Illinois Railway Museum

Simply magical. We attended the Santa Train ride. Be sure to check the weather to be best equipped for rain, snow, heat, or chilly conditions. The train barns, museums, and general store were open and decorated with all things Christmas cheer! I recommend exploring the classic train cars in the barns. The staff was out of this world. The volunteer train conductor, Bob, and his team of elves made the train ride extra special with jokes and singing Happy Birthday to guests. The train ride itself featured a dancing Christmas light interior in time with holiday songs. We met many elves, Santa, and Mrs. Claus. The trolley is available to ride to view more holiday lights, for a trip back to the museum, and for parking. Most of the staff are volunteers, which adds to the atmosphere—you can tell everyone genuinely enjoys their volunteer duties. We can’t wait to return for more events!

We came here for our first time on the coldest night and had a wonderful time. The volunteers were outstanding and in great spirits despite the bitter cold, they worked well to make this such a delightful experience for our family. Thank you!! We will definitely be back.

First time experiencing the holiday train! It was so fun, festive and great for kids. On the train you receive a cookie, hot chocolate and get to meet Santa! It was a great experience. Make sure to take the small trolly ride at the end or the beginning to see the lights around the properly. Great and friendly staff.

This place is so fun! I grew up coming here, did Thomas and Friends when I was little and came for field trips in elementary school. Now grown I take my kids to the Holiday Train & we love coming here! The ticket cost might seem high but they are entirely volunteer based, and these volunteers love doing this and are so knowledgeable about everything there. I learn something new every time I go! Don’t forget to stop and watch the model trains run!

This museum is a must for rail enthusiasts, both casual and railfans. It has a wide range of engines and cars, in varying stages of restoration, from restored perfection to scrap. The displays are very hands on and detailed, more so than most rail museums. The volunteers are highly informed about the trains, and are super helpful and friendly. Did I mention the ticket included train rides and 9 giant warehouses of trains, and model trains as well? My boys were in heaven, and passed out instantly when we got in the car. EXCELLENT day trip!

Went with the family and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Seems a little pricey, but there is a lot of things to do and see. I wish you could go in more of the trains in the barns, or see in them at least. All the running trains were great - truly, CTA, and big diesel. Will go back again.

I was here for the holiday train a year ago. Lots of trains (and buses) to see here! I also rode the streetcar around the museum. I especially love all the wigwag signals here!

Went for "Day out with Thomas" and it was nicer than expected! model train layouts were good. Barn 3 we walked through some trains and they were nicely decorated with eg food set out to look the part. The old trains were fun to see, much more colorful than modern trains. The two hour drive from Chicago is a bit much, but this event was good and I imagine their events are worthwhile. Looking forward to their Christmas display.

The amount of equipment they have is impressive. If you have any interest in railroads you can definitely spend the day here. Wear some boots. Unfortunately they close early. 5pm is a lie. They really start closing at 4pm. This seems to be a common issue as my friend said this had happened to him two years prior as well. They even shut the door and turned the lights off on my friend and I when we were in one of the sheds without any announcement. The train rides were quite short. I expected more from them. It was difficult to ascertain when the trains were set to leave the station. Different staff members will give you different information on when trains operate. the last train for the day was at 3:30 and this information was not posted anywhere I thought the cheeseburgers and fries were excellent. They have a yellowjacket problem. There were many of them in various areas of the park. be careful if you are allergic. I think they could have better engagement for kids. The pumpkin patch was not much.

** Kind Staff ** ** Fun Time ** We have been going to the Illinois Railway Museum for about eight years now and I wanted to share the love. Take an amazing journey through time with these amazing machines. Honestly, whether you're interested in trains or not, you will be captivated by the history stored at the Illinois Railway Museum. Some of these old locomotives are incredible, where they've been, being able to take a peek inside or actually walk into is so cool. This especially great if you have midwest pride, lots from the midwest. Fun stuff for the entire family as well. Train rides with Santa, ride Thomas the Train, great times. They have a dinner that slings a decent burger. There's been magic shows, music and food trucks. Despite the drive the family loves this place and we'll be back! Thanks Illinois Railway Museum!

