Illinois Scenic Train Rides: A Complete Guide

Last revised: February 23, 2025

Only in Illinois can you find such a diversity of railroads; a place where the six major, North American "Class I" railroads converge. These companies include BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Canadian Pacific-Kansas City, Canadian National, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific. Its all thanks to Chicago, railroading's central hub for more than a century.

Before the modern "mega merger" movement, dozens of well-known systems reached the Windy City; names like the Pennsylvania Railroad, New York Central, Baltimore & Ohio, Illinois Central, Milwaukee Road, Erie, Chicago & North Western, and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy.

Through consolidations and bankruptcies these disappeared into the current seven. At one time, more than 12,000 miles of railroads crisscrossed the Prairie State, ranking it behind only Texas in this regard.

With such a rich history, numerous museums, as well as a few train ride attractions, can be found in Illinois todya. If there is one establishment you must see, be sure and stop by the Illinois Railway Museum! This organization has amassed the largest private collection of historic equipment in the country!

Preserved Burlington Northern E9A #BN-3 and Burlington E5A #9911-A at the Illinois Railway Museum on September 7, 2009. Tom Granville photo.

State History

Railroading in Illinois begins in the 1830's, a time when the newfangled English technology was just getting started along the East Coast. The state watched with increased interest as these fledgling operations proved their worth time and time again.

As a result, before that decade ended railroading was underway in Illinois. According to Tom Murray's book, "Illinois Central Railroad," it all began after officials passed the Internal Improvement Act in 1837, which set aside $10 million to construct 1,300 miles across the state.

The endeavor proved only marginally successful although it resulted in Illinois's first railroad; according to the Trains Magazine's January, 2007 issue under a piece entitled, "
Illinois: Crossroads Of American Railroads," the Northern Cross Railroad completed 55 miles between the capital at Springfield and Meredosia in 1842.

This company also holds the distinction as the first to operated a steam locomotive in the state when a little 4-2-0, named Rogers, rumbled over the initial 8 miles between Meredosia and Morgan City on November 8, 1838.

At around the same time another project had gotten underway, the "Central Railroad"; envisioned to link Cairo, at the state's southern tip along the Ohio River, to Galena near the Mississippi River (and not far from Dubuque, Iowa).

The route was estimated to cost $3.5 million but numerous delays nearly resulted its cancellation. It was reorganized as the Illinois Central Railroad on February 10, 1851 and, thanks to land grants, things finally got underway.

With funding established work proceeded rapidly until the entire system had completed its original charter on September 27, 1856. The IC continued to expand and eventually maintained more than 6,700 route miles as one of America's most successful railroads. In the succeeding years numerous systems pushed their way to Chicago from not only the east and west but also north (Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie, the "Soo Line") and south (Gulf, Mobile & Ohio).

The Windy City became so congested that several successful switching, terminal and belt lines sprang up to alleviate the bottlenecks, a situation found nowhere else in America.

These names included the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern; Indiana Harbor Belt; Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal; and Belt Railway of Chicago. Illinois's rail mileage has declined significantly since the 1920's but, according to the Association of American Railroads still contains 7,119 miles.

Fox River Trolley Museum

The Fox River Trolley Museum, based in South Elgin, Illinois is dedicated to preserving the region's interurban history. It began in 1961 as the Railway Equipment Leasing & Investment Company, gaining its current name in 1984.

At the time interurbans, in particular the Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee and Chicago, Aurora & Elgin ("Roarin' Elgin"), were dying throughout the Greater Chicago region, despite the great transit services they offered.

The museum was established to maintain their memory. The collection currently includes 30 pieces of historic equipment that ranges from trolley/interurban cars to locomotives and general rolling stock.

Most is of North Shore Line and CA&E; lineage. Finally, be sure and catch a ride while there; during the warmer months the museum offers trips along 4 miles of restored right-of-way utilizing some of these preserved pieces.

Illinois Railway Museum

The Illinois Railway Museum, based in Union, Illinois is one of the premier such organizations in the country. The IRM grew from very humble beginnings with a heritage dating back to 1941 when a group of individuals hoped to preserve the region's fading interurban network.

With the onset of World War II the idea for an interurban/trolley museum was shelved. After another twelve years it finally became a reality when the Illinois Electric Railway Museum was formed in 1953.

Its first acquisition was Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Railway interurban car #65 (both the car and railroad are still in operation). However, the group still lacked a permanent home with no way to either showcase its equipment or attract visitors.

They searched long and hard but with limited available funds settled on 26 acres of property near Union, Illinois. The deal was finalized in the spring of 1964. In 1962 the group had changed their name to more accurately reflect their goal. The IRM's new mission was to preserve the state's and country's railroad history.

With the help of numerous volunteers it began to take shape. Over the past many decades they have built a new railroad, yard, and storage complexes right in Union. Today's IRM has an impressive collection of preserved equipment. This is a must-see attraction for any enthusiast interested in trains.

Monticello Railway Museum

The Monticello Railway Museum, based in Monticello aims to preserve the rail history of the region. They have amassed quite a collection of equipment (more than 100 pieces) since their inception as the Society For The Perpetuation Of Un-retired Railfans, Inc (SPUR) in 1966.

Its original intention was to sponsor and maintain steam-powered excursions on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. After these efforts failed it moved to its current location; in 1970 it became known as the Monticello & Sangamon Valley Railway Historical Society, Inc., then the present Monticello Railway Museum in 1982.

From May through October, during weekends and holidays, the organization hosts excursions over 7.5 miles of the former Illinois Central Gulf between Monticello and White Heat. Cab rides are also available. To make things even more interesting, trains can be boarded at the town's restored ex-Wabash depot.

Silver Creek & Stephenson Railroad

Often forgotten is the Silver Creek & Stephenson Railroad, a small attraction which hosts short excursions using a restored 2-truck Heisler. This unique geared steam locomotive was manufactured by the Heisler Locomotive Works in 1912 for the Louise Lumber Company.

They also have three small diesels; a Plymouth Locomotive Works 12-ton gasoline-powered switcher (built in 1938), a Brookville Locomotive Works 14-ton gasoline-powered switcher (built in 1945), and a Davenport Locomotive Works 44-ton diesel-powered (manufactured in 1954).

The SC&S is based in Freeport, utilizing a nearly 2-mile stretch of ex-Milwaukee Road right-of-way which had to be completely rebuilt in the mid-1980s. Trains are boarded from the Silver Creek Depot, a building constructed in the early 1990s using plans from the Illinois Central's depot based in Elroy, Illinois.

Trolley Car 36

Operated as part of the Rockford Park District in Rockford Trolley Car 36 provides rides to the public on select dates throughout the year.

Waterman & Western Railroad

Based in Waterman (Clinton Township) at the Lions Club Park this little 1/4th-scale scale railroad offers train rides during the summer months each year. It all began in 1991 when a six-year project to build an F3A diesel locomotive was finished.

Unfortunately, at the time they had no place to operate the little locomotive. That changed in 1994 when a deal was arranged with the local Lions Club to construct a scale-railroad within the park.

Following a few months of work the track work was completed and the Waterman & Western was dedicated on July 31st that year. Since then the group has added quite a collection of equipment allowing for a complete train that can host dozens of riders on each trip.

Today, their schedule runs from June through Labor Day, each Sunday of the week. In addition, a number of special events are hosted including the Easter Bunny Train, Pumpkin Train, and The Holiday lights Train.