Illinois Railway Museum
Scenic railway · Union · Illinois
A railway museum in Union that runs steam, diesel and electric trains together with vintage streetcars on the same grounds. Its fall centerpiece is Steam into Fall, a single Saturday when a coal fired steam engine pulls riders through the turning woods of McHenry County before the steam trains park for the winter.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Color nearby peaks: October 13–October 17
Color builds from October 7 · mostly bare by November 5
Sampled at Illinois Railway Museum’s own coordinates and elevation (259 m) rather than a regional average.
Illinois is sampled at 27 weather points, then moved 2 days later so the model agrees with 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com and almanac.com. Illinois is running 7 days earlier than its own average this year. How the forecast works
When to go to Illinois Railway Museum
The color window runs about 17 days, holding until around October 24. Against Illinois overall, that is 8 days earlier.
It is roughly 52 mi out of Chicago. Milwaukee is about 65 mi out.
Illinois Railway Museum on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Illinois, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Frequently asked
- When does Illinois Railway Museum peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 13–October 17 (best estimate October 15). Color starts around October 7 and is mostly bare by November 5.
- How do I get to Illinois Railway Museum?
- Illinois Railway Museum is in Union. The closest city is Chicago, about 52 mi away. It's part of Illinois's fall lineup.
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