Yesterday was probably my 40th visit over ~40 years. My husband came here as a teen, so we started coming, then brought our children through the years. It continues to impress me. The vintage transportation show yesterday was the first time attending this mega event, even tho it has been held for many years. Crowded? Oh my yes. Well handled? Oh my, yes. The little ticket booth worked hard to keep the line moving, even tho we arrived at 1pm when the massive lot was practically full. Since we have riden the trains so many other times, we focused on cars. There is an incredible successful effort from this volunteer organization, on a tight budget. Some big lottery winners should share their pot of gold with this museum. As a connisour of museums nationwide, many are glitzy and sophisticated high tech places. This is not so much. It is more real world with grass, but not mannicured lawns, diner fast food , not a dining culinary experience, and incredible value for admission ticket price, not a slice of a paycheck. The people are outstanding, including the fellow in a big orange truck helping a stranded dead battery car from Michigan. Special kudos to the diner workers, again possibly all or more volunteers than paid folks, who had the line to the entry door move quickly. Seating outside was pressed into essential use, as well as the limited indoor space. The burger was acceptable, and just cooked, the fries were better than plenty of other chain restaurants and the drink assortment limited but more than adequate. (Bottled drinks aplenty, fountain drinks do not come with cups and straw, but a $5 big cup with lid and own straw with free refills that day was a steal. Vending machines for drinks and a steel structure outdoor quick serve place provided other drink options.) Trains? Too many to even discuss, but well worth your trip. The Thomas weekends are coming up the next two weekends, so if you have a child, do not miss this chance for fun. Then keep coming back, even with a membership, which is another good investment. Break our personal record of 40+ years of attendance. read more

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Cannot believe I lived in the area for 20+ years and never went to this museum. Frankly, I'm AMAZED that something as great as this is in rural Union, IL. The museum has numerous barns filled with trains from every era -- streetcars, elevated train cars, steam locomotives and passenger trains from the mid-20th Century. Incredible. Most of them are closed off (can't go inside), but you can walk up and down the barns to check them out from the outside, etc. Lots of plaques filled with interesting information on the history of the trains and the railroads themselves. Awe inspiring stuff. Took a train ride on one of the streetcars and had a great time with the engineer/tour guide -- informative and fun. Weather was perfect and that definitely helped to enjoy it even more. If you haven't been, do yourself a favor and check out this GREAT museum. read more

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Took my five year old daughter and 3 year old son and they absolutely loved it! They have a ton of activities to do. Many different types of train rides and it was awesome to see the old train engines. Great place for a family day out! Would highly recommend. Of course Thomas is the main attraction but only available on certain dates. When available, I would recommend you buy tickets in advance. read more

Illinois Railway Museum - Museums Near Me - Union, Illinois

This is a fun place to take your family to on a weekend to have some fun. Upsides, plenty of trains to see and walk through, food available on site, some days are free if you live locally. Downsides, the whole place can be seen in about half a day (even with little kids), food is outrageously overpriced, gift shop price gouges you pretty badly, staff is not great, I understand this not a theme park making a lot of money and most are probably volunteering BUT! That doesn't mean you Can't smile or just be kind to people. If you eat before hand, don't go to the gift shops to buy something you can get anywhere else, just go spend time with your family and ignore the staff you'll have fun, that's why I can give this 4 stars instead of a three. read more

Happy Holiday Railway at the Illinois Railway Museum was disappointing. The extra money spent above the regular admission really didn't deliver on the potential holiday charm possible. The event was mostly perfunctory without much flair. The staff, dressed in elf and other Christmas related costume, passed out hot chocolate, cookies and souvenir mugs without any panache whatsoever. The train was nicely decorated with lights inside and Santa seemed genuine as he passed out souvenir jingle bells to kids on the "nice" list but the rest of the out and back ride was a bore. Having said that the Illinois Railway Museum is a gem. The grounds were attractive with facilities to accommodate most groups and individuals. The collection of trains, signals and other railway related artifacts was impressive and would certainly intrigue anyone with the slightest interest in trains. I have no doubt I'll be back for more. read more

Today was the vintage transport car show thing with everything old that rolls along with the hands on operating rail museum. Steam and electric trains were entertaining booth the young and the older people today. Today was very crowded for the special day and everyone seemed like they enjoyed the event. This event is the at least once a year day to hang at IRM from what it looks like. See my pictures. read more