This place is a worthy! We love the history of the trains. The museum itself is worth seeing. The dinner at the train was phenomenal the volunteers servers were amazing and so friendly and kind! Everyone in Illinois must try this at some point in their life.

If you are a fan of trains, this is a must see. Admission fee includes a fee train ride. During the weekend they also offer trolley rides.

This place is awesome and full of history. Great for kids! Knowledgeable employees!!!

We had purchased tickets for 4 adults (plus my 11 month old daughter attended, but was free) for the holiday railway experience, and I was honestly pleasantly surprised! The trains weren't super decorated, but the lights kept my little one entertained, and our conductor was such a doll and allowed my daughter to try on her hat which was super cute!! I think the tickets ($22/person + tax/fees) were definitely worth the price as you received hot chocolate, a cookie, a Holiday Railway Museum patch, a bell and a mug on your way out (I skipped the mug as I have 500) on top of the 40 minute train ride which was the perfect length for an 11 month old. There were also antique trains you could take photos on and walk inside of which was super cool. And there was a short trolley ride that you could take from the entrance to the holiday railway experience. Overall, super fun and totally worth the drive. Plus the price was far more reasonable than some of the other holiday railway experiences closer to the city. Definitely check it out if you have little ones!!

Such a unique fun way to spend a Sunday. You got to walk through some of the trains and push buttons at the toy train museum. The only thing I would recommend is packing a lunch as those areas were not as clean as the rest of the museum

We had a great visit to the museum during the Thomas and Friends event. The staff was super helpful and nice. There were lots of kids activities including sand pit , bubble machine, bounce house, playground, inflatables. Plenty of food trucks , food stands to get cool treats and lunch. They have bathrooms all over, a nursing/changing bus , port o potties and indoor bathrooms. If you have small kids bring a stroller, it's alot of walking. Also recommended bringing some cash, a hat and sunscreen. Some vendors take only cash , and no one sells sunscreen

Great attraction and museum! A wonderful way to spend a day or a few hours. Trains everywhere! Over 450 to see! Our favorite the steam engines! Also loved the train ride! We were lucky enough to be there when they were unloading Percy! Thomas the train had already been delivered! That attraction will be the 13th of this Ju,y! If you miss that date there will be others in the future. The price is very reasonable to enjoy this museum. There are vending machines throughout the area for drinks and snacks. Cash or credit cards accepted in them. Also a few playgrounds for children. Areas for sitting and resting.

Great place for kids and anyone that loves trains. The trains are not climate controlled and there's some walking involved so keep the weather in mind. Food options were sparse (construction on the cafe) so suggest packing it in.

$20 tickets, per person, plus service charges, for a back and forth ride in a train that you can't see out the windows? Windows were so old and dirty we couldn't see anything! When we asked if they could clean the windows or do something so we could see outside, they said "No, but you can enjoy the light show." I would be ashamed if I owned this place, charged these prices, and this was the product. Ripping off families. Shameful. Absolutely not worth the price.

This is only my second visit to the Illinois Railway Museum and it's as impressive as the first one. This is a low key museum run by volunteers mostly from the railroad or public transit industries and they really make you feel welcomed. They are really passionate about sharing their experiences and answer any question you may have. Yes they have rides but for me the highlight was really the extensive array of trains on display, from old private Pullman cars to really humongous steam engines. This museum really have it all and is a must do for kids and anyone with even just a slight interest in the history of rail in the US and the Chicago and the Midwest area. Always a nice visit.

loved the santa train but it was on the expensive side of fun activities. but for where it's located not too bad for some fun!

Cool place to go and explore. So close to home. Definitely were disappointed when we found out Thomas the train wasn't real and was only a shell.

My parents recommended this place for my train loving son. It was a bit of a trek from Chicago (about 1 hour out) but it was worth it! This was a huge place with tons of trains to see everywhere. They offer rides in trolley and steam trains. The train was down and took almost an hour to fix which in the heat was no fun so we didn't get a chance to ride the others given how long that took. The gift store was impressive and we even got some used model train parts as well. We loved the bookstore and playground as well. Though it was nice to have a diner there, they didn't have a ton of food options and my picky eater, remained hungry because there was nothing they wanted. If you are in the area, highly recommend

The Illinois Railway Museum is one of the most organized museums in the world. There is so much to see and the train rides are excellent. They have a nice dinner where great food is served. One needs to plan their trip and consider spending two days there. A great place for kids and for those of us that remember another era. A top attraction.

