Union Depot Railroad Museum

The Union Depot Railroad Museum building is what remains of the original Mendota Railroad Station. However, when the society acquired the site it was virtually a empty shell. Many volunteers spent countless hours restoring the building to its original state with ticket office and waiting room.  The museum has a waiting room for trains that stop in Mendota, a large HO model railroad layout depicting Mendota with its grand railroad station, display rooms with railroad artifacts, and a large railroad library.

Union Depot Railroad Museum is an MMHS  museum and a Amtrak station stop. The building is a restored part of the original railroad station built in late 1880's which was torn down in the early 1940's. The museum houses many railroad artifacts, HO model railroad depicting Mendota in the late 1930'/ early 1940's, extensive railroad history library, and many displays.

Part of the building is a waiting room for Amtrak passengers

The Baldwin built steam locomotive on display is on loan from LaSalle County. It is a CB&Q railroad 2-8-2 Mikado  locomotive that was used in freight and passenger service for many years. Visitors can ring the bell from in the cab.  

Rides on the "Speeder " motor  track inspection car are available for visitors.

(conditions permitting)

One view of the HO model railroad as it appeared in the early 1940's. Mendota had up 40 trains a day servicing the town. The Illinois Central, CB&Q and Milwaukee Road were major carriers with passenger service. Steam locomotive models with sound effects can be seen pulling passenger cars as they did many a year ago.

Our railroad collection includes:

1923 CB&Q steam locomotive and tender

1911 CB&Q wooden Waycar (caboose)

1937 Illinois Central Mail Storage Car

1949 Golden Trencher Dining Car

1938 Milwaukee Combine Car

Fairmont Motor Car

Tours of this equipment is included in the Union Depot museum tour

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The 1949 Golden Trencher dining car was refurbished by museum volunteers to bring it to the way it looked in 1950's. It has a full kitchen (galley) and in the day could prepare almost any kind of meal.

The picture shown has the cafe car decorated for a tea party and fashion show of ladies hats from years gone by.

The car be rented for parties, meetings, family get togethers - has a complete sound system for presentations and music.

To arrange a rental please call the main office.

Union Depot Railroad Museum

The Union Depot Railroad Museum building is what remains of the original Mendota Railroad Station. However, when the society acquired the site it was virtually a empty shell. Many volunteers spent countless hours restoring the building to its original state with ticket office and waiting room.  The museum has a waiting room for trains that stop in Mendota, a large HO model railroad layout depicting Mendota with its grand railroad station, display rooms with railroad artifacts, and a large railroad library.

Union Depot Railroad Museum

Union Depot Railroad Museum

Hours: 12 to 4pm Saturday and Sunday

                      Tel.  815-538-3800 

                               815-539-3373

The Union Depot Railroad Museum building is what remains of the original grand 1888 Mendota Railroad Station. However, when the society acquired the site it was virtually an empty shell. Many volunteers spent countless hours restoring the building to its original state with ticket office and waiting room.  The museum has a waiting room for trains that stop in Mendota, a large HO model railroad layout depicting Mendota with its grand railroad station, display rooms with railroad artifacts, and a extensive railroad library.

The Union Depot Railroad Museum building is what remains of the original grand 1888 Mendota Railroad Station. However, when the society acquired the site it was virtually an empty shell. Many volunteers spent countless hours restoring the building to its original state with ticket office and waiting room.  The museum has a waiting room for trains that stop in Mendota, a large HO model railroad layout depicting Mendota with its grand railroad station, display rooms with railroad artifacts, and an extensive railroad library.