Illinois Railway Museum - Union, Illinois

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Illinois Railway Museum - Union, Illinois The project was begun in 1964 to have the museum located in Union.

Over the past 49 years, the Illinois Railway Museum has acquired over 375 pieces of equipment. 

Some of the equipment is: North Chicago Street Railroad 8, Horse Car built in 1859.

This is the largest railway museum in the country so if you are a train buff, you really will need to make a trip to Union and visit this fascinating place!  Recent achievements include construction of additional display and storage space (as of 1992 more than 1.5 miles of track was under roof), paving of depot platforms and sidewalks to improve visitor access and installation of the Spaulding interlocking tower.

Contributions toward the continued development of the Museum are received from more than 2500 individuals annually.

As a Museum in Motion, IRM will continue acquiring important artifacts to represent railroading in the United States.

Cable Car: Chicago City Railway 209 built in 1934.

Electric Street Cars: The museum has 23 different street cars on display.

Interurban Cars: Total in the collection: 37

Rapid Transit Cars: Total in the collection: 27

Electric Locomotives: Total in the collection: 11

Electric Work Equipment: Total in the collection: 14

Electric Box Motors and Freight Cars; Total in the collection: 12

Trolley Coaches: Total in the collection: 15

Motor Coaches: Total in the collection: 6

Steam Locomotives: Total in the collection: 25

Internal Combustion Locomotives: Total in the collection: 43

Internal Combustion Cars: Total in the collection: 2

Railroad Passenger and Baggage Cars: Total in the collection: 51

Steam Railroad Work Equipment: Total in the collection: 9

Internal Combustion Work Equipment: Total in the collection: 7

Freight Cars: Total in the collection: 87

The museum is open and a wonderful experience for all that visit.  Young and old, the trains will thrill you and make you want to come back time after time.

Phone: 800-BIG-RAIL

Location: 7000 Olson Rd., Union, Illinois

From Chicago
Take the Illinois Northwest Tollway (Interstate 90) to U.S. Route 20, Marengo exit. Drive Northwesterly on Route 20, about 4-1/2 miles to Union Road. Take Union Road north and follow the signs.

From Milwaukee and Eastern Wisconsin
Take Interstate 43 west to U.S. Route 14. Take U.S. Route 14 south to Illinois Route 23. Continue south on Illinois Route 23 to Illinois Route 176 to Union Road and follow the signs. Or take any road south to Illinois Route 176, Route 176 west beyond Illinois Route 47 for 5-1/2 miles to Union Road and follow the signs.

From Rockford and Western Wisconsin
Take U.S. Route 20 (or Interstate 90 and exit at Route 20 at Cherry Valley-Belvidere) through Marengo. About 1 mile east of Marengo, turn left on Union Road. Take Union Road through Union to Olson Road and follow the signs.