A very beautiful railroad museum which is a hidden local gem and is about 1 hr drive from Chicago. Admission is only $15 per adult and includes the entire exhibit, train rides, and parking. You don't need to be a train enthusiast to appreciate and have a good time at this museum. There are about 8 barns of locos, cars, trams, buses, and other vehicles. Whole it sounds like a lot it only takes about 2-3 hours to go around the whole area. Most of the trains and exhibit objects are from different times of the 20th century. You could see locos and cars from 1900's as well as 1980's and even newer. It is recommended to come during nice weather as barns are not climate controlled and there's a lot of fun outdoors to do here. You can have free rides on the actual steam trains which last about 40 mins and are a great way to experience old times and appreciate everything railroads. Very fascinating. You can also hop on an old tram and go around a smaller loop. The only thing I wish they had is guided tours or audio tours. While there are some signs to read next to each car of loco, there isn't a lot of information on them and I'm sure there is a lot more to learn. Also, there are only a few cars you can actually get inside. Most of the items can only be viewed from the outside, no climbing is allowed. As a bonus the museum store has some books and railroad kits / apparel for everyone interested.

I spent the Sunday of Labor Day weekend at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union. I am not a railroad buff, my brother is. This museum was awesome!! They have working locomotives, trains and 9 huge buildings filled with railroad cars, locomotives of all era's and styles, including restored sleeping cars and former Chicago el cars. It was informative as everything is labeled, often with some additional history. I've lived in Illinois most of my life but this was my 1st visit to this museum; long overdue. My only suggestion (to the IRM directly) Is for them to add eye level lights in building 9 with the locomotives because it would allow us to get a great view of the lower parts and wheels of these unbelievable machines. Union is not a long drive from Chicago or the suburbs. Get yourself there. You won't be disappointed.

It was a rainy day but despite this we had a really fun time! We came here for the Thomas the Train event with my 2 year old and he had a great time. The train ride itself was just okay, little slow for his taste, but he really enjoyed the park area, the old trains, and a few of the other activities they had for him. Overall, for the price (very inexpensive) it was a great deal!

Such a cool place! We came here on Sunday and went through the barns as well as got to do "take the throttle" experience on a diesel train. The food and drink and museum prices were fair too. Must see- highly suggest the annual membership since you really need to spend a lot of time here taking it all in. Also available to ride the trains too!!! Jim our conductor who taught us to drive the train was amazing

Holiday train express. Santa was there!!!! 40 minute train ride. Cars were all decorated Christmas music playing in each car Greeted by Santa's elves. Hot chocolate Chocolate chip cookies Jingle bell for all kids Caroling Coffee mug for all adults Santa visited every car Elves were very efficient The conductor punched our tickets to the North Pole. Great event!

My son is a Thomas the train fanatic! This was our second year doing day out with Thomas, though he had a great time, I was a little disappointed this year with how scattered and unorganized everything seemed. Overall my son had fun so that's all that matters!

This is a fun place to go walk around. Especially if you have people who love trains. It's nice because you can bring your own food and have a picnic while you're there. But they do have a diner place where you can get some food or snacks. The choices are limited but they have hot dogs, pizza, Chips, cookies and fountain drinks and bottles of water. They are currently enforcing the usuals of masks while in buildings and on the trains which is nice and they have hand sanitizer around.

Once a year visit from Thomas the Train is awesome, I would come here with family even without Thomas. Old trains that kids can climb and ride.

One of the best railroad museums in the country Not only a museum, also a demonstration railroad with functioning equipment Weekdays electric equipment is running that you can ride, streetcarsand trolleys cars, You have to check their schedule On some weekends other equipment is running Such as diesel locomotives Plenty us also on static display Such as many vintage Chicago elevated train cars. There is a loop that a vintage street car runs on making several stops around the grounds Handy for people who are tired from walking or mobility impared. There is a small children's play area outdoors, a food consession building with indoor seating. Gift shop building. Plenty of parking Also there is a nearby campground if you are a camper of RVing in the area. This is a must visit if you are a railfan or just like trains