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Such a gem! It's truly so great to check out these amazing old trains and take a ride into history! We are thankful this museum is around and certainly love hearing the whistles and visiting the train cars. Great for kids and all ages. read more

Visited on 23 July 2019. Have wanted to visit this museum for years, and finally did. Be prepared for a lot of walking. Wear comfortable shoes, and dress for the weather. Most of the attractions are inside of barns ,however they are not climate controlled. Can get breezy out in the middle of nowhere! Bring a light jacket or denim type shirt to wear over your T-shirt. Now the fun part!! There are trains , electric, steam and diesel to be seen. Trams, buses and inter-urban rail cars to be seen. Vehicles on display range in age from the 1800s to relatively recently. There was an early 1940s streetcar we got to ride through the park on. If you ride this train, make sure to look at the advertising along the top of the windows!! The conductor let me blow the whistle! Thats right, I got to toot my own horn!! Check their web site to find out what train type is running on the day you want to visit. They change regularly. Be prepared for a 1 1/2 to 2 hr. drive from Chicago. Bring a cooler with water or Soda for the trip and while walking around the exhibits. The is some climbing, with some high stepping required. There is a snack bar with the usual food choices. They also had a Bratwurst that was absolutely delicious! Put a quarter in the Tribune or Sun-Times newspaper box and get a nice calendar. There is a gift shop with transportation related hats ,shirts , books, toys, and more. Good for all ages, enjoy a day away from the city and enjoy the background quietness. Walk around see all the trains and busses, have a very pleasant day and Choo-Choose your favorite train!! Sorry, was going to add pictures but apparently didn't save any!! read more

Amazing collection of trains from every climb and place and fun for the whole family!!!

Great for adult "train foamers" because of the depth and breadth of the rail collection, and great for children because of the train rides and kid-oriented displays (hand cars, models, etc). Food and drinks available and great souvenir/book shop too. read more

If you're into trains this is the place! They have an extensive collection of trains on display as well as trains that can be ridden. I don't know much about trains and I don't consider myself a fan of trains and I found myself fascinated by their impressive collection. Some of the steam locomotives are just absolutely massive! If you have little ones be sure to check out the Thomas Tanks Engine Days. Staff is very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. If you have any questions about trains, ask. They are move happy to answer your questions and their vast knowledge is extremely impressive. read more

This was fun for the railroad enthusiast. The locomotives were incredible. We did not take the electric train ride, but we did enjoy looking through all of the barns. The lunch was just okay. Hot dogs and bratwurst. It tasted fine however. The staff is very friendly. It is definitely a niche thing to enjoy. You really have to have a love of trains and locomotives. read more

This is a great place to bring guests and visitors to the small town of Marengo-Union. Always a good crowd and nice people. Unusual one of a kind exhibits. Something for everyone. read more

Normally a nice place but we had a bad experience when we visited. We were in town visiting from Texas and even drove another 1.5hrs each way to get out there. When we got there we took a short train ride, came back and then spent an hour looking around at some of the train cars. When we came out the dinner was closed early, the street car was closed early and the gift shop was closed early. Instead of ending the day on a nice note my kids left crying as the museum choose to close everything up 1.5-2hrs before their stated closing time because it was slow. The staff in the shop even saw us while they were counting the registers but just waved us off. They should have made an announcement about the early closings as their was keepsakes in the shop my kids really wanted and I promised them we could stop on the way out to get one. Very disappointing. read more

