Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Union, Illinois · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesOpen April to October; weekends only through October 25, 2026

The Illinois Railway Museum in Union describes itself as the largest railway museum in the United States: more than twenty structures on 100 acres, five display barns of historic equipment, and working trains that carry visitors all day on operating days.

  • Largest railway museum in the US
  • More than 20 structures on 100 acres
  • Unlimited train rides with admission
  • 1851 East Union Depot
  • Train-themed playground
  • Open April to October

Illinois Railway Museum at a glance

Hours
April: Sundays, 11 am to 3 pm. May to September: weekends 11 am to 4 pm, plus weekdays Memorial Day to Labor Day 11 am to 3 pm. October: weekends 11 am to 3 pm
Admission
2026 weekends May to October: adults $20, seniors and youth $18, ages 2 to 12 $16. Weekdays and April weekends: $14, $12 and $11. Under 2 free
Train rides
Unlimited rides included with general admission; electric trains hourly, steam or diesel on summer weekends, streetcar loop May to September
Seasonal events
Bunny Trolley Hop, Pullman Weekend, Day Out With Thomas, Diesel Days, Vintage Transport Extravaganza, Trains and Tunes, Pumpkin Train, Happy Holiday Railway
Plan for
Most of a day
Best for
Families with young kids and serious rail fans alike
Best ages
Toddlers to teens
Parking
Free parking on all operating days
Accessibility
Exhibit buildings are wheelchair accessible.

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Illinois Railway Museum? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Union.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A museum in motion, kept running by its departments of volunteers

The Illinois Railway Museum sits on Olson Road in Union, about 55 miles northwest of downtown Chicago and roughly 35 miles beyond O'Hare. Directory listings date the museum to 1953 and credit it with more than 450 pieces of rolling stock, and the museum itself says it holds the largest collection of historic railway equipment in America. Its own motto, a museum in motion, explains the difference: much of that collection is meant to run.

The range is wide on purpose. The museum's collection reaches from horse-drawn streetcars to million-pound steam locomotives, from sleek streamliners to everyday boxcars, and from 1800s steam engines to Chicago 'L' cars. Electric railways get as much attention as mainline steam, which reflects the Chicago region's long history of streetcars, interurbans and rapid transit.

The work behind it is done by people who keep restoring and adding. In 2026 alone, Diesel Department volunteers repainted Ingersoll-Rand 91, the museum's oldest diesel locomotive, in red, white and blue colors it once wore for the nation's Bicentennial. The museum added a first-generation Railbox boxcar from 1975 to its freight collection, and in September a 1958 GM city transit bus, Cincinnati Newport & Covington 283, arrived in Union after being donated.

Partner groups make the campus richer still. The Milwaukee Road Historical Association runs a Milwaukee Road Museum and Archives on certain summer Saturdays, and the Chicago & North Western Historical Society keeps its archives building on the grounds. Shop presentations, offered to groups, are given by the volunteers who maintain the cars and locomotives, which says a lot about who keeps this place moving.

Five barns, a depot from 1851 and a streetcar loop

Plan on a full day. The campus spreads more than twenty structures across 100 acres, including the 1851 East Union Depot, Spaulding Tower, the Schroeder Mercantile Store gift shop and the Central Diner, which is built around an original 1930s roadside diner. On open days your ticket covers unlimited rides: electric trains run hourly, steam or diesel trains join them on summer weekends, and streetcars circle the streetcar loop.

Between rides, walk the display barns. Barn 3 holds restored Pullman sleeping cars, private cars and dining cars. Barn 6 has interurban cars and electric railway freight and maintenance equipment, Barn 7 traces the history of street railways, Barn 8 shelters restored Chicago 'L' cars, and Barn 9 is home to the biggest steam engines. A Model Railroad Exhibit with three operating layouts, a signal display along Barn 4, rotating exhibit cars in Yard 5 and the Post Office Gallery round things out.

Don’t miss

  1. Barn 9 steam giantsThe museum's largest steam locomotives are displayed here, and the scale of them is hard to grasp until you stand beside one.
  2. Barn 8 Chicago 'L' carsRestored rapid transit cars from Chicago, a collection that runs right up to recently retired CTA equipment.
  3. 1851 East Union DepotA historic depot on the grounds that also holds restrooms and can be rented for private events.
  4. The streetcar loopStreetcars run on their own loop on weekends from May through September, a short and easy ride for small kids.
  5. Ingersoll-Rand 91The museum's oldest diesel locomotive, freshly repainted by volunteers in 2026 in its red, white and blue Bicentennial scheme.
  6. Model Railroad ExhibitThree operating model layouts, plus a fourth under construction, in a heated and air-conditioned building with a hobby shop.

