Fox River Trolley Museum

Two grandparents and two 2-​year old boys really enjoyed our time here. We were surprised that the 2-​year olds got to ride free (the museum starts charging at age 3). We checked out a caboose, a CTA car and then took a ride on the red 1902 trolley #20. The ride takes a half hour including a stop at the end of the line to change the flags and electric pole. It’s possible to hop off at the stop and take a different trolley back.
The conductor and engineer were dressed in uniforms and the conductor gave an interesting history of the line and trolleys as we rode. Our bravest 2-​year old even got to toot the trolley’s horn!

For the past two years I’ve taken my son here for the ghost train at Halloween. For the two weekends before Halloween you can take a train ride to the forest preserve where you listen to kid friendly-​ish ghost stories, roast a marshmallow for smores, sing songs, then take the train back to the parking lot. It’s cute.
I wish there was more to see and do there before and after the train ride. They do have old train cars to look at but it’s hard to see in the dark. The restrooms is also a port a potty. Come prepared!
If you come for the ghost train, dress warm and bring a blanket. It’s cold in the forest!

Nice little outdoor museum train enthusiasts and kids will like. Train rides down a 2 mile track are neat. The gentlemen that volunteer and run things are extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. Lots of cars and equipment in various states of restoration to check out. Prices are very cheap. Free parking.

We took the trolley and the conductors were very friendly and knowledgeable. Upon coming back my son visited the caboose and upon getting down started running on the tracks which I understand were live although the return trolley was nowhere in sight, but rather than simply tell us to get off the tracks this staff member commenced yelling at us to leave the track and continued yelling at us once we left the track. overkill considering I complied immediately and was not mouthing back or even verbally engaging this old women. The couple we were with agreed her conduct was unnecessary and overly rancorous.
The pumpkin patch they advertised also was not more than a collection of pumpkins lumped together. Will not be patronizing this place any more.

The visitors definitely were not out in force on this overcast and later wet weekend day. Here, there is no building as such to view artifacts, but there is a small store. When open, the museum offers rides on two different electric cars. Only one car is allowed on the track at a time. What is not stored in the barn is displayed on the hillside both above and below the track end. I appreciated the variety of electric displayed and found the folks here very friendly.

Check out the website for all the details about this place. I’ll just say that while the Illinois Railway Museum rolling stock is in MUCH better shape, the cool part here is to pack a picnic lunch and let them drop you off at the Jon Duerr forest preserve. It’s like a throwback to the 1920s when people really DID travel from town on streetcars like this.
For $ 3.50 a person, you can’t beat the nostalgia.
Oh yeah — they run special Halloween and Christmas trolley trips as well. And if you miss those old silver or green CTA cars, you can come out and sit in the creaky seats in a couple of those as well…
I’m going to post a couple videos of the train ride on YouTube…