No, it isn’t just trains. No, it isn’t just for train buffs. In addition to the trains, streetcars, and other vintage transportation, the Illinois Railway Museum hosts a wide variety of special events such as Civil War Days. They have a wide variety of streetcars, most of which saw service in Chicago over the last century. They also have various railroad related items – signals, signs, and such.
One of the highlights of the collection is a Zephyr, a sleek Art Deco styled luxury train for traveling in style. There is another Zephyr in the basement of the Museum of Science and Industry, but that one is poorly lit and not operational. At IRM you can see it roll past in the sun.
The museum provides a tremendous variety of colors and textures for photographers to play with. It is also a good opportunity to play with lenses you don’t use as often, give a wide angle a try. Special events aside, this is a fairly static environment. It’s a perfect opportunity to play and experiment. And if something isn’t perfect when you get your pictures developed, chances are you can try the same shots again (and again) until you get the image you are looking for.
In addition to the parked trains, there are a number of active pieces, most of which can be ridden. With rare exception, rides are included in the price of admission. Take a ride on a streetcar and learn (or remember) what it used to be like getting around Chicago.
The barns are poorly lit, but there are plenty of good subjects outside. It’s worth visiting once to see what’s there before getting out your tripod or super fast film just for the barns.
Each weekend brings a different selection of running equipment and special events. Some weekends the emphasis is on electric, others it is diesel. Special events bring in additional variety.
The Illinois Railway Museum is in Union, Illinois. The museum does have a cafeteria, although the line can be quite long on busy weekends. Ticket prices vary by weekend and range from $6 to $10. Memberships are available starting at $35.
www.irm.org
www.irm.org/schedule/index
