located in the Multi-Purpose Building, features two operating model railroad layouts. One is a large O gauge display that IRM rebuilt by adding interactive components that permit kids of all ages to operate portions of the layout. The layout includes city scenes with elevated train operation, representative of the Chicago ‘L’, as well as sizable railroad yards and multi-track main lines. There is even a Christmas-themed section of the layout set at the North Pole.

In addition, the Model Railroad Exhibit includes a large HO scale model railroad that features a “scavenger hunt” challenge in its elaborately detailed scenes. The exhibit also houses displays of historic train models, and the Museum expects to activate additional operating displays in the future.

The Model Railroad Exhibit is located in the Multi-Purpose Building on Main Street, just west of the entrance from the parking lot. Look for the Union Hobby Shop sign.

Illinois Railway Museum

The Illinois Railway Museum, as you see it today, is the result of decades of effort by a dynamic group of dedicated volunteers. All of the buildings, track, locomotives and cars were assembled here at Union on what was once farmland. Our main line trackage was laid on the vacant right-of-way of the Elgin & Belvidere Electric railway. Why would rational adults freely contribute so much of their time and treasure to creating this repository of railroad history?

To answer this question, we must remember that at one time in our nation’s past the railroad industry was the largest private employer. With so many families supported by one enterprise, the widespread interest in that industry is understandable….manifesting itself in special interest groups devoted to various activities such as taking railroad pictures or publishing books on railroads, building railroad models or just “riding the rails,” The Illinois Railway Museum is probably the ultimate railroad historian special interest group. Originally formed to preserve one important piece of rolling stock, it has evolved into an educational and historic preservation organization recreating possibly the largest operating demonstration railroad showcase on the North American continent.

We welcome all to our Museum and encourage you to join in our education, restoration and preservation efforts. Only one prerequisite is recommended, a sincere interest in some aspect of railroading.

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