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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. Illinois railroading is easily the nation’s leader in every respect, except total rail miles. It was home to the most Class Is ever and today is the only state to claim all seven North American Class Is within its borders. The Prairie State is also home to the nation’s railroading capitol, Chicago; where East meets West. No other state, past or present, features such a wide variety of liveries, operations, and history as does Illinois.

Today, Illinois railroading operations include all major Class I. These include CSX, Norfolk Southern, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, BNSF Railway, Kansas City Southern, and Union Pacific. The state is also home to numerous Regionals, shortlines, and switching railroads which include the Indiana Rail Road; Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway (currently in the process of being purchased by Canadian National); Iowa Interstate; Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad subsidiary Iowa, Chicago & Eastern (currently both are in the process of being purchased by Canadian National); Alton & Southern Railway; Belt Railway of Chicago; Central Midland Railway; Chicago Rail Link; Crab Orchard & Egyptian Railroad; Effingham Railroad; Illinois RailNet; Illinois & Midland Railroad; Kankakee, Beaverville & Southern Railroad; Manufacturers Junction Railway; South Chicago & Indiana Harbor Railway; Tazewell & Peoria Railroad; Vandalia Railroad. While at one time Illinois railroading topped out at an astounding 12,000+ miles of trackage today about half of that is still in operation

The IRM's list of equipment is far too vast and expansive to list here. However, it is broken down into several different collections which are mentioned below:

Chicago Collection

* 17 Trolley Streetcars

* 17 Rapid Transit Cars

* 6 Trolley Coaches

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Collection

* 17 Pieces Including The Nebraska Zephyr trainset

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Collection (The Milwaukee Road)

* 19 Pieces Of Equipment

Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad Collection

* 17 Pieces Of Equipment Including The Famous Electroliner

Chicago & North Western Railway Collection

* 19 Pieces Of Various Equipment

Illinois Terminal Collection

The largest collection on the grounds the IRM features several pieces of IT equipment including 23 steam locomotives, 26 diesel locomotives, and several various passenger, interurban and freight cars.

Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Collection

* 19 Pieces of Interurban Equipment

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, for more information and reading about excursion trains and railroad museums you might want to consider picking up Tourist Trains Guidebook from the editors of Kalmbach Publishing's Trains magazine. The book lists and reviews over 400 excursions and museums found throughout the country and is an excellent resource, which has received superb reviews by readers, if you're looking for one to visit. In any event, if you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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