We had a blast at the Museum today. It was very hot, but breezes and well-placed benches helped a lot. Six different trains were running, in addition to the trolley. (See IRM.org, and go to "Tickets" for the types of trains on any given weekend). The dining car was nicely air conditioned, but not overwhelmingly so, and the diner staff were lovely. Be sure to visit the Museum gift shop. But be prepared for little kids to want everything! I saw two screamers today. There are several trolley cars on Campus. They circle around the main campus every 20 minutes or so. They make several stops of interest along the circuit, and visitors can deboard, and reboard at will. At one stop, there is a depot for train boarding. The depot is full of memorabilia, including a waiting room, a ticket window, a weight scale for luggage, and of course a lot of information. Next to the depot is a lovely playground, and a lot of shaded areas for R&R, and picnicking. People with strollers and rollator walkers were able to leave them safely parked there. By the way, beverage vending machines are located in several outdoor locations in case you get thirsty while away from the diner. PS: Plenty of outdoor seating next to the dining car. The trains and trolleys had volunteer staff/docents who served as Engineers and Conductors. Most of them shared information about their particular trains as they traveled or as they idled in-wait for the go-ahead from Dispatch. Most of the six trains ran for 20 minute round trips, and one for about 40. They have a schedule, which is followed as closely as possible. If any Volunteer didn't know when a particular train was next due, they quickly found out from another gentleman. The campus has several barns that house non-running trains (some of which have appeared in well-known, popular movies). We walked along the train "platforms" which do not have to be climbed to access. There is however, a slight incline. Some of the cars were accessible to visitors. The platforms have railings on either side. Mr. Neil saw us taking pictures of each other, and he kindly offered to take one with both of us. He also called us young! Our first ride of the day was with Conductor Randy A. and Engineer Jake.(apologies for forgetting how to spell your four-syllable last name). As it was just noon, he paused our departure to remind us passengers that this was indeed Memorial Day, a day of solemn remembrance. He discussed the sacrifices of our lost soldiers as well. He played a patriotic song for us while we listened in respectful silence, then thanked us for our patience. For me, that was the best part of the day. I was a little choked up at the moment, so I couldn't thank him just then, but later in the day, I was on his car again. I told him that as the widow of a Veteran, his observance had meant a lot to me. I learned from other passengers that he actually did this several more times during the day. I hope they took an opportunity to thank him. We can't wait to visit again! read more

Fun afternoon for the family. Not really a big train person but seeing these things in person blew me away. The family and I took a ride on one of the trains they were running that day and had a blast. You don't really go far I believe it was 3 miles total but we did get to see a bit of the country side where we live. I only live about 5 miles or so from this museum. Looking for a fun and exciting afternoon with the family, go check out the trains at the train museum. There are different packages you can purchase including packages that allow you to ride up front with the engineers on some of the trains. Great time and you'll get a lot of cool videos and photos... read more

Great museum with lots of exhibits in good condition. Multiple types of trains running every day on the hour plus a street car or two to ride on. read more

Illinois Railway Museum - Museums Near Me - Union, Illinois

My family of four went with friends (another family of four) to the IRM for the famous "Day Out With Thomas." Overall, our experience was outstanding. The cost for the tickets was $18 each for anyone over 2 years old. I thought this was reasonable, considering the entire museum is run by volunteers and that it is very evident the money they have put into restoring some beautiful railroad related artifacts. I'm not how much the normal admission fee to the IRM is. There was a large crowd (all for Thomas), however the museum handled it well. Many officers and volunteers directed traffic, and even getting on the Thomas train was well planned out. Besides the Thomas events, there were plenty of old engines in barns to go look through, and even other cars that you could get in and climb around. Several running engines were also available to transport you around the facilities (sans strollers, though, so you better get off where you got on!). The Thomas merchandise tent offered something for everyone, even if you're on a budget. We personally got two T-shirts (priced $15 each for kids' sizes) and some stickers for a scrapbook page I plan to make of the day. They had plenty of the Thomas toys, tracks, toothbrushes, PJ's, etc. etc. etc. I loved that you could wait in line for pictures with Thomas or Sir Tophamhat and that once it was your turn that you could take YOUR OWN pictures of your child with the character, vs. being forced into paying for the memory. Get to those stops early, however, as lines grow quickly! I do suggest visitors to pack snacks, beverages and lunches. There is food available for purchase there (and not ridiculously priced), but it is typical fair food - pizza, burgers, fries, etc. I LOVE that you can bring in a cooler. read more

The Illinois Railway Museum is an interesting way to spend a day. Personally, trains don't really excite me too much, but apparently there are plenty of people who do get all hot and bothered over them. We spent about 3 hours wandering about the large complex that is the Illinois Railway Museum. As museums go; I'm not impressed. It seems to me IRM has decided to go with quantity not quality. I realize that keeping trains looking decent has to be a lot of work, but if you can't keep them lookin' pretty or at least not like a train cemetery then maybe you've bitten off more than you can chew-choo? (Get it? See what I did there? Are you laughing?) If you really like trains, you'll like the IRM. Unless of course you feel bad for the poor dilapidated trains. If you feel bad for trains though you probably really like trains and then this is definitely the place for you. If you don't like trains and just like museums; skip IRM. It's not worth your time and it'll make you sad. read more

