Illinois Railway Museum Webcam

Illinois Railway Museum

The Illinois Railway Museum (IRM), located in Union, Illinois, was founded in 1953 by a group of ten people who each contributed $100 to save a historic interurban car. It is the largest railway museum in the United States, with a collection of over 500 pieces of railway equipment, including steam, diesel, and electric locomotives. The museum's exhibits feature restored passenger cars, freight cars, interurban cars, and massive steam locomotives displayed in multiple barns and buildings. Visitors can ride historic trains and experience special events like themed train rides for families. Each year, the museum welcomes approximately 100,000 visitors, making it a major destination for railway enthusiasts.

The webcams at the museum allow virtual visitors to view different areas of the museum in real time. One webcam is focused on the Diesel Shop, showing diesel locomotives and ongoing restoration projects. Another camera overlooks Barn 9, where many historic locomotives and rolling stock are stored and maintained. The Car Line Junction webcam captures the intersection where the museum's streetcar line meets the mainline tracks, displaying train movements and operations. The Spaulding Tower webcam provides a wide view of the station tracks and mainline, highlighting how trains are coordinated within the museum.