Photo by AlphaBeta135, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
Upcoming Events
No ticketed events are currently listed for Fox River Trolley Museum. Many heritage operators publish schedules seasonally or run on regular open hours instead of dated events.
Check the operator’s website for current hours and special runs, or subscribe to event alerts and we’ll email you when something is scheduled.
About Fox River Trolley Museum
A vintage trolley traverses the former Aurora, Elgin & Fox River Electric Railway, gliding along the Fox River’s banks for 3.7 miles between South Elgin and the Castlemuir terminus. The ride threads through the Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve, offering river‑side vistas and historic flagstops such as Woodcliff. Operated by volunteers, the heritage line runs each weekend from May through October, delivering a fully restored electric‑car experience within Illinois’s scenic river corridor.
History
The Fox River Trolley Museum originates in 1961 when the Railway Equipment Leasing and Investment Company (RELIC) is founded on a small parcel of land in South Elgin, Illinois. It opens to the public in 1966 under the name RELIC Trolley Museum, and in 1973 the museum purchases the remaining 3.5 mi of the Aurora, Elgin & Fox River Electric line from owner Bob DeYoung after freight service ends. The institution adopts its current name in 1984 and, in 2003, extends its heritage railroad into the Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve, creating one of the few railroads that operates within a forest preserve. A major vandalism incident occurs on July 8 2018, prompting extensive repairs funded by public donations. In early November 2024 the museum announces a 50‑foot expansion of its 1984 car barn, slated for completion on September 27 2025.
The Trains
The museum’s collection includes 30 historic electric trolleys, cars and locomotives built between 1887 and 1973, among them Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad interurban car #20 (1902), the Aurora, Elgin & Fox River Electric Co. car #304 (1923), and the former Aurora, Elgin & Fox River Electric diesel switcher #5, a 45‑ton General Electric unit acquired in 1946. Since 2003 the museum operates a heritage line that runs 1.9 miles (approximately 3.0 km) along the Fox River between the Castlemuir yard in South Elgin and the Blackhawk station inside the Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve, with a flagstop at Woodcliff.
Nearby
Illinois's Fox River Trolley Museum is close to the Batavia Historical Society Depot Museum about 10 mi off and the Illinois Railway Museum roughly 20 mi away.
Where to Stay
Bookings made through this map support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
More Railroading Nearby
Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
Compare rentals on Discover Cars →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
Book tours & activities near South Elgin
Pre-book guided tours and things to do around the area.
Bookings made through these links support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
More in Illinois
All train rides in Illinois →Reviews
0✍ Write a Review
Get Event Alerts
Never miss an event at Fox River Trolley Museum.