If you like trains, you need to go here! This is a HUGE property with many trains for you to walk around and look at. Sometimes they have an operating train that you can ride on! Once or twice a year they have a Thomas the Tank weekend where you can see Thomas. They also have a gift shop which has TONS of train stuff. They do not have much around this place as far as food goes. There's the Donley's Wild West Town, but if you want to eat, don't go there. There's a McDonald's around and that's about it. Otherwise you need to drive back to civilization to find something. read more

I didn't want to leave... So I woke up yesterday morning and was determined for my boys to experience something that had a train involved. At first I searched for a diner car that maybe they could eat in, but then the Illinois Railway Museum (non-profit organization) called out to me and that was that. It was a little difficult to know what we were going to expect for the day, and in retrospect I'm heartbroken we didn't get an earlier start because it ended way too quickly. This was honestly the best bargain spend for a family activity all summer. Yesterday was their annual auto show mixed in with all the special trains/trolleys you could ride on all day long if you want. For $48 (they have a $50 cap per family), this venture was an adventure that my kiddos will no doubt remember for years to come. We started our day on the daily electric commuter train built in 1928 and rode it as far as it would take us and then back to the station. My boys got to toot the whistle of this train and it was a lovely ride with the wind blowing through our hair. It lasted about 30 minutes. Our next plan was to take the Zephyr, but we got to the area so late in the game that we decided to walk around and check out the cars and all the various barns with parked trains so we didn't miss anything. Of course the deal was that they would hop the trolley car at the end of that excursion. Each barn had cars you could actually walk through, and I got so much joy walking through a dining car/lounge car feeling like I had fulfilled my initial intended journey of the day. Yes! There was so much to do and see here that I suggest allowing yourself 4-5 hours instead of the 3 hours we had. It was about a one-hour trip from the North Shore (about the same as a trip to Lake Geneva), and so we'd have to be prepared to take the drive if we want to go back. It would be worth it in my book. Take note, the on-site diner closes at 5pm, so you'll be left trying to find a place to dine on your way home. We headed to the Wild West steakhouse and the experience (food and $) made our trip end with a bit of a downer, but hey, what are you going to do? BTW, I should mention that the car show was probably one of the best shows I've seen, so without a doubt we'll be heading back here next year for this experience. They have Thomas The Tank Engine special events and other events. You just need to check the schedule. And, speaking of schedules...just go with the flow at this place. If you don't see it all the first time around, it's a great excuse to come back. read more

This is one great place to take your friends, family, grandchildren. Such a rich history of America read more

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We have been members of the IRM for two years. We are so fortunate to live close enough to make it easy for us to pop over for a couple of hours of exploring the various train barns and maybe take the train ride. Run by volunteers the train schedule can be a little loose, but all of the volunteers are dedicated and give many, many hours to make the museum a success. I love the old depot building and the trolley car that travels around the grounds. My son is thrilled to go through the trains that are open and the yellow switch car. It is a great way to spend time with young children and allow them to learn about the days when trains were the only way to travel. read more

I go to IRM every year on vacation and have been doing so for the last 10 years. If you are planning on visiting for the first time there are a few things you should know in advance. First is that the IRM is a working non for profit museum run primarily by volunteers, in every "job" position you can think of... and yes that includes Dispatchers, Engineers and Conductors. Which is why they never tell you what trains, trollies or buses are running or how many. If you go to their website and look at the calendar, it's tells you what kind of equipment they are expecting to run on that day, keep in mind the operators are volunteers, so if they don't show up, trains don't run. There are two tracks in the museum, one is the center electric trolley track, which runs around the inner perimeter of the museum and has two or three stops where you can get on and off, great option if you want to cut down on walking. The other track runs along a strip on the outside of the museum and is a rather nice ride, regardless what stock is rolling. The food here is a little on the high side, but isn't all that bad... that being said, we always bring a lunch and either sit in our car or at one of the little picnic spots. Many people are confused by all the different donation boxes scattered around the museum, allow me to solve this mystery for you. There are 3 different types of donation boxes, defined by location. The first are the ones by the front gate and scattered around the museum grounds. Donation placed in these boxes go towards overall museum operations and maintenance. The second kind can be found inside the houses or buildings. The funds in these boxes go towards maintaining and restoring the various equipment you see inside, I always donate big in the steam house 'cause I want to see those engines restored and put back on the line. The third kind can be found inside certain projects that they are working on. Funds from these boxes go directly towards that particular project. In closing my advice to you is wear comfortable shoes, bring a camera and be ready to feel like a little kid again. Oh, no I don't work there but I sure as hell wish I did. read more

