Monthly News

Day Out With Thomas™ tickets now on sale! Our biggest event of the year, Day Out With Thomas, is coming up on July 14-15 and 21-22. Tickets are now on sale and some trips are more than 90% sold out! So don't delay - go to irm.org and get your tickets today. Featured in this e-newsletter: Day Out With Thomas tickets for July 14-15 and 21-22 are on sale The museum has completely overhauled its website Get 50% off admission this Saturday, May 5th, on Illinois Day High-speed Amtrak locomotive arrives at IRM Big changes around East Union Depot Memorial Day Weekend to kick off the heart of train season Steam Department Benefit Concert is June 24th Progress update on the North Shore "Electroliner" IRM owns an Alco Century - but it's not yet in Illinois Museum Entrance Building planning and fundraising Visit us online for schedules, blog updates, and more Day Out With Thomas™ in 2018 Thomas the Tank Engine and all of his friends are returning to IRM this July and they're hoping to see you there! Ride along with Thomas and Percy, meet Sir Topham Hatt, see magic shows and story readings, and create unforgettable memories. Event is July 14-15 and 21-22 only; tickets are available online or by calling the IRM office at 815-923-4391 ext 452. Get your tickets now - some trips are nearly sold out already! Click here for tickets and more information IRM Has a Brand New Website The museum's website, www.irm.org, has seen its most extensive overhaul since the late 1990s. The site is now easier to read on a mobile device and has a more visitor-friendly layout. Traditional favorites like the blogs, roster, photo galleries, and webcams are all still there. Check out the new site here Illinois Day 2018 One of our new events for this year is Illinois Day. This Saturday, May 5th, in honor of the state's bicentennial, Illinois residents are admitted for 50% off with valid state ID. If you're used to the crowds at some of our mid-summer events, try a visit during the spring when the pace is a little easier and the museum is a bit less busy! Click here for more information Amtrak Locomotive Acquired The museum's latest acquisition is Amtrak 945, an AEM-7 high-speed electric locomotive built in 1982 in La Grange, Illinois, and retired in 2015. The locomotive arrived at IRM on its own wheels in late April after a trip from Wilmington, Delaware, and is currently having some "sprucing up" done. It should be on display this summer at the museum. Keep an eye out for our only 125mph-capable locomotive! Big Changes at the Depot On your next visit to IRM you're sure to notice a major change in the scenery near East Union Depot. The baggage cars that have sat just east of the depot for some 35 years are now gone! They're safe, back on "live rail" on museum trackage, but with the gift shop moved to the Schroeder Store on Main Street they're no longer needed next to the depot. Now is the time to come enjoy some sight lines that haven't been available since the early 1980s. Click here for more information The Zephyr is Back Memorial Day Weekend traditionally kicks off the heart of IRM's season and is a great time to see some of the stars of our lineup. Frisco 1630, our 100-year-old steam engine, will be running all three days. Sunday and Monday May 27-28 the famous Nebraska Zephyr will be running as well. And there's plenty more to see! Click here for more information Steam Dept Benefit is June 24 Our annual benefit concert to raise funds for the Steam Department will be held at the Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington on June 24th. This is a great opportunity to hear the mighty Wurlitzer organ in concert and tour this unique collection of artifacts. Click here for tickets and information Electroliner Progress Update The major project to get the famous North Shore "Electroliner" running again is moving along. The trucks and motors are rebuilt and motor gearing work is just about complete. The next step will be to put the trainset back onto the trucks! Everything is dependent on funding but with luck the 'Liner will be back on its "feet" soon. Click to help with Electric Car restoration TP&W 800 is Ours On April 27th the Morristown & Erie handed over this ex-Toledo Peoria & Western C424 "Century" locomotive to IRM - but the work is just starting! We still need to raise money to transport this (fully operational) diesel back to Illinois. Please help us save TP&W 800! Click to find out how you can help Museum Entrance Building Fundraising has kicked off to build the new Museum Entrance Building. This exciting project will provide not only a permanent public entrance, but indoor exhibit areas, a theater, event space, and an entire block of historic building fronts on our Main Street Scene. Sponsorship opportunities are now available. Click here for more information. Visit us online for schedules, blog updates, and more

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