Fox River Trolley Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fox River Trolley Museum |
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CNS&M #715 at the museum (2008)
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| Locale | South Elgin, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 41°59′27″N 88°17′48″W / 41.99091320°N 88.29672780°W |
| Commercial operations | |
| Built by | Aurora, Elgin and Fox River Electric Company |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Preserved operations | |
| Preserved gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Commercial history | |
| Closed to passengers | 1935 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1961 | Railway Equipment Leasing and Investment Corporation (RELIC) founded |
| 1966 | Began operating |
| Present | Continues open |
The Fox River Trolley Museum is a cool museum about trains and trolleys located in South Elgin, Illinois. It started way back in 1961 as R.E.L.I.C., which stands for Railway Equipment Leasing and Investment Co. The museum first opened its doors in 1966, and in 1984, it officially became the Fox River Trolley Museum.
Contents
Where to Find the Museum
You can find the museum at 365 South LaFox Street. This is also known as Illinois Route 31. It's just a short walk, about two blocks south, from where LaFox and State Streets meet.
Explore the Museum's Collection
The museum has an amazing collection of 30 old electric trolleys, railroad cars, and locomotives. These vehicles were built between 1887 and 1959. Most of the collection focuses on trains and electric transit lines from the Chicago area.
One very special car is the wooden Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad car #20. It's an interurban car, meaning it traveled between cities. Car #20 was built in 1902. It is the oldest electric interurban car still running in the United States!
The museum also recently got car #304. This car was built in 1923 for the Fox River Line. It ran daily between Elgin and Aurora until 1935. Later, it operated in Cleveland. Car #304 made its first trip on its original railroad again on August 21, 2010. This was over 75 years after it last ran there!
Chicago Area Interurban Cars
The museum has many cars from famous Chicago-area electric train lines. These include:
- Aurora, Elgin and Fox River Electric Company (AE&FRE)
- Chicago, Aurora, and Elgin Railroad (CA&E)
- Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad (CNS&M)
- Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (CSS&SB)
AE&FRE Cars
- AE&FRE #5: This was a 45-ton General Electric diesel locomotive. It was the last engine to work on AE&FRV tracks. It hauled coal cars until 1972.
- AE&FRE #7 (C): This was a flat car built in 1927. It was first used as a "piggyback" car, carrying truck trailers on trains.
- AE&FRE #304: This was a lightweight interurban car built in 1923. It ran between Elgin and Aurora until 1935.
CA&E Cars
- CA&E #11: Built in 1910, this car was first used for express delivery. It was later changed into a "line car" in 1947.
- CA&E #20: Built in 1902, this wooden car is the oldest electric interurban car still running in the U.S.
- CA&E #316 and #317: These were two of six cars built in 1913.
- CA&E #458: This was one of 10 cars built in 1945. These were some of the last interurban cars ever made in the U.S.
CSS&SB Cars
- CSS&SB #7 and #14: These cars were built in 1925. Car #14 was rebuilt and made longer during World War II.
CNS&M Cars
- CNS&M #715: This car was built in 1926.
- CNS&M #756: This car was built in 1930.
Chicago Transit Authority and Other City Cars
The museum also has cars from Chicago's city transit systems:
- Chicago City Railway (CCRy)
- Chicago Rapid Transit Company (CRT)
- Chicago Surface Lines (CSL)
- Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
CCRy Cars
- CCRy #L202: This small electric switcher was built in 1908. It was used in the train yard until 1958.
- CCRy #S304: Built in 1908, this was a flatcar with a crane.
CRT Cars
- CRT #4103: Built in 1914, this car had three doors on each side. These cars were retired in 1973.
- CRT #4288 and #4451: Built in 1922 and 1924, these cars had a newer design without center doors.
CSL Cars
- CSL #6: This was a street Railway Post Office car built in 1891. It's a very old electric streetcar!
CTA Cars
- CTA 5001: This was one of four special three-car trains built in 1948. They were used to test new parts for fast transit cars. From 1964 to 1985, they were used only on the Skokie Swift line.
- CTA 6101-6102: Built in 1950, these cars were a "married set." This means they were designed to always run together. This design was used for all future CTA cars.
- CTA #40, 43, and 45: Built in 1959, these were single cars that could run in either direction. Most were taken out of regular service in 1993.
Other Unique Railroad Vehicles
- San Francisco Municipal Railway #1030: Built in 1953, this was one of the last "PCC" streetcars. It shows the final design of American streetcars.
- Warren and Saline River Railroad #73: This is a Whitcomb 70-ton locomotive built in 1948. Engines like this are often used for shorter train lines or in factories.
- Soo Line #130: This wooden caboose was built in 1887. It is the oldest car you can find at the museum!
- Illinois Central Railroad #9648: Built in 1957, this is a modern steel caboose. It was used until the 1970s, when cabooses started to be phased out.
Ride the Heritage Railroad
Since 2002, the museum has operated a special heritage railroad. It runs for 4 miles along the beautiful Fox River. The ride takes you to the Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve.
Visitors can get on the trolley at the Castlemuir depot. This is on the museum grounds in South Elgin. You can also board at Blackhawk Station, which is next to the Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve. Blackhawk Station is easy to access for people with disabilities.
The tracks the museum uses were once part of the Aurora, Elgin & Fox River Electric interurban railroad. The track goes south from Castlemuir and passes through Coleman. This was once a place where trains could switch to the Illinois Central Railroad. This part of the track was used until 1972.
The museum offers trolley rides from Mother's Day until the first Sunday in November. They run every Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In July and August, you can also ride on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
About the Museum Organization
The Fox River Trolley Museum is run by the Fox River Trolley Association (FRTA). The FRTA is a non-profit organization. This means it's focused on education and is supported by its members. It's a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation in Illinois.
