Illinois Railway Museum: a Dream Depot for Train Lovers
The Illinois Railway Museum—which is located about an hour outside of Chicago—was founded in 1953 by 10 avid train lovers who each forked over a bit of their hard-earned money to save a retired train car from ending up in a junkyard. Since its inception, the Illinois Railway Museum has been a labor of love which is staffed entirely by volunteers. Engineers, teachers, and preservationists with a passion for trains work together to restore historic locomotives and educate the public about the evolution of railways in the United States.
The Illinois Railway Museum features an extensive collection of historic trains. One of the oldest locomotives on display is Illinois Central 201, which was constructed in 1880. Illinois Central 201 is a steam locomotive which helped transport passengers to Chicago’s grand 1893 Colombian Exposition. Famed conductor Casey Jones spent time at the helm. Casey Jones was celebrated for his impeccable punctuality, and for once saving a little girl from certain death by swooping her off of the tracks seconds before a large train thundered past.
1923 Brill
Photo by dscharen/Flickr
Photo by Jon Rapp/Flickr
The Illinois Railway Museum offers guests plenty of opportunities to ride various trains. Starting in late November, the museum offers a Happy Holiday Railway which gives visitors the opportunity to meet Santa, munch on cookies, and view holiday lights and decorations from the comfort of a chugging train.
If you’re a train enthusiast, strolling among rows of historic trolley coaches, street cars, and steam locomotives is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. Visitors can take endless train rides and spend hours exploring the grounds of the museum. Several knowledgeable engineers and preservationists are always standing by to answer questions. You may find the history of American railways so captivating that you enter the Illinois Railway Museum as a curious visitor, and leave as a dedicated volunteer.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Illinois Railway Museum, 7000 Olson Road, Union, Illinois, USA
- Coordinates
- 42.22643, -88.52617
- Access
- Train operations and exhibit availability vary by date; visitor admission is to the museum grounds and exhibits, with rides operating only on scheduled days.
- Admission
- 2026 general museum admission: US$14 on weekdays and April Sundays; US$20 on May–October weekends. Reduced rates and special-event fares apply; verify the selected date.
- Time needed
- The museum advises visitors to plan on spending the day. Its five-mile main-line train trip takes 35–45 minutes round trip; the streetcar loop takes about 15 minutes for a full circuit. Ride durations are components of a larger 100-acre, multi-building visit.
- Best season
- No single operator-designated best season is named. summer weekends typically have multiple trains on both the main line and streetcar loop; operations vary by date, and the museum is not open year-round. Check the 2026 calendar before traveling.
- Opening hours
- Seasonal: April Sundays; May–September weekends plus weekdays Memorial Day–Labor Day; October weekends. Check daily calendar; last entry is 30 minutes before the last scheduled train.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-25
- Facts checked
- 2026-09-30
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