Rides all day, a playground and a 1930s diner

Kids can ride as many trains as they like on a regular open day, which makes this an easy place to let a train-loving child set the pace. Streetcars on the loop make a short first ride, and on summer weekends there is a steam or diesel train too. A train-themed playground and picnic tables give everyone a break, and families are welcome to bring their own lunch.

Children under 2 ride free. Exhibit buildings are not heated or air-conditioned, so dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes; the model railroad, gallery, store and diner are climate controlled. The museum reminds families to look both ways at every track and to expect a train on any track at any time, and climbing on equipment is only allowed where boarding is marked.

Plan your visit: tips for Illinois Railway Museum

  • Buy tickets online to save time at the gate.
  • Last admission is 30 minutes before the last scheduled train.
  • No pets except service animals.
  • Special fare days need a separate ticket and do not honor passes.
  • The Central Diner serves food from mid-May; picnics are welcome, alcohol is not.

The calendar is packed with special days. The Pumpkin Train runs in late October (October 25 in 2026), and the Happy Holiday Railway brings holiday trains to Union in December. Earlier in the year come the Bunny Trolley Hop, Pullman Weekend with sleepers and coaches open for inspection, Day Out With Thomas, Diesel Days and the Vintage Transport Extravaganza on the first Sunday in August. Many are special fare days with their own tickets. For more seasonal ideas, see our guides to Christmas train rides in Illinois and Halloween train rides in Illinois.

Volunteers, members and partner societies

Volunteer departments do the restoration and operating work, from repainting diesels to giving shop talks, and historical societies for the Milwaukee Road and Chicago & North Western keep archives on the grounds. Visitors can support the museum through membership (members get in with their card), volunteering, donations of money, paperwork or artifacts, group charters and purchases at the Schroeder Mercantile Store.

More rail stops around northern Illinois

The Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin is about 20 miles away and makes a gentle second trolley ride. Rochelle Railroad Park is about 35 miles west, and the East Troy Railroad Museum is about 39 miles north across the Wisconsin line. You can also browse every train museum in Illinois.

Every train museum in Illinois

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

IRM asks visitors to climb aboard only where boarding is marked, and I love that a ticket means riding again and again. With that many trains, there are a lot of steps up into a car. In our book, Rally's short corgi legs can't make the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. My kids are learning to read now, and they laugh at that page every time. It's on our coloring pages too.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Illinois Railway Museum?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Illinois Railway Museum: 20 questions families ask

Where is the Illinois Railway Museum?

The Illinois Railway Museum is at 7000 Olson Road in Union, Illinois 60180, about 55 miles northwest of downtown Chicago and roughly 35 miles northwest of O'Hare Airport. Mail goes to Post Office Box 427, Union, IL 60180. The museum's website has driving directions and information on reaching it by public transit.

What are the Illinois Railway Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum is open April through October. April is Sundays only, with electric trains 11 am to 3 pm. May through September it opens weekends 11 am to 4 pm, plus weekdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day 11 am to 3 pm. October weekends run 11 am to 3 pm. Last admission is 30 minutes before the last train.

Is the Illinois Railway Museum open today?

It depends on the date, because the museum is not open year-round. As of October 2026 it is open weekends only through October 25, then closes for the regular season apart from special events like the Happy Holiday Railway. Check the calendar on irm.org or call 815-923-4391 for recorded information on today's schedule.

How much are Illinois Railway Museum tickets?

As of October 2026, weekend tickets from May through October are $20 for adults 18 to 64, $18 for seniors 65 and up, $18 for youth 13 to 17 and $16 for children 2 to 12. Weekdays and April weekends cost $14, $12, $12 and $11. Children under 2 are free. Special fare events are priced separately.

Is the Illinois Railway Museum free?

No, admission is charged on every operating day, though parking is always free and children younger than 2 get in free without a ticket. Museum members also do not need a ticket and just bring their plastic membership card. Your general admission ticket includes unlimited train rides and access to all public areas.

Can I buy Illinois Railway Museum tickets online?

Yes. You can buy tickets at the gate, but the museum suggests reserving online to save time when you arrive. On special fare days, such as holiday and seasonal events, you may be given an assigned train time, and regular passes are not honored. Ticket links are on the museum's website at irm.org.

Are there Illinois Railway Museum ticket discounts?

