In the News
IRM acquires 1979 streetcar from Toronto
The Illinois Railway Museum is pleased to announce that it has acquired one of the last traditional single-unit streetcars ever built for service in North America. This new addition to the museum’s collection allows IRM to trace the history of urban rail transport from 1859 all the way to the
Happy Holiday Railway expanded for 2019
One of the museum’s most popular events, Happy Holiday Railway, is being expanded and improved for 2019. The boarding area has been moved from alongside Barn 9 to the historic 1851 East Union Depot, the oldest railway station in use west of Pittsburgh, following building improvements made since the beginning
Interurban car returns home to Illinois after 57 years
A piece of Illinois history has returned to the Land of Lincoln after an absence of more than half a century. The Illinois Railway Museum is pleased to announce that Chicago Aurora & Elgin 453, an historic electric interurban car built in 1945, has returned to its home state of
North Shore Electroliner reassembled
On September 17, 2019 the Illinois Railway Museum reassembled the iconic North Shore Electroliner after a three-year period of rebuilding work on the articulated train’s trucks and motors. The train’s four cars were lifted from their temporary “shop trucks” and placed on their original trucks by a crew of museum
Historic program to be held at IRM September 21st
Join author and historian Barbara Warner Deane at the Illinois Railway Museum on Saturday, September 21st at 1:00pm for a historical presentation and discussion about the canteens run at railway stations across America during World War II. The presentation will center around Deane’s new book, The Whistle Stop Canteen, which
Cab rides and Take the Throttle trips to be offered during Diesel Days
The Illinois Railway Museum has added a series of unique and immersive experiences to the 2019 Diesel Days event. Museum visitors will be able to ride in the cab of a diesel engine during a trip over the museum’s demonstration railroad, experiencing the sights and sounds of a full-sized locomotive
Historic U28B diesel locomotive acquired
The Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of Transkentucky Transportation Railroad (TTI) 260, a U28B diesel locomotive, and has moved the historic engine to the museum’s campus in Union. TTI 260 is the last surviving example of a U28B locomotive in original
IRM offered Chicago Aurora & Elgin interurban car
The Illinois Railway Museum has been given the opportunity to purchase an historic interurban car from the Chicago Aurora & Elgin Railway. The interurban car, CA&E 453, was built in 1946 by the St. Louis Car Company. It ran between Chicago and the western suburbs from 1946 until July 3,
IRM launches gift card program
Just in time for Father’s Day, the Illinois Railway Museum is offering gift cards for the very first time. These IRM-specific gift cards are available on-site at the museum store and online at www.irm.org. The gift cards may be used towards museum admissions, memberships, the Take the Throttle experience, and
Construction begun on Multi-Purpose Building
The Illinois Railway Museum is pleased to announce that construction has begun on the Multi-Purpose Building (MPB), located along the museum’s Main Street Scene just west of the existing Schroeder Mercantile Store. The MPB will be the second building on the Main Street Scene and the first building constructed new,