The Illinois Railway Museum

The Illinois Railway Museum has a very long history when compared to many other museums around the country and can trace its roots all the way back to the 1940s and has been an actual organization since the 1960s. Over the past 40 years the museum has been able to amass a very impressive collection of rolling stock including several historic steam locomotives, classic diesel models, and even interurban street/trolley cars. Not only does the museum own this equipment, many pieces are restored to operating condition being used many times throughout the year hauling excursions, train rides, or in some other capacity.

The Illinois Railway Museum’s mission is dedicated to preserving the history of rail operations in and around Chicago (including the area’s extensive trolley operations), as well as the entire country. Courtesy of the museum below is an overview of the rolling stock and equipment on site:

The Chicago Collection

* 17 streetcars from the largest street railway system in the world, including a unique 1859 horsecar, the only surviving 1948 PCC (of 600 in Chicago) and the CTA Historic Collection.

* 17 rapid transit pieces from an 1899 wood open-end gate car to a 1955 lightweight, semi-permanently-coupled pair.

* 6 trolley coaches including the oldest surviving unit.

The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Collection

* 19 units from the street railway, interurban and trackless trolley (trolley coach) divisions, including an interurban parlor car.

The Chicago & North Western Collection

* 19 pieces with the first GP7 and one of the first RDC cars.

The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Collection

* 17 units including the complete Nebraska Zephyr.

* Cabooses and examples of all types of freight rolling stock.

Being the largest museum in the country, in terms of property and overall size, they have plenty to see and do (they are large enough to even have their own rule and safety book and different departments!). Similarly, and perhaps not surprisingly, they have many pieces that are slated to be restored and always need help in maintaining the museum so if you are perhaps interested in this please get in touch with them.

While nearly all of the classic fallen flag systems reached into Illinois somewhere two of the most dominant railroads in terms of overall mileage in the state were the Illinois Central and Burlington Route. To read more about these sytems you might want to consider one, or both, of the following books. Illinois Central Railroad from Tom Murray and published by Motor Books International (MBI has published numerous railroad books on a wide range of topics covered, and overall they do a very good job with books that are reasonably priced) gives a general history of the IC and includes several photographs, many in color. If you have any kind of interest in the IC you should very much enjoy this publication.

Also, to learn more about the Burlington's large fleet of Zephyr passenger trains consider the book Way of the Zephyrs by author Geoffrey H Doughty which gives a fine history of the trains' final years from World War II through the end with the creation of Burlington Northern. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing these books please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".