I just love museums, but never been to a railroad one. This was just great for big train fans old and young. Definitely a half day trip. So much to see from steam locomotive, trolleys, electric train cars, etc. Some of them you were able to walk through to see the restoration of these historic relics when trains were king. Had the opportunity to ride several trains, gave us an idea of the evolution of the modern commuter train. Amazingly the entire camp is run by volunteers. Some which were dressed in period clothing. Due to the Memorial Day weekend there was a remembrance service that was respectful and touching. I can see why families would make this an annual event. read more

We love this place...and we haven't even taken our kids there yet! :) My husband is a train enthusiast and went here as a kid. It is a little bit of a trek but a nice ride and you can take some country roads too which is pleasant. We have enjoyed it every time we have gone and you get to ride on a train too (I believe it runs at scheduled times each day.) I hope to make this a childhood memory place for my children just like it was for my husband. I do agree though that the food selections isn't the best... that is why I give it 4 stars (I believe you can pack a picnic though). And it is just TRAINS, so don't go if you are planning on seeing something else too. Fun for all ages! read more

Very nice place! I went there for the "Day Out with Thomas" event. My niece and nephew absolutely loved it! What can possibly be better than an actual ride on Thomas the Tank Engine himself?! The museum itself isn't huge and offers some older trains and trolleys that still operate and give rides throughout the facility. I'm looking forward to going on another "non-Thomas" day so that I can concentrate on all of the other trains they have. read more

Negative - Day out with Thomas workers who are not associated with the museum are rude. After a half hour of waiting in line for tickets, we watched a dad cut ahead of the line and buy tickets for his kids. Another dad said something and a fight ensued. The employees did nothing and watched as the wife of the line jumper pushed the other dad several times. Then when confronted with it, acted like he saw nothing two feet from his face. I'd rather not have my four year old watch two men fight at what's supposed to be our special day with Thomas. This could have been avoided if the day out with Thomas workers would have stepped in and done... hmm.. IDK anything? Positive - The people who actually work at the museum are amazing and really take the time to say hello and explain things to your child. My son is fascinated by trains and a man who fixes the trains, Thomas, was nice enough to show us around the repair barn. It's really a magical place for the kids who love trains. read more

At $38 for four children and one adult the IRM is a steal. I suggest going on a weekday. Not too many people are there and its easy to get around, I would plan on eating beforehand or bringing a lunch. Their cafeteria is cheap, but all fast food. Their collections of trains is impressive and its a great educational day for the older kids. read more

The beau loves trains. So it was the perfect birthday outing. We spent about 4 hours roaming the giant property. SO many trains! Lots of cool information plaques to go along with them. I was mostly in it for the vintage signs and advertisements. We went on a weekday, so there was less going on, but we rode an electric CTA train from the early 1900's. There were also no crowds, which was fantastic. Bonus: They have a (essentially 2 for 1) Groupon for the summer of 2015. read more

This place is pretty damn cool, if you're looking for a nice time with family. I came here for a Day out with Thomas and friends and it was such a nice event. Pretty nice to be able to board all the trains from many years ago and see how cool people used to travel. The event itself was super fun, you ride a the big train that looks like NO other than Thomas himself. They had SOOO many cool activities to do that revolved around Thomas it was a great time. Can't wait to do it again read more

A wonderful must see lovation if yoi happen to be in the area or are looking dor a good deatination. Definitely worth the trip if you're are interested in the nation's fabulous rail history. Lots of unique electric mass transit vehicles and "Elevated" cars. read more

Illinois Railway Museum - Museums Near Me - Union, Illinois

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What an experience!! Barn after barn of beautiful historic locomotives and train cars to walk around. Fantastic sight for a picnic. And finally rest your legs riding one of the many trains or street cars. It's a wonderful family environment and so much to see for the price! read more

