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Illinois Railway Museum Reorganizes Equipment Storage Following Barn 15 Opening

cultural-heritage · 2026-03-25

The Illinois Railway Museum has completed Barn 15, prompting significant reorganization of equipment storage and display spaces. Switch crews have relocated numerous items, including moving a weekend coach train from public display Barn 9 to the new Barn 15. The vacated space in Barn 9 will now house diesel locomotives for public viewing, improving space utilization. The museum highlighted donor-funded indoor storage for locomotives like Chicago and North Western 7009 and Chicago and Illinois Midland 30, with costs exceeding $31,000 and $23,000 respectively. Sixteen diesel locomotives have received indoor storage through donations, but approximately twelve remain outdoors. The museum emphasizes that indoor storage is crucial for long-term preservation and continues to seek donations for this goal.

Key facts

  • Barn 15 construction has been finished at the Illinois Railway Museum.
  • A weekend coach train was moved from Barn 9 to Barn 15, freeing display space.
  • Donors provided over $31,000 for indoor storage of Chicago and North Western 7009.
  • Donors also contributed about $23,000 for indoor storage of Chicago and Illinois Midland 30.
  • Sixteen diesel locomotives have secured indoor storage via donations, with around twelve still needing placement.

Entities

Institutions

  • Illinois Railway Museum

Sources