Very interesting place if you like history and old trains and commuter cars. We came for the Holiday Express Train which might have been its inaugural run. It is a much less expensive alternative to the Polar Express out of Union Station, as long as you don't mind going to Union, Il. The ride is 30 minutes and everyone gets a cookie and hot chocolate. The adults get a mug, the kiddos get a bell. Santa and his elves come by to see what your kids want for Christmas. The event is definitely geared towards 4 years old and up, any younger and they might be bored or confused about what is going on. As a suggestion, and only if it isn't a huge deal, perhaps putting some holiday displays along the route for people to look at out the window might be a nice touch. As for the museum itself, there isn't a lot to keep young kids amused. Understandably, there are only so many train cars they can allow people to walk on because many are over 100 years old.

I thought the Disney Princesses were annoying...and then I met Thomas and his scary eyes. But Thomas and his scary eyes make my 1 1/2 year old son very happy, which is why we drove over an hour to the Illinois Railway Museum for the annual Day Out with Thomas.* I was expecting complete chaos, but have to give the folks behind Day Out with Thomas major props for keeping it as organized as possible. It helps that you purchase tickets for your exact Thomas train ride (yes, you get to ride the "real" Thomas train) ahead of time. Ours promptly took off at 10am as planned and returned 20 minutes later. From there we enjoyed pics with Sir Topham Hatt , dancing with a band, a magic show, Thomas tattoos & way too much shopping in the Thomas gift shop. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the typical carnival type of food (pretzels, corn dogs, popcorn, etc), but I should have known to pack lunch. My 1/2 year old Thomas lover had the best time...and his 3 1/2 year old Princess loving sister may have even had more fun. We'd definitely make the trip again next year unless (of course) they become too "cool" for Thomas & his friends. Not sure I'd make the trip to the Illinois Railway Museum for a typical day that didn't involve Thomas. My son liked seeing all the trains, but for the drive we could just spend the day at our nearby metra station. If you do find yourself in this area Wild West Town** is nearby so you can make a day of it. * http://www.irm.org/thomas/ ** http://www.yelp.com/biz/donleys-wild-west-town-union

What an adventure! This was my 3rd visit to (IRM) and by far the best ever. For all vintage train lovers this is the place to be. To step back in time to see and learn a bit of American history. What really got things moving from sea to sea. IRM offers a deep look into Early American Railroad history. Just think we would not have our big cities or our little towns if it were not for the railroads. Not to mention the fabulous collection of trains. I was in awe on this visit. I road on the vintage Burlington EMD E5 (Silver Pilot) in the cabin with the engineers. This was the ultimate for me!! To be in the cabin and feel the speed of this beauty. Also not to mention the crash course in operations I received from 2 of the nicest engineers of this classic train. I also road in the rear train cars which was the iconic Nebraska Zephyr which was being pulled by the E5. Simply amazing how much of a smooth luxury ride this was. Another highlight was the Frisco 1630 Steam Engine which was built in 1918. Another amazing beauty! From what I understand it was originally built for the Russian Govt. IRM also has the last remaining Chicago Green Hornet Street (electric car). This too was a very smooth ride and very spacious inside. IRM is a place to visit to take the entire family to learn about Trains and Railway History. What away to support the work that all these phenomenal volunteers are doing here which includes countless hours in restoration and preserving railroad history.

Went on a Tuesday. Trolley driver shared little about the trolley except to make clear that everyone is a volunteer. No one gets paid. He made no effort to engage the young passenger kids and ignored the no safety of passengers embarking and disembarking. The posted signage on the museum shop and ticket office said 4:30. We went to visit the gift shop at 3:15 and it was closed. The girls inside said the time was on the front dour, which was broken and signage directed us away from that door. No mention was made of early closure when we purchased tickets. A disappointing visit on a weekday.

Enthusiastic, knowledgeable volunteers and loads of historic trains. Expanding constantly to add to the charm of this fun outdoor museum.

