Illinois Railway Museum

The Illinois Railway Museum is a railway museum in Union, northern Illinois, displaying over 500 rail vehicles across a site of more than 100 acres (40 hectares). Visitors find steam locomotives, diesel engines, electric streetcars and passenger coaches from different eras of American rail transport.

A group of rail enthusiasts founded the museum in 1953 with the purchase of a single electric interurban car from Indiana. The collection moved to its current site in Coral Township in 1964, where the grounds expanded considerably over the following decades.

The name recalls the original focus on electric railway equipment from Illinois and neighboring states, which visitors can still see operating on restored tracks. The site feels like a working train station from the mid-20th century, with volunteers maintaining and preparing historic vehicles for passenger rides throughout the grounds.

The site is open for visits and train rides from April through October, with steam locomotives running mainly during summer months. Access to older coaches can be difficult for people with mobility issues, though staff members assist with boarding when needed.

The facility acquired a 130-foot (40-meter) turntable from Union Pacific's former depot in Denver in 2016, intended to support storage and maintenance of large steam locomotives. This turntable is among the largest of its kind in the United States and allows rotation of heavy engines within a planned roundhouse.

Location: Coral Township

Inception: 1953

Elevation above the sea: 266 m

Fee: Yes

Address: 7000 Olson Road, Union, Illinois, 60180

Opening Hours: January - March off; Monday-Friday 10:00-16:00; Saturday-Sunday 10:30-17:00

Website: https://irm.org

GPS coordinates: 42.22778,-88.52859

Latest update: December 20, 2025 13:15