Good evening everyone how are we all doing tonight fine and dandy. I hope well with the summer season fast approaching I plan on making a trip down to the ILL railroad museum over the memorial day weekend. Does anyone have any suggestions on what. I might want to see while I’m down there and also I was wondering if they still offered cab rides. I was down there one time before and i got to ride in the cab of an engine. Which was like the coolest thing for me cause. I never got to do anything like that before.
where is the illinois railroad museum located?
The Illinois Railway Museum is in (or near) Union, Illinois, off Interstate 90 between Elgin and Belvidere. It has the largest collection of equipment of anyone, and to say that it’s a diverse collection is an understatement. I would go there more often, except that I like my railroads live, not stuffed and mounted (and while they offer some trips, it’s just not the same).
By the way, I made the reference to Elgin and Belvidere advisedly–IRM’s trips are along a several-mile portion of the Elgin & Belvidere interurban line, restored by the Museum. It runs parallel to UP’s Belvidere Subdivision.
I’m not sure about cab rides but I think I read in the IRM’s “Rail&Wire” that a person can take the controls of a locomotive or electric train for a price. Someone else knows how much.
Things change all the time at the museum and always something “new” to see that you may not have seen before. Also the used book store is a place to find something you always wanted. The grounds are so large that you might miss something so be sure to wander all over.
no need for me to take the controls i do that everyday ive been to belvidere and spent 2 weeks up there i didnt know of any museum there or i would have went.