At one museum in Illinois, you can find hundreds of historical artifacts and even take a 40-minute winter train journey with Santa during the holidays.
I enjoy a good museum, but I would be lying if I claimed to be an expert on trains. With more than 500 pieces of vintage railroad and transit equipment, Illinois appears to be home to the biggest railway museum in the US. There are numerous trains with distinct histories that are open for tours and rides. This historical site, simply known as the Illinois Railway Museum, has a fascinating history.
Explore the Illinois Railway Museum
According to the website of the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM), the museum was established in 1953 when ten men each donated $100 to buy an interurban car that had recently been withdrawn, the Indiana Railroad 65. It was located alongside the rails of the Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee interurban line on the property of the Chicago Hardware Foundry in the North Chicago suburbs. In 1962, the term “Electric” was dropped from the museum’s original name, the Illinois Electric Railway Museum.
The IRM had more than 40 pieces by 1964 and had overrun the foundry’s capacity. So, the vehicles and machinery were moved to a 26-acre property in Union. With the addition of 13 storage barns, tourist amenities, a streetcar loop, and of course, more railroad artifacts, the museum has since grown to include 100 acres. Streetcars, trolley buses, electric locomotives, and steam engines are all part of the collection today.
Happy Holiday Railway in Illinois
Throughout the year, including the holidays, the museum holds a number of activities. Every year around Christmas, IRM opens the Happy Holiday Railway, a 40-minute train journey with a presentation of holiday songs and an animated light show for family to enjoy. During the ride, visitors can also enjoy hot chocolate and snacks, and kids who make Santa’s pleasant list get a gift. The Polar Express (2004) appears to have been reenacted without Tom Hanks. Click HERE to find out how to purchase tickets.
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