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Illinois Railway Museum

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The largest railroad museum in the United States is right here in Union, Illinois, about 55 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. Fitting that the Illinois Railway Museum was founded in 1953 near the largest junction of rail lines and freight operations in American history.

We left the rubber on the road for the steel wheels that traversed the country. This was our inaugural journey boarding from the Depot, and our first run from the 50th Avenue “L” Station. Not where, but when were we?

Time to turn back the clock.

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Vintage signage align with the track layouts.
All aboard the Traction Caboose Train! Let’s ride the Illinois Central Gulf 199458 – 1970 cupola caboose.
Tour the local countryside from the caboose of the Caboose Train.
Illinois Railway Museum is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, run entirely by its volunteers.
Most of the volunteers are not professional railroaders; instead, we survey: electricians, lawyers, teachers, construction workers, doctors, and more.
This ticket window booth was built in 1920 and served the North Shore Line in its Milwaukee terminal until 1963.
Gold Coast Limited observation car no. 10 was built in 1889—look at her shine.
Chicago Great Western X38 snow plow circa 1936 looks like it’s ready to cleave a new pass.
Traveling by train is always a first class experience of comfort and leisure.
The natural ice industry relied on ice cars and these industrious tools.
On to the South Shore Line, signal crossings, more barns and their trains, and another line to ride.
“Snowpiercer” and “Big Alice,” meet Union Pacific 900075, one of the last steam-powered rotary snow plows ever built.
Built in 1960 by General Electric, the Union Pacific 18 is the most powerful locomotive ever built in America, rated at 10,000 HP.
The Fort Wayne & Wabash Valley 504, also known as the “Talisman,” was crafted in 1906 as one of the most opulent interurban cars of its time.
The Nebraska Zephyr was built in 1936, and today rolls out for rare excursions, pulled by the last surviving E5, CB&Q 9911A “Silver Pilot.”
CB&Q 225 “Juno” is a lounge-observation car, part of the five-car Burlington Route Nebraska Zephyr, featuring high-back rotating lounge chairs as well as panoramic views from the back of this car.
Trains are acquired in every condition, some a heavy give and take of rust for sweat.
Steam locomotives stand as the mighty giants in railway history.
Rock Island 938 is not operational for tours but is fully restored.
This 1898 Rapid Transit Motor Car ran from Wilson Avenue to downtown Chicago, its last operation in 1954 on the Evanston Express.
The interior is fully restored with its “bowling alley” seating furnished in Japan by the last company to handcraft these wicker benches.
Chicago & Northwestern 1689 is a diesel freight locomotive designed as a “road switcher” for general freight train service.
The Duluth Missabe & Iron Range 84, originally owned by U.S. Steel, used to deliver taconite (low-grade iron ore) from Northern Minnesota to the docks of Lake Superior, and the SS Edmund Fitzgerald.
After its industrial service, Duluth Missabe & Iron Range 84 was repurposed on the Marquette & Huron Mountain tourist railroad in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
From this tour, we rolled past the Diesel Locomotive Restoration Shop.
The Santa Fe letters originally topped the Railway Exchange Building overlooking Grant Park in downtown Chicago.
Put on your railroad engineer hat, and watch the wheels go ’round in the Model Railroad Exhibit.

I really love to watch them roll. Everyone has a leaning to be ahead of the curve, especially when it’s buried behind a blind bend or shining in the light at the end of the tunnel. We can stand in the caboose to see where we’ve been or sit at the controls in the engine with a clear view of the new. Take the wheel, press the brake, pull the shifter to “D,” and don’t look back. Illinois Railway Museum is your next stop.

To learn more and plan your visit to Illinois Railway Museum, click Illinois Railway Museum

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38 thoughts on “Illinois Railway Museum”

  6. Very interesting place and another location I wasn’t even aware of having lived in the IL all my life – thanks for sharing. We have a small museum near us called Wheels O’ Time Museum that I’ve been meaning to visit for a long time.

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  11. Thanks for your like of my post, ” Jewish Prophets 3 – Isaiah Chapters 1- 2.;” you are very kind. Btw, I love your train pics. There is a very good video about trains, by Arlo Guthry, “The Train They Call The City Of New Orleans.” I think that you will like it.

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  12. I’m sure it was fascinating to visit this museum. I was particularly intrigued by the Rock Island Locomotive. The Rock Island Railroad was the first that connected Colorado Springs directly to a major city in the east, linking it to Chicago.

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    1. Charla, you would love Illinois Railway Museum. There’s special event trains for Halloween and the holidays too. Thank you for reading and maybe we’ll cross paths or switch tracks! 🚂

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