Illinois Railway Museum, Illinois, United States

4.5 (295 reviews) Monday: Spent 2-3 hours Ranking #1 in Union Speciality Museums

Family fun

The Illinois Railway Museum is the largest museum of its kind in America. Ride historic trains on the museum's five-mile demonstration railroad. See giant steam locomotives, powerful diesels and elegant electric cars on display and in operation. Enjoy educational displays, a train-themed playground for children, and immersive exhibits. Bring a picnic or dine at the Central Avenue Diner. The museum's collection includes such highlights as the "Nebraska Zephyr" streamliner, featured in the movie "A League of Their Own;" the 1941 "Electroliner" train which helped inspire Japan's famous Bullet trains; the last surviving "Green Hornet" streetcar from Chicago; and a 1918 steam locomotive originally built for export to Imperial Russia.
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Address

7000 Olson Rd, Union, IL 60180-9628

Mobile

+1 815-923-4391

Website

http://www.irm.org

Working hours

Monday :
Tuesday :
Wednesday :
Thursday :
Friday :
Saturday : 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday : 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Current local date and time now

Monday, May 13, 2024, 18:31

User Ratings

4.5 based on (295 reviews)

Excellent
68%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%

Reviews

  • 5Bugzie913 5:00 PM May 29, 2021
    The Trains Are Alive on Weekends
    The museum's trains come alive on weekends. On weekdays there's more than enough static displayed locomotives, rolling stock and railroad memorabilia to keep any rail fan happy, but on weekends the trains actually run. I saw two operating steam locomotives, several interurbans and two trolley cars, all available for rides with no additional charge beyond the museum's admission price. Unfortunately, Covid's effects are still being felt to some degree. Visitors are asked to wear masks inside buildings and train cars, and the diner is closed due to lack of staff, so bring lunch and use one of the many picnic tables on the grounds.
  • 5Robert F 5:00 PM Jan 13, 2022
    Great experience
    Visited here in August 2021. This has to be one of the most impressive and largest railroad museums in the country and well worth a daylong visit. I spent most of the day there seeing barn after barn of equipment and numerous exhibits. Enjoyed it thoroughly

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