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If you are a train enthusiast, I would definitely recommend. I heard about this place on NPR in a series about high speed rail. Excited from the interview, I checked out their website, but was not impressed with the information or pictures. For some reason, I decided to go anyway, though my expectations were lowered from viewing the website. I was happily surprised to find that the IRM was absolutely incredible. It has equipment that served in operations for freight, commuter rail, streetcar, trolley bus, interurban and heavy rail (the "L" of course). We rode on an interurban train from 1907, a St Louis Streetcar from the 40s and could have rode on a passenger train but simply ran out of time. Though I loved the exhibits, I found that the storage areas for the equipment kept indoors was rather dark and crowded and a number of the exhibits have not been restored. These conditions kept me from taking quality pictures. Kids will enjoy the operating rolling stock, but may not enjoy the static displays. Lots of walking is required as this facility is huge. read more

Went here to see Thomas the tank engine. Not only did I see Thomas but there are a lot of cool trains there. I got there at 1pm and left around 5:30pm. The trains that they have on display take you back to your childhood and your grandmas childhood. They had steam engines and the wheels were over 6ft tall. The history behind these engines are amazing. Some you could go in and check out. They even had a real steam engine which I have not seen anything like it. They had electric trolleys and the guy let my son sit in the captains chair for a couple minutes. The back story on how some of the trains is acquired my the museum is pretty cool. I highly recommend going to this, Worth every penny. read more

Illinois Railway Museum - Really cool stuff. Highly recommended. - Museums Near Me - Union, Illinois

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Awesome! Took my toddler for "Day Out With Thomas the Train". My little guy loves trains and we thought he would really enjoy this. My husband and I had a great time. The ride on the train with Thomas pulling was awesome. The event is definitely geared towards maybe 4 years old and up. My little guy is 2, so he didn't appreciate it as much plus it was his nap time. However, they did have mini thomas trains for the babies/toddlers to ride on miniature tracks. He absolutely loved this. So guess what he's getting for Christmas... They also had a few vintage trains and dining cars we could climb aboard and check out. Overall my family had a great family day. It was a lot to see and do. We will definitely when he's older. read more

Heard from some friends that Thomas the engine was in town so we bought tickets to take our son to ride on Thomas. First of all, this place is kind out in the middle of nowhere, but that is just about the only negative to this place. When we arrived, the place was packed with huge lines. We already had tickets so that didn't matter to us. We walked right in. Immediately, we could see how much stuff they had here. They had old cars, engines, cabooses, etc. They had histories on each of the pieces and had sheds where they were restoring them. The food was decently priced compared to other similar type places. The store where they had all the Thomas gear was all priced equally to Toys r Us. The real attraction here was Thomas was in town. Every kid in IL seemed to be here. Everyone was excited. We were able to ride with Thomas as he pulled a section of passenger cars. All the kids were given honorary conductor certificates and enjoy a short ride. It was very well done. Also, they were able to meet Sir Topphem Hatt. My son was ecstatic. This was a real fun experience. They also had model trains and tons of other stuff. A great place for the family. read more

This unique museum is day-trip material. I suggest NOT going on the Thomas the Train day if you're anything except a seven-year-old (or parent of such). Having accidentally visited another great railway museum (the B&O Museum in Baltimore) on Thomas day, I speak from experience! I believe that a very fair view of what the museum is and offers has been covered by other reviewers, so I won't be repetitive. The only thing I'd like to add is that it is totally great and yet, somewhat sad, to see all the trains of the past here. The museum volunteers are doing a great job restoring and maintaining the rolling stock. But, you do get a little misty-eyed thinking about what the great trains of yesteryear were really like, in a different time and world. SO, if you're at all interested in what pre-Interstate and pre-Airline national transportation was all about, do take a trip out here. The have a calendar of events posted on their website so you can plan ahead. FYI, they have a very good gift shop/bookstore on the grounds that you could spend an hour in alone! read more

Been there sever times and it's always interesting. Staff is friendly and the weekend gives you the best choice of trains to ride. Weekdays are great for a more relaxed pace. Cons.... I would love to see inside more engines and cars but I'm sure it's a money thing. Great for kids on Thomas the train days. read more

This was a great day with the family! For a borderline rail nut they had as much as I could possibly expect. Seriously, just stand next to one of the steam locos.. The exhibits are informative and you really start to see how the world got smaller with the railroad. Bring your own snacks, plenty of water if it's 90 degrees plus like it was for us and just enjoy it. My only feedback would be more exhibits, such as seeing the process of restoration or if I had gotten to see one of those steam monsters running- which I believe happens from time to time. I loved it. Now go and see for yourself. read more