It is the home of the Illinois Railway Museum, the largest railroad museum in the United States, and it is worth the trip. Best nearby. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. What restaurants are near Illinois Railway Museum? Weekends / 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The engine was built for Lone Star Cement and, 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, 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. The people who operate the trains, restore the historic equipment, maintain the track, and manage the museum - all are volunteers. Get directions, reviews and information for Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL. This is a grate collection of Railway equipment. At the Illinois Railway Museum, that dream can come true. You can ride a beautifully restored interurban car on their extensive trackage and on summer weekends they run steam and diesel trains. Your guide to the current operating schedules and fares, directions to the museum, and a complete roster of equipment. It was created in 1997 and operates four lines in Northern Illinois. Enjoy educational displays, a train-themed playground for children, and immersive exhibits. The trains vary from 1800s steam engines to the recently retired CTA Red Line trains. Illinois Railway Museum, Union, IL #206. The Illinois Railway Museum (IRM, reporting mark IRMX) is the largest railroad museum in the United States. TBD. Info on restoration projects, operating locomotives, Steam Shop news, locomotive technical data, and a lot more. Box 427 Union, IL 60180 We offer train rides on Saturdays and Sundays from May through September, regardless of weather conditions, as well as a number of special events throughout the year. The Illinois Railway Museum, as you see it today, is the result of decades of effort by a dynamic group of dedicated volunteers. When you ride an electric streetcar, you have to wonder why they are not still used! too. This place is amazing. Ride historic trains on the museum's five-mile demonstration railroad. Attractions near Illinois Railway Museum: Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the date(s) you selected. So much fun for our little boys! The Steam Department home page of the Illinois Railway Museum. There is an historic depot that was moved there that has a lot railroad memorabilia. Come to the Greatest Railway Museum in the Country. Enjoy a drive-through tour of the museum property from the safety and comfort of your own car. Over the past 70+ years, the Illinois Railway Museum has acquired over 450 pieces of equipment. Uncover why Illinois Railway Museum is the best company for you. The most enticing exhibits at the Illinois Railway Museum don't sit in glass cases. The Thomas The Train is a wonderful time of course, but you MUST visit and see all the amazing Steam, Diesel and Electric Streetcars on display, being restored and running. Live the fantasy of every railfan: ring the bell, blow the horn, wave to the kids, and smile for the camera during this once-in-a-lifetime experience! Exhibits include historic trains and family-friendly activities. 20 Restaurants within 5 miles. And much more info on the history, latest news, and work in the shops. Some of their restoration jobs are fantastic and really capture the feel of the height of rail travel. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. All rights reserved. Share 'Illinois Railway Museum' The mission of the museum is to demonstrate the vital role railroads have played in the growth of the Chicago area as well as the United States through the preservation and operation of railroad and mass transit rolling stock and the … The mission of the Illinois Railway Museum is to demonstrate the vital role railroads have played in the growth of the Chicago area as well as the United States through the preservation and operation of railroad and mass transit rolling stock and the display of related artifacts in a realistic setting. What hotels are near Illinois Railway Museum? excursion train. Signed, Nick Kallas Executive Director Illinois Railway Museum P.O. Illinois Railway Museum Trail is a 2.9 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Union, Illinois and is good for all skill levels. Our Take The Throttle program will make you engineer for an hour. This Illinois Railway Museum Coupon allows you to Save $1.00 off each adult or child general admission ticket. It is located in the Chicagoland metropolitan area at 7000 Olson Road in Union, Illinois, 55 miles (89 km) northwest of downtown Chicago. They have old Pullman cars which are nicely displayed. Coupon is valid for up to 4 total admissions. Is this a must-do if you are travelling with a, Are the prices for this place or activity, Is this a place or activity you would suggest for, Is this attraction a good place to visit on a, I've been there with my daughter at least 10 times if not more to see and ride restored antique trains and trolley cars including the streamlined Zephyr. Many are rare or unique. Union, Illinois, is 55 miles northwest of Chicago, north of I-90, east of Marengo, east of Highway 20, west of Huntley. If you're interested in being a part of America's largest railway museum, you too can become an IRM volunteer. Weekdays. I was amazed at the amount of track they have. With the same (or greater) capacity as a modern bus and with no vehicle emissions, they are just great. They love riding the trains and they have so many old restored trains. