What Does Illinois Railway Museum Do?

Total employees28
HeadquartersUnion
Founded1953

The Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of railways and railroading, with a particular focus on equipment from the American Midwest. Established in 1953, it has grown to become the largest railway museum in North America by collection size, trackage, and land area. Located in Union, Illinois, IRM offers visitors the unique experience of riding on historic trains, viewing extensive collections of locomotives, streetcars, and passenger and freight cars, and learning about the pivotal role railways played in the development of the nation. The museum is primarily volunteer-operated and relies on donations, memberships, and visitor revenue to fund its preservation and operational efforts.

Where Is Illinois Railway Museum's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Serves as the primary museum campus, encompassing all exhibits, restoration facilities, operational railway lines, archives, and administrative functions.

Notable Features:

Extensive outdoor and indoor exhibit spaces, multiple historic depots, operating demonstration railroad with over 5 miles of track, numerous storage and restoration barns (e.g., Barn 9 for electric cars, Diesel Shop), extensive library and archives.

Work Culture:

Predominantly volunteer-driven, fostering a community of passionate railway enthusiasts dedicated to preservation, restoration, and education. Collaborative environment with a strong emphasis on hands-on work and historical accuracy.

HQ Significance:

As the sole operational location, the Union campus is the heart of all IRM activities. It houses one of the world's most significant collections of historic railway equipment and is a major tourist and educational destination.

Values Reflected in HQ: Commitment to historical preservation, education, volunteerism, public engagement, and the meticulous restoration and operation of historic railway equipment.

Location:

The Illinois Railway Museum is primarily focused on preserving North American railway history and operates its physical site in Union, Illinois, USA. While its collection attracts international visitors and researchers, it does not maintain operational offices or museum branches outside of its Union, IL campus. Its global impact is through online resources, historical research support, and its reputation as a leading railway preservation institution.

Street Address:

7000 Olson Rd

City:

Union

State/Province:

IL

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Illinois Railway Museum Operate Around the World?

No additional office locations available.

Buying Intent Signals for Illinois Railway Museum

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Notable news
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Who's Leading Illinois Railway Museum? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Illinois Railway Museum' leadership includes:

Joe Stupar - Executive Director
Nick Kallas - President & General Manager, Department of Operations
Dave Diamond - Vice President
David Dote - Treasurer
Barbara Lanphier - Secretary

Who's Investing in Illinois Railway Museum?

Illinois Railway Museum has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Illinois Railway Museum is primarily funded by public donations, membership fees, grants, admission revenue, and gift shop sales rather than traditional equity investors.

What Leadership Changes Has Illinois Railway Museum Seen Recently?

Hire0
Exits0

Specific executive-level (Board of Directors, key officers) changes for non-profit organizations like the Illinois Railway Museum are typically announced through member communications or annual reports rather than widespread press releases, unless particularly noteworthy. Routine board elections and officer appointments occur periodically.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byIllinois Railway Museum?

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Illinois Railway Museum Email Formats and Examples

The Illinois Railway Museum uses its domain irm.org for official communications. Specific email addresses for departments or key personnel may follow common formats. For general inquiries, contact forms or general email addresses like 'info@irm.org' are often provided on their website.

[firstinitial][lastname]@irm.org

Format

jstupar@irm.org

Example

70%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Illinois Railway Museum?

Trains.com NewswireOctober 26, 2023

Illinois Railway Museum news title: Illinois Railway Museum acquires Chicago South Shore & South Bend gallery car

The Illinois Railway Museum has acquired a former Chicago South Shore & South Bend bilevel gallery car, No. 40. The car, built by Nippon Sharyo in 1992, arrived at the museum in Union, Ill., by truck on Oct. 16 after being donated by current owner Metra....more

Illinois Railway Museum Official BlogMay 8, 2024

Illinois Railway Museum news title: Progress on CB&Q 504

Recent progress on the restoration of Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) steam locomotive 504 includes ongoing work on its tender. The tender's coal bunker sides are being fitted, and the water legs and oil bunker are nearing completion of their needle scaling and priming....more

Illinois Railway Museum WebsiteOngoing

Illinois Railway Museum news title: Regular Operating Season and Special Events

The Illinois Railway Museum operates a regular season typically from April through October, with weekend operations in spring/fall and daily operations in summer. They host numerous special events throughout the year, such as Diesel Days, Steam Department Benefit, Day Out With Thomas, and the Happy Holiday Railway....more

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