We took my eight-year-old nephew here, who LOVES trains. And he had a blast. We got to ride on a train and he loved the display barns. There where also a bunch of trains that rode around the display barns and were very fun to watch. With all that being said there where a few hitches. The train ride we went on was supposed to leave around 11 but didn't end up leaving until 11:30. My nephew and all of the other kids inside where really antsy, mostly due to excitement, but then the engines would start and it would seem like we were going only to have them turn off again. I understand that these are old train and have their kinks, but perhaps the staff should make sure they're ready to go before letting people with little kids board. The train ride was also 45 minutes long, and I wasn't quite expecting it to be that long. If you want to ride more than one train the rides really cut into your time to do other things. I also wouldn't eat at the restaurant. There was barely anything there to eat and it was overpriced and the staff kept on leaving behind the kitchen doors. I could have left without paying and no one would have noticed. Bring your own lunch and you'll have a better time.

We just spent the day at IRM. A friend recommended it, knowing our son would love it. Success!! He said this is the best birthday trip EVER! We purposefully came on a day with no events so he could take his time. We also lucked into it being a day they ran the steam engine. We were able to ride the steam engine, the trolley (x2), and the electric car. The staff and crew are all so kind and knowledgeable. Excellent day!!

We visited the museum in Aug. 2017, and what a surprise!!!! My husband, at first thought the $15 each was too high. That was until he realized it included unlimited rides on the three engines that where running that day. He was sold! We had a wonderful time wandering around the 100 acres and 20 or so buildings. One barn is about as long as a football field with only steam and electric locomotives - 3 across. The people are wonderful and the facility is just unbelievable. We saw all types of working and not working stock. It is a must for anyone that loves trains or has children!

This is definitely one of the best train museums in America because there is two steam trains running (Frisco 1630 and the Shay 5), then theres streetcars running on the trolley loop which is handy for the people who cant walk that well, there is a diner at the museum where you can see trolleys running on the back of the diner while you eat with very good food, has a great scenery by the country side (plains), and every year they have a car show (Annual transport extravaganza).

Yesterday was probably my 40th visit over ~40 years. My husband came here as a teen, so we started coming, then brought our children through the years. It continues to impress me. The vintage transportation show yesterday was the first time attending this mega event, even tho it has been held for many years. Crowded? Oh my yes. Well handled? Oh my, yes. The little ticket booth worked hard to keep the line moving, even tho we arrived at 1pm when the massive lot was practically full. Since we have riden the trains so many other times, we focused on cars. There is an incredible successful effort from this volunteer organization, on a tight budget. Some big lottery winners should share their pot of gold with this museum. As a connisour of museums nationwide, many are glitzy and sophisticated high tech places. This is not so much. It is more real world with grass, but not mannicured lawns, diner fast food , not a dining culinary experience, and incredible value for admission ticket price, not a slice of a paycheck. The people are outstanding, including the fellow in a big orange truck helping a stranded dead battery car from Michigan. Special kudos to the diner workers, again possibly all or more volunteers than paid folks, who had the line to the entry door move quickly. Seating outside was pressed into essential use, as well as the limited indoor space. The burger was acceptable, and just cooked, the fries were better than plenty of other chain restaurants and the drink assortment limited but more than adequate. (Bottled drinks aplenty, fountain drinks do not come with cups and straw, but a $5 big cup with lid and own straw with free refills that day was a steal. Vending machines for drinks and a steel structure outdoor quick serve place provided other drink options.) Trains? Too many to even discuss, but well worth your trip. The Thomas weekends are coming up the next two weekends, so if you have a child, do not miss this chance for fun. Then keep coming back, even with a membership, which is another good investment. Break our personal record of 40+ years of attendance.

The Illinois Railway Museum in Union is a little boy's life size train set dream come true! Over the years I've been to quite a few railway museums. This is by far the largest in terms of square miles and rolling stock. They have Shore-liners, GG-1, Zephyrs, Trolley or LRV, Steam, diesel and electric engines. They have Milwaukee Road, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Burlington Northern, Chicago & North Western, Union Pacific. I first started coming here with my son's Boy Scout troop. There is an actual Scouting Merit Badge that boys can earn for Railroading. It's an all day event and includes early admission to the Museum and an opportunity to ride some trains. IRM has a five mile stretch of working rail line which you can ride a mid Twentieth Century Pullman car and steam engine. The Museum has been used on various Hollywood movies, Tom Hank's "League of Their Own" is one example. Keep in mind, the Illinois Railway Museum is a non-profit 19c3 organized in 1953 for educational purposes "The Museum is supported primarily by contributions and by revenues derived from the visiting public. Volunteers serving without pay do most of the work. All contributions to the Museum are tax deductible!" I've been a member for awhile. Membership Rates: $40 - Individual Associate $65 - Family Associate $95 - Individual Sustaining $140 - Family Sustaining Enjoy!

