The Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) has acquired a rare 36′ billboard meat refrigerator car. At one time, “reefers” like this were a common sight on American railroads, transporting perishable products from coast to coast. Brightly painted advertisements touted the products they carried, from beer to butter to bacon. Kingan and

We are thrilled that the State of Illinois has moved into Phase 5 of their reopening plan, and we very much look forward to welcoming back so many of our friends and supporters. Some of our health and safety guidelines are changing starting June 12th. Even with almost all of

Union, IL – All Aboard! Tickets are now available to see Thomas the Tank EngineTM at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) this July. The museum’s most popular event, Day Out With ThomasTM, will return to northern Illinois for the first time in two years on July 10-11 and 17-18, 2021.

Union, IL – The Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with the Chicago & North Western Historical Society (C&NWHS) to locate a new building housing the Society’s historic archives on the IRM campus in Union, Illinois. The building will be located on

Illinois Railway Museum in McHenry County announces its full event schedule for 2021 The Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) in McHenry County has confirmed that its most popular event, Day Out With Thomas™ featuring a full-size Thomas the Tank Engine™, will be held for the first time in two years on

The Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) has accepted the donation of a fully restored 1911 Pullman heavyweight passenger car named Villa Real. The car was used on multiple railroads, including the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Wabash, and National Railways of Mexico, during a 46-year career as a sleeping car. In 1957 it

The Illinois Railway Museum is opening for its 2021 season starting Sunday, April 11th. During the remainder of April the Museum will be open on Sundays only. Electric trains will be in operation on these days and all exhibit buildings will be open. The Museum will also be open for

The Illinois Railway Museum has acquired a 25-ton diesel-electric locomotive built in 1942 by General Electric. The engine was built for Lone Star Cement and worked in cement plant service for its entire 78-year service life, most recently at a facility in Elkhart, Indiana. It was donated to the museum

The Illinois Railway Museum has further modified the Museum’s popular Holiday event: “Happy Holiday Railway: The Holiday Light Experience.” Instead of streetcar rides and strolling the display barns and grounds, visitors will take a drive-through journey through the Museum campus, safely and comfortably in their personal vehicles. The route through the

Christmas 2020 will certainly be very different for all of us, but at Illinois Railway Museum, the “Museum In Motion” will keep on rolling with a modified Holiday event: Happy Holiday Railway: The Holiday Light Experience Join us for a ride on a heated streetcar around the grounds, which will