Depots and Facilities
Wabash Depot
This depot was built in 1899 by the Wabash Railroad on the west side of downtown Monticello. It was moved to its present location along the museum’s former Illinois Central tracks in 1987 and restored by the Monticello Depot Association.
wabash center
Located next to the Wabash Depot, this building is used for the Polar Express gift shop, member meetings, and volunteer training. It is available to rent for special events, such as weddings. Contact us for more information.
Paxton Freight House
Built in 1913 by the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, which later became part of the Nickel Plate Road, this building is home to the Frank E. Willis Memorial Archive of the former Illinois Central Historical Society.
Nelson Crossing Campus
Museum Entrance
Nelson crossing depot
Built in 1919 by the Illinois Central Railroad in DeLand, Illinois, it was moved to the museum in 1980. It was named “Nelson Crossing” after a nearby stop on the Illinois Terminal Railroad. It is now the centerpiece of the Nelson Crossing campus, and is the main station used by most museum trains throughout the year.
Stair Tower and Signal System
This tower was completed in 2013 as a replica interlocking tower. It contains a lever machine and a bank of electrical relays that control the nearby signals.
Train Shed
This shed covers both display tracks in Nelson Crossing. It was completed in 2008 to protect outdoor displays as well as visitors from the elements. These tracks typically feature display freight and passenger trains that visitors can explore.
Nelson Car Barn
Completed in 2012 and extended in 2014 to store equipment and displays out of the elements. It contains three tracks that can hold up to seven passenger cars each and features an elevated walkway along the west side to enter or view equipment.
Rankin Building
Completed in 2011 as a replica motorcar shed. It contains four tracks that hold two motorcars each. It is located north of Stair Tower in the Nelson Crossing museum campus.
Kuelbs Building
This garage was modified in 2018 to appear as a small Illinois Central freight depot. It houses a small workshop and provides storage for special event materials.
The villas at Hodge park
This repurposed house provides meeting space, a kitchen and space for volunteers to stay overnight.
Turntable
This turntable was constructed in 1928 by the Rock Island Railroad in Peoria, Illinois. It was donated to the museum in 2020 and moved to our campus later that year.
Harper Shed
This shed was built by the Illinois Central in White Heath, Illinois for storing maintenance equipment. It is located at the far north end of the museum’s railroad, and is still used by volunteers to store track tools.
Camp Creek Yard
Maintenance, Restoration, and Storage Complex
Located immediately south of the Nelson Crossing campus
engine House
The Engine House was completed in 1987 to store and conduct maintenance and light repairs on operating engines out of the elements. The west track has an inspection pit underneath the track that allows for easier servicing of steam locomotives.
LOCOMOTIVE shop
Completed in 1989 for heavy repairs and rebuilding of locomotives. It contains a drop pit to remove large components such as axles. Museum volunteers use this shop to perform restorations and heavy repairs of historic equipment.
car shop
This Quonset hut was moved by volunteers from Carlock, Illinois. It was the museum’s first shop building. It is now used to restore passenger cars out of the elements.
Wood shop
Constructed in 2018, this building is used to restore wooden railcars. It contains wood shop with saws, planers, and other woodworking tools.
Car Barn
Completed in 1998 and extended in 2016, this barn is used to store unrestored equipment out of the elements while they wait for their turn to go into the shop.
Machine Shop
Completed in 1992 and equipped with lathes, mills, and other shop equipment for repairs and fabrication of new parts.
Office
Completed in 2005, this building provides office