This is a fun place to take your family to on a weekend to have some fun. Upsides, plenty of trains to see and walk through, food available on site, some days are free if you live locally. Downsides, the whole place can be seen in about half a day (even with little kids), food is outrageously overpriced, gift shop price gouges you pretty badly, staff is not great, I understand this not a theme park making a lot of money and most are probably volunteering BUT! That doesn't mean you Can't smile or just be kind to people. If you eat before hand, don't go to the gift shops to buy something you can get anywhere else, just go spend time with your family and ignore the staff you'll have fun, that's why I can give this 4 stars instead of a three.

Amazing collection of trains from every climb and place and fun for the whole family!!!

Excellent place to take a little boy who loves TRAINS....little guy is 5 years old....and he LOVED it. We got lucky with mild weather, I cant imagine being here either in the heat of summer, or the cold of winter. The trains are all in enclosed sheds ("barns") and you have to walk between them (with no a/c in them), its all outside and there is nowhere to hide from the sun/rain/wind. The place itself is great, but 1/2 of a day is more than enough. There are several trains in each "barns", but most are NOT OPEN....so you can only walk along side them....pretty boring...even for the 5 year old....the ones you can go on are awesome - like being transported back 40 years or more. We LOVED the train ride there....there is an old depot (that the little guy LOVED)...and an old train that goes on a 45 minute ride......fun, fun, fun. We were there on a Friday before school was out, and it was pretty empty. But I can imagine being there on the weekend, or when its busy, because there is not that much to see/do. You HAVE TO GO if any of your kids love trains.........

This was fun for the railroad enthusiast. The locomotives were incredible. We did not take the electric train ride, but we did enjoy looking through all of the barns. The lunch was just okay. Hot dogs and bratwurst. It tasted fine however. The staff is very friendly. It is definitely a niche thing to enjoy. You really have to have a love of trains and locomotives.

Great for adult "train foamers" because of the depth and breadth of the rail collection, and great for children because of the train rides and kid-oriented displays (hand cars, models, etc). Food and drinks available and great souvenir/book shop too.

This is a great place for train enthusiasts. They have a lot to look at, the grounds are spacious so it's nice to walk around. They have a picnic area, so it's nice to bring a picnic lunch and have a nice day out here!

Happy Holiday Railway at the Illinois Railway Museum was disappointing. The extra money spent above the regular admission really didn't deliver on the potential holiday charm possible. The event was mostly perfunctory without much flair. The staff, dressed in elf and other Christmas related costume, passed out hot chocolate, cookies and souvenir mugs without any panache whatsoever. The train was nicely decorated with lights inside and Santa seemed genuine as he passed out souvenir jingle bells to kids on the "nice" list but the rest of the out and back ride was a bore. Having said that the Illinois Railway Museum is a gem. The grounds were attractive with facilities to accommodate most groups and individuals. The collection of trains, signals and other railway related artifacts was impressive and would certainly intrigue anyone with the slightest interest in trains. I have no doubt I'll be back for more.

Cannot believe I lived in the area for 20+ years and never went to this museum. Frankly, I'm AMAZED that something as great as this is in rural Union, IL. The museum has numerous barns filled with trains from every era -- streetcars, elevated train cars, steam locomotives and passenger trains from the mid-20th Century. Incredible. Most of them are closed off (can't go inside), but you can walk up and down the barns to check them out from the outside, etc. Lots of plaques filled with interesting information on the history of the trains and the railroads themselves. Awe inspiring stuff. Took a train ride on one of the streetcars and had a great time with the engineer/tour guide -- informative and fun. Weather was perfect and that definitely helped to enjoy it even more. If you haven't been, do yourself a favor and check out this GREAT museum.

Took my five year old daughter and 3 year old son and they absolutely loved it! They have a ton of activities to do. Many different types of train rides and it was awesome to see the old train engines. Great place for a family day out! Would highly recommend. Of course Thomas is the main attraction but only available on certain dates. When available, I would recommend you buy tickets in advance.

