A Big Year in Store

Happy New Year to all of our readers! This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Museum, so we hope that you join us for the variety of new, improved, and unique special events that the museum has scheduled. We have at least one event running nearly every month of the year. Make sure to mark your calendars:

IMPORTANT: this is NOT a complete list of events IRM is running in 2023! This list excludes events that are basically unchanged from normal practice. For a complete list, see a printed IRM calendar or the IRM website.

Saturday, January 21 will be North Shore Line Day, when we run all of our operational NSL equipment to commemorate the railroad's last day of service 60 years ago. This is the first time in 30 years that IRM has been open in January, and if the weather is crummy enough you may not see it again for another 30 years, so don't miss it!

Sunday, January 22 is Cabin Fever Day, when diesel trains will operate publicly at IRM for the first time in January ever, I think.

Saturday, March 25 is Chicago Trolley Coach Day, exactly 50 years to the day after the end of trolley bus service in Chicago. IRM's preserved Chicago trolley buses will be in operation and/or on display for this special commemoration.

Saturday and Sunday, May 20 and 21 is Steam Kickoff, a new event marking the inauguration of public steam train service for the year.

Saturday, June 10 is 50s Day, celebrating the decade in which IRM was founded with live music, a "greasers vs. preps" costume contest (does crater on your shirt make you a greaser?), and other zaniness.

Saturday, July 1 is an event you won't want to miss: the "70 for 70" Trolley Parade, when we pull out all the stops and pull out everything that rolls to feature no fewer than 70 cars in our Trolley Parade. Ten years ago we were foolish enough to attempt (successfully, as it happened) to run 60 cars for our 60th anniversary, but we didn't learn our lesson, so we're at it again. This will be the largest assemblage of preserved electric railway equipment in operation simultaneously anywhere, ever, at least as far as I know.

Saturday and Sunday, September 16 and 17 is Museum Showcase Weekend, which we hold every year. But this year it's non-stop: we'll be running trains from 10am Saturday straight through to 6pm Sunday, including all-night train operation. It's sure to be a unique experience! Pillows and blankets not provided.