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in India. It wasn't just looking at trains, but touring them and actually riding in them. My grandsons ages 14 and 13 loved the museum. It’s a great educational experience even if you don’t love trains. See giant steam locomotives, powerful diesels and elegant electric cars on display and in operation. I don’t know of any other place quite like this. They have it all. Located 35 miles northwest of O'Hare Airport, it offers train rides on steam, diesel, and electric trains. Labor Day weekend will feature night train operations until 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 5-6, and J. Neils Lumber Shay locomotive No. Hours and fares for special events may differ; check calendar listing for details. The only thing that saddened me is how much of the stock is in a poor condition and will never run again. Restaurants near Illinois Railway Museum: What attractions are near Illinois Railway Museum? Located at 7000 Olson Road in Union, … The Illinois Railway Museum (IRM, reporting mark IRMX) is the largest railroad museum in … 20.5/44.5 OHIO. Laid out in spacious acreage in Union Illinois. All of the buildings, track, locomotives and cars were assembled here at Union on what was once farmland. there was steam up plus caboose rides. It is not just rail equipment sitting still, not just an. The Illinois Railway Museum is a museum of volunteers. If you have any questions, please contact Nick Kallas, Executive Director, at nkallas@irm.org or call me at the museum at 815-923-4391 ext 402. Wear comfy shoes; it's huge. Everyone I encountered was very knowageable of the equipment and it's place in history. A great place for anyone who is interested in railroad at all. Many train museums claim to be “largest” based on acreage or track miles. United States ; Illinois (IL) ... IL 61856-8120. Illinois Railway Museum, Union: Hours, Address, Illinois Railway Museum Reviews: 4.5/5 3 Other Attractions within 5 miles. On a Saturday. The Illinois Railway Museum has four permanent webcams overlooking train operations, a webcam overlooking our CTC display board which shows the position of trains on our demonstration railroad, a seasonal webcam aboard the Happy Holiday Railway train, and our newest live streaming webcam overlooking the majority of the property from the parking lot light tower. Reviews from Illinois Railway Museum employees about Illinois Railway Museum culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. Make it an Incredible Family Fun Day. The Illinois Railway Museum is the largest railway museum in the United States. It specializes in Midwest interurbans since the area had many such services, but there are plenty of fine examples of steam, diesel and electric railroad equipment. Find out what works well at Illinois Railway Museum from the people who know best. The Illinois Railway Museum is the largest museum of its kind in America. 10:30 a.m. -5 p.m. This database will allow you to browse through the collection in groups, or you can search for a specific piece of equipment. Wonderful experience! The Illinois Railway Museum is a Must See. Dedicated to preserving the history of the Railroad Age, this museum has the most active, working, The IRM is a railfan must-see but even non fans will enjoy the museum's excellent and very extensive collections. The IRM is a fantastic place. Museum Hours. Museum Hours. Sat: 10am-5pm; Sun: 10am-5pm; Jul 18. Day Out with Thomas - Union. Welcome to the Monticello Railway Museum, an all-volunteer organization in central Illinois with an operational railroad main line yard open to the public. Our main line trackage was laid on the vacant right-of-way of the Elgin & Belvidere Electric railway. Compare pay for popular roles and read about the team’s work-life balance. The Illinois Railway Museum has acquired a 25-ton diesel-electric locomotive built in 1942 by General Electric. Home . But it's all privately funded and they do what they can. Illinois Railway Museum sets two weekends of special events The Illinois Railway Museum, which reopened in July with special COVID-19 precautionary measures, is planning two weekends of special events in September. Very comprehensive collection from dining car plates and cutlery to street cars, to busses to massive Baldwin steam locos. Great Fun for Everyone! But the Illinois Railway Museum is the “Real McCoy” with more rolling stock than any other U.S. museum. Illinois Railway Museum, Union: See 286 reviews, articles, and 359 photos of Illinois Railway Museum, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 4 attractions in Union. It is definitely very interesting outing for a, Spacious and beautiful. The official website of the Illinois Railway Museum, America's Largest Railway Museum. Happy Holiday Railway: The Holiday Light Experience. I've visited many rail museums around the world and this is up there with the best. Monticello Railway Museum: Hours, Address, Monticello Railway Museum Reviews: 4.5/5. Add to favorites: Description Tour of the museum's historic collection of trains, a ride on a restored electric streetcar and a Behind-the-Scenes look into the restoration barn and a steam locomotive engine project. The staff were informative and happy to chat a while. Website +1 217-762-9011. 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