Such a gem! It's truly so great to check out these amazing old trains and take a ride into history! We are thankful this museum is around and certainly love hearing the whistles and visiting the train cars. Great for kids and all ages.

Visited on 23 July 2019. Have wanted to visit this museum for years, and finally did. Be prepared for a lot of walking. Wear comfortable shoes, and dress for the weather. Most of the attractions are inside of barns ,however they are not climate controlled. Can get breezy out in the middle of nowhere! Bring a light jacket or denim type shirt to wear over your T-shirt. Now the fun part!! There are trains , electric, steam and diesel to be seen. Trams, buses and inter-urban rail cars to be seen. Vehicles on display range in age from the 1800s to relatively recently. There was an early 1940s streetcar we got to ride through the park on. If you ride this train, make sure to look at the advertising along the top of the windows!! The conductor let me blow the whistle! Thats right, I got to toot my own horn!! Check their web site to find out what train type is running on the day you want to visit. They change regularly. Be prepared for a 1 1/2 to 2 hr. drive from Chicago. Bring a cooler with water or Soda for the trip and while walking around the exhibits. The is some climbing, with some high stepping required. There is a snack bar with the usual food choices. They also had a Bratwurst that was absolutely delicious! Put a quarter in the Tribune or Sun-Times newspaper box and get a nice calendar. There is a gift shop with transportation related hats ,shirts , books, toys, and more. Good for all ages, enjoy a day away from the city and enjoy the background quietness. Walk around see all the trains and busses, have a very pleasant day and Choo-Choose your favorite train!! Sorry, was going to add pictures but apparently didn't save any!!

We had a blast at the Museum today. It was very hot, but breezes and well-placed benches helped a lot. Six different trains were running, in addition to the trolley. (See IRM.org, and go to "Tickets" for the types of trains on any given weekend). The dining car was nicely air conditioned, but not overwhelmingly so, and the diner staff were lovely. Be sure to visit the Museum gift shop. But be prepared for little kids to want everything! I saw two screamers today. There are several trolley cars on Campus. They circle around the main campus every 20 minutes or so. They make several stops of interest along the circuit, and visitors can deboard, and reboard at will. At one stop, there is a depot for train boarding. The depot is full of memorabilia, including a waiting room, a ticket window, a weight scale for luggage, and of course a lot of information. Next to the depot is a lovely playground, and a lot of shaded areas for R&R, and picnicking. People with strollers and rollator walkers were able to leave them safely parked there. By the way, beverage vending machines are located in several outdoor locations in case you get thirsty while away from the diner. PS: Plenty of outdoor seating next to the dining car. The trains and trolleys had volunteer staff/docents who served as Engineers and Conductors. Most of them shared information about their particular trains as they traveled or as they idled in-wait for the go-ahead from Dispatch. Most of the six trains ran for 20 minute round trips, and one for about 40. They have a schedule, which is followed as closely as possible. If any Volunteer didn't know when a particular train was next due, they quickly found out from another gentleman. The campus has several barns that house non-running trains (some of which have appeared in well-known, popular movies). We walked along the train "platforms" which do not have to be climbed to access. There is however, a slight incline. Some of the cars were accessible to visitors. The platforms have railings on either side. Mr. Neil saw us taking pictures of each other, and he kindly offered to take one with both of us. He also called us young! Our first ride of the day was with Conductor Randy A. and Engineer Jake.(apologies for forgetting how to spell your four-syllable last name). As it was just noon, he paused our departure to remind us passengers that this was indeed Memorial Day, a day of solemn remembrance. He discussed the sacrifices of our lost soldiers as well. He played a patriotic song for us while we listened in respectful silence, then thanked us for our patience. For me, that was the best part of the day. I was a little choked up at the moment, so I couldn't thank him just then, but later in the day, I was on his car again. I told him that as the widow of a Veteran, his observance had meant a lot to me. I learned from other passengers that he actually did this several more times during the day. I hope they took an opportunity to thank him. We can't wait to visit again!

This is a great place to bring guests and visitors to the small town of Marengo-Union. Always a good crowd and nice people. Unusual one of a kind exhibits. Something for everyone.