Fox River Trolley Museum

Name: Fox River Trolley Museum
Address: 365 S Lafox Street, South Elgin, IL, 60177, US
Telephone: +18476974676
Price range: $
Rating: 4.7

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Fox River Trolley Museum

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Where history rides the rails. All aboard for a one-of-a-kind journey through time! But we’re more than just trains.
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The Fox River Trolley Museum brings electric railroading to life with historic trains, hands-on restoration, and unforgettable rides along tracks from 1896—all powered by volunteers and community support. Nestled in the scenic Fox River Valley, the Fox River Trolley Museum is a living museum powered entirely by volunteers, passion, and a whole lot of elbow grease. Our collection of historic electric railcars; from elevated CTA cars to vintage interurbans offers families, train buffs, and curious visitors the chance to ride on rails that date back to 1896. We’re storytellers, preservationists, weekend engineers, and full-time dreamers. Whether it’s pulling electrical wire for our barn extension, restoring a 100-year-old baggage cart, or welcoming guests for magical seasonal events like Bunny Burrow Express and Santa’s Trolley, there’s always something happening on the line. Every ticket, donation, and volunteer hour helps us keep history not just preserved, but moving. Come ride with us, work beside us, or simply enjoy the view. The Fox River Trolley Museum is where misfit cars get second chances, and people of all ages fall in love with railroading all over again

10/12/2026

A huge thank-you to everyone who came out for our first Ghost Story Train weekend! We had a spooktacular time, and we can’t wait to do it all again!

There are still a handful of tickets left for this coming Saturday, October 17, but they won’t last long! Be sure to grab yours before we sell out!

Bring the whole family for a night of spooky fun featuring local vendors, fun activities, and plenty of Halloween spirit. It’s the perfect fall outing for ghosts and ghouls of all ages!

Get your tickets before they’re gone!

https://foxtrolley.org/visit/special-events/ghost-story-train/

We hope to see you on board!

10/08/2026

We’re not trying to be too humerus, but we’ve got a bone to pick with you…

Why haven’t you gotten your tickets to the Ghost Story Train yet?

The Ghost Story Train starts THIS SATURDAY at the Fox River Trolley Museum!

Join us for a spooky evening of historic trolley rides, ghost stories, hayrides, a campfire, food, vendors, and plenty of Halloween fun.

And don’t worry, it’s a family-friendly event! Things don’t get too scary, but we definitely like to keep things spooky.

Come see what’s lurking around the museum after dark. You never know who, or what, might be waiting for you aboard the train!

Get your tickets and find event information here:
https://foxtrolley.org/visit/special-events/ghost-story-train/

10/06/2026

GHOST STORY TRAIN STARTS THIS WEEKEND!

Join us at the Fox River Trolley Museum for a spooky evening aboard the Ghost Story Train!

Don’t forget, this is a FAMILY-FRIENDLY event! Things don’t get too scary, but we definitely try to keep it spooky! Enjoy spooky stories, a creepy atmosphere, campfire fun, and plenty of Halloween spirit for the whole family.

Bring the family, bring your friends, and come enjoy a night of spooky fun on the rails!

Fox River Trolley Museum
365 S. La Fox Street
South Elgin, IL 60177

TICKETS:
https://foxtrolley.org/visit/special-events/ghost-story-train/

10/02/2026

Members’ Day is this Saturday, October 3rd!

We’re excited to welcome our members for a special day dedicated to celebrating the people who help make the Fox River Trolley Museum possible.

Members’ Day is our way of showing our appreciation for your continued support and giving you a chance to see the progress we’re making as we work to fulfill the Museum’s mission of preserving and sharing the history of electric rail transportation.

Thank you to all of our members for being a part of the Fox River Trolley Museum family. We look forward to celebrating with you this Saturday!

09/29/2026

Did you know you can learn how to operate a trolley or diesel locomotive at the Fox River Trolley Museum?

With our Take the Throttle package, you can get behind the controls and experience what it’s like to operate historic railway equipment!

Whether you’ve always dreamed of running a trolley or want to try your hand at a diesel locomotive, this is your chance to learn from our experienced operators and make memories you won’t forget.

Come take the throttle and experience the railroad from the operator’s seat!

Learn more about our Take the Throttle experience and reserve your spot today.

https://foxtrolley.org/visit/take-the-throttle/

09/25/2026

This Saturday, 9/26, Operation Lifesaver will be at the Fox River Trolley Museum!

Stop by and learn more about staying safe around railroad tracks, crossings, and trains. When you participate in the rail safety program, you can also enjoy a FREE trolley ride!

Come learn something important, explore the museum, and take a ride on one of our historic trolleys. It’s a great way to spend your Saturday!

Remember. See Tracks? Think Trains!

09/22/2026

Summer is coming to an end, but that just means cooler temperatures are here to enjoy a ride on our historic trolleys!

Come visit us and take a ride along the Fox River while enjoying the crisp fall weather. There’s no better time to experience the history of the Fox River Line!

And in just two weeks, the spooky season begins at the museum!

Ghost Story Train is coming up Saturday, October 10th!

Tickets are selling fast, so don’t wait to get yours. Join us for an evening of ghost stories, historic trolley rides, vendors, and more!

Get your tickets today:
https://foxtrolley.org/visit/special-events/ghost-story-train/

09/18/2026

Looking for something fun to do but want to enjoy history?

Come down to the Fox River Trolley Museum Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM–5 PM.

We’ll take you from the museum down to the John J. Duerr Forest Preserve, where you can spend the day fishing, exploring, or enjoying a picnic along the Fox River.

When you’re ready to head back, we’ll come pick you up! Trolleys regularly run about every 45 minutes, with the last train leaving the museum around 4:30 PM.

Don’t like fishing? No problem! Pack a picnic, bring the family, and enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the forest preserve. Then hop back aboard the trolley when you’re ready to return.

Come enjoy a day of history, rapid transit, and the outdoors at the Fox River Trolley Museum!

09/14/2026

For the Fox Valley Steampunk Festival, we brought our pump car out for everyone to enjoy, and let’s just say our volunteers got a pretty good workout in the process!

Arms were pumping, wheels were moving, and everyone involved definitely had a great time. Who needs a gym membership when you have a historic railroad pump car?

Thanks to everyone who helped bring the pump car out and made it part of another great festival weekend!

We’re thinking about adding “pump car fitness” to the volunteer training program… any takers?

09/13/2026

What a fantastic day at the Fox Valley Steampunk Festival!

We’re so excited to say that this year’s festival was a great success! Thank you to everyone who came out, dressed up, supported our vendors, enjoyed the trains, and helped make the day so memorable.

We can’t wait to do it all again next year!

Did you attend the Fox Valley Steampunk Festival? Feel free to share your pictures from the event in the comments below. We’d love to see them!

Address

365 S Lafox Street
South Elgin, IL
60177

Telephone

+18476974676

Website

http://www.foxtrolley.org/

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