In the News

Restored 1911 Pullman Car Donated to IRM

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

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Opening Day set for April 11th

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

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Museum acquires 25-ton diesel

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

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Holiday event modified for 2020

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

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Happy Holiday Railway

Holiday Light Experience Event Announced

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

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IRM acquires low-floor bus from Janesville

The Illinois Railway Museum is pleased to announce that it has acquired Janesville (Wisconsin) Transit System 433, a diesel bus built in December 2001. The bus is a model D35LF constructed by New Flyer of America in St. Cloud, Minnesota as part of an order of seven buses. These replaced

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Pumpkin Train event cancelled for 2020

The Illinois Railway Museum has made the decision to cancel its annual Pumpkin Train event for 2020. Given the social distancing and other health safety measures currently in place, the museum feels that it would not be able to safely offer a full “pumpkin patch” experience as it has done

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Museum to reopen in late July

To our visitors, members and staff: The Illinois Railway Museum is now finalizing plans to reopen. Our absolute priority is everyone’s safety in these difficult times. We plan to open July 18-19 for members only and to both visitors and members beginning July 25-26. These dates are subject to our

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Statement issued by the Illinois Railway Museum 5/30/2020

Due to the great deal of uncertainty surrounding opening and operating our Museum campus consistent with public policy and health recommendations, the Illinois Railway Museum remains closed to the public until further notice and has elected to proactively cancel all previously-announced special events scheduled through September 15, 2020. The Museum

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Dayton trolley bus 9809

Dayton trolley bus joins IRM collection

The latest addition to the Illinois Railway Museum’s historic collection, electric trolley bus 9809 from Dayton, Ohio, arrived at the museum on May 1, 2020. The type 14TrE2 trolley bus was built in 1998 by Electric Transit Inc, a joint venture between US defense contractor AAI and longtime Czech Republic

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