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
- The museum is open only on scheduled operating days; trains and exhibits vary by date. General admission includes unlimited rides on operating days, but special-fare event days may require separate tickets. Check the museum calendar and equipment schedule before traveling. No pets except service animals.
- Admission
- 2026 general admission: adult $14 weekdays and April Sundays; senior 65+ $12; youth 13–17 $12; child 2–12 $11; under 2 free. May–October weekends: adult $20, senior/youth $18, child $16. Special-event fares differ; confirm the selected date.
- Time needed
- The museum recommends planning to spend the day. Its five-mile main-line train ride takes about 35–45 minutes round trip; a complete streetcar loop takes about 15 minutes. Those are ride times within a 100-acre, multi-building museum visit, not the total visit length.
- Best season
- The museum designates no best season. Summer weekends usually have more train operations, but the exact fleet changes by date. April Sundays and October weekends have more limited service; consult the current calendar and schedule.
- Opening hours
- Seasonal 2026 schedule: April Sundays; weekends May–October 25, plus weekdays Memorial Day through Labor Day. Typical museum hours are 10:00–17:00; last admission is 30 minutes before the last train, and exhibits close after that train departs. Special dates may vary; check the calendar.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-25
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-20
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I worked here for 3 summers when I was in high school. It has added a lot of track and seems to be running a lot more trains.