2019 Events
We have several special events planned for 2019 at the Monticello Railway Museum. Regular train service also operates Saturdays and Sundays from May through September – see the schedule for details. Different fares may apply to special events.
- Throttle Time
- You can be the engineer of our train!
- Dates: Saturday, April 27; Saturday, October 12; ; and many Saturdays from May 4 through September 29, 2019.
- 401 in Steam
- Ride behind our restored 1907-vintage steam locomotive!
- Dates: Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19; Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23; Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21; Saturday, August 17 and Sunday, August 18; Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6, 2019.
- School Days – Tuesday, May 7 and Wednesday, May 8, 2019.
- An opportunity for school children to ride a full-sized diesel-powered train.
- Mother's Day Weekend – Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12, 2019.
- Make this Mother's Day special by treating Mom to a relaxing ride with her family on our vintage train. Moms ride FREE when accompanied by their children!
- Father's Day Weekend – Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16, 2019.
- Dads ride FREE when accompanied by their children!
- Fireworks Special – Tuesday, July 3, 2019.
- See the Monticello fireworks without worrying about traffic.
- Railroad Days – Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22, 2019.
- Come enjoy UNLIMITED rides on our vintage passenger and freight trains and motor cars running on our former Illinois Central and Illinois Terminal trackage, enjoy kids' games and more!
- The Polar Express™
- Read along with the story as the train makes its round-trip journey to the North Pole.
- Dates: To be announced by the end of April.
- Lunch with Santa on the Train – Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2, 2019
- Enjoy a visit with Santa Claus while eating a kid-friendly sack lunch. This event is hosted by the Monticello Chamber of Commerce.
NOTE: Due to the need for more capacity for the overwhelmingly popular Polar Express™, the Ghost Train will not be held for the foreseeable future.