Groups that book ahead get $3 off admission per person on the museum's open days. Weekday tickets are also cheaper than summer weekends, and members get in free with their card. Children under 2 never need a ticket. For group bookings, download the group visit packet on irm.org or call 815-923-4391.

Can you ride the trains at the Illinois Railway Museum?

Yes, riding is the main event. On regular days your admission includes unlimited rides. Electric trains run hourly, steam or diesel trains run on weekends from May through September and during special events, and streetcars run on the streetcar loop. Trolley bus rides are scheduled on select Saturdays, and private train charters can be booked.

What is the Illinois Railway Museum train schedule?

As of October 2026, electric trains operate hourly on every open day. On weekends from May through September and during special events, steam or diesel trains also run hourly from 11 am to 4 pm, with streetcars on the loop. Weekday and October trains run 11 am to 3 pm. A printable 2026 calendar is on the website.

What special events does the Illinois Railway Museum hold?

The 2026 calendar included the Bunny Trolley Hop, Pullman Weekend, 4th of July weekend, Hops Aboard, a Railrunner 5K and 10K, Day Out With Thomas, Trains and Tunes, the Vintage Transport Extravaganza, Diesel Days, a Labor Day weekend Museum Showcase, a Steam Engineer Experience, the Pumpkin Train and the Happy Holiday Railway. Check the events page for upcoming dates.

What is Diesel Days at the Illinois Railway Museum?

Diesel Days is one of the museum's annual summer events celebrating its diesel locomotives, listed among its 2026 events. The museum's Diesel Department volunteers care for the diesel fleet, including Ingersoll-Rand 91, the oldest diesel in the collection. The website does not list next year's date yet, so check the events calendar on irm.org.

Does the Illinois Railway Museum have a Christmas or Santa train?

Yes. The Happy Holiday Railway is the museum's holiday train event, with a 2026 date listed for December 20. It is a special event outside the regular April to October season, so it needs its own ticket and passes are not honored. Ticket details and times are posted on the event page at irm.org.

Is there a Pumpkin Train at the Illinois Railway Museum?

Yes. The Pumpkin Train is the museum's fall event, scheduled for October 25 in 2026, the final open day of the regular season. Like other special events, it may have its own fare and an assigned train time. Look for details and tickets on the museum's website before you go.

How big is the Illinois Railway Museum?

Very big. The museum says it is the largest railway museum in the United States, with more than twenty structures spread over 100 acres, five display barns and the largest collection of historic railway equipment in America. Directory listings put the collection at more than 450 pieces of rolling stock. Plan on spending the whole day.

Where can I see the Illinois Railway Museum roster and map?

The museum's website organizes the collection by display building: Barn 3 for Pullman, private and dining cars, Barn 6 for interurbans, Barn 7 for streetcars, Barn 8 for Chicago 'L' cars and Barn 9 for big steam. Check irm.org for current equipment listings and a grounds map, and pick up a printable calendar there too.

Is there food at the Illinois Railway Museum?

Yes. The Central Diner, built around an original 1930s roadside diner, serves food on weekends from mid-May to late October and on weekdays from mid-June through August. As of October 2026, hours are 11 am to 4 pm on weekends and 11 am to 3 pm on weekdays. Picnic tables are around the grounds, and you can bring your own food.

Where do you park at the Illinois Railway Museum?

Parking at the Illinois Railway Museum is always free on operating days. The museum sits on Olson Road in Union with a large campus, so expect some walking between the parking area, the barns and the train platforms. Wear comfortable shoes and bring layers, because much of the visit is outdoors.

Is the Illinois Railway Museum good for toddlers?

Yes, many families bring small children. Kids under 2 are free, the streetcar loop gives short rides, and there is a train-themed playground plus picnic tables for breaks. Restrooms are in the East Union Depot and Central Diner. Keep a close hand on little ones, since trains can move on any track at any time.

Is the Illinois Railway Museum wheelchair accessible?

The museum says its exhibit buildings are wheelchair accessible. Exhibit barns are not heated or air-conditioned, while the Schroeder Store, Central Diner, Model Railroad Exhibit and Gallery are climate controlled. For help with boarding trains or other access needs, call 815-923-4391 before your visit.

Can I bring my dog to the Illinois Railway Museum?

No. The museum does not allow pets, with the exception of service animals. Smoking and vaping are also banned inside every building and aboard every train, and alcohol is not permitted on the grounds. Plan to leave your dog at home for the day.

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Kelsey Cecil
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