Latest IRM News

Day Out With Thomas, Steam Operations, and More Have you checked out our special event calendar? Trains operate Saturdays and Sundays throughout May at the Illinois Railway Museum, with this weekend being the first time diesel trains run in 2019. Starting on May 20th, electric trains will operate on weekdays too. We have a lot of special events coming up including Day Out With Thomas in July, the Vintage Transport Extravaganza and Diesel Days in August, and many more! Featured in this e-newsletter: Day Out With Thomas tickets are now on sale - some trips are nearly sold out! Get 50% off admission on May 4th, Illinois Day Shay 5 scheduled to operate Memorial Day Weekend You can help save the last "Buffeteria" dining car Scout Day is Saturday, May 11th Moms are admitted free on Mothers Day, May 12th What's new around the museum grounds Water car restoration progressing in the Steam Shop Memorial Day Weekend, see Frisco 1630 and the Zephyr operate You can now take public transportation to IRM A third day has been added to Diesel Days this year Steam Department Benefit Concert is June 23rd Museum Entrance Building planning and fundraising

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Thomas tickets now on sale Tickets to Day Out With Thomas are now on sale on our website! Our most popular event is returning on July 13th-14th and 20th-21st this year. Ride the train with Thomas and Percy, enjoy live music and hands-on childrens activities, and visit with Sir Topham Hatt and all his friends. Click here for info and tickets

Illinois Day 2019 Why not celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike with us? May 10th is the anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. On Saturday, May 4th, Illinois residents are admitted for 50% off with valid state ID. Click here for more information

Shay 5 to operate An e-mail news exclusive: Frisco 1630 is scheduled to operate starting Sunday, May 19th and it's just been announced that Shay 5 should run on Sunday and Monday, May 26th & 27th. This will be the first time in years we'll be running two steam engines at once and the Shay's first scheduled operation this century! All schedules are subject to change; watch our website and Facebook page for any updates.

Help save the "Buffeteria" IRM has the opportunity to save the last Milwaukee Road "Buffeteria," a dining car rebuilt in the 1960s for buffet-style serving. This historic piece of equipment is in very good and original condition but funds are needed to move it to Union where it can be restored and operated. Click here for more information

Scout Day is May 11th One of our traditional springtime events is Scout Day, which this year is Saturday, May 11th. There will be activities for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and youth groups, along with merit badge tours and other activities. Click here for more information

Moms Free on Mothers Day Mothers Day is May 12th and Moms are admitted free at the railway museum! Why not bring Mom out for a relaxing day with the whole family? Enjoy a scenic train ride, a picnic, and unwind as your tour our exhibit buildings. Click here for our online calendar

New Around the Grounds The museum's Buildings & Grounds Department has been hard at work over the winter. The museum's historic CTA "Rota-Gate" has been restored and placed at the old entrance (pictured) while the ticket booth has been moved to the new entrance. There's even a traffic light that's been installed along with some additional street lights! Make sure to check out all the improvements when you visit the museum this spring.

Water Car Work The Steam Department has been hard at work restoring a spare ex-Illinois Central tender to use as a water car for Frisco 1630. This will replace our milk car, which for various reasons isn't ideal for this use. The tender is very similar to water cars the Frisco used in the 1940s and 1950s to extend the range of its engines. Click to help out with steam restoration at IRM

Memorial Day Weekend The kickoff to our season of intensive train operations, including steam operations, is always Memorial Day Weekend. This year Frisco 1630 is scheduled to run all three days while the famous Nebraska Zephyr will run Sunday and Monday. Other rarely-seen trains will operate as well. See our website for a tentative list. Click for a list of all upcoming special events

Take public transit to IRM in 2019 Starting in 2019, the museum is accessible via public transportation for the first time in many years. MCRide, the county's dial-a-ride service, will be offering trips from the Metra stop in Woodstock. Arrangements must be made by phone in advance. Click here for more information

Steam Dept. Benefit is June 23 Our annual benefit concert to raise funds for the Steam Department will be held at the Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington on June 23rd. 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

Diesel Days Expanded for 2019 One of our most popular events, Diesel Days, is being expanded for 2019! It will run on Friday, August 9th as well as that Saturday and Sunday. See and ride behind the biggest collection of historic diesels in the country including TP&W 800, our recently-acquired Alco "Century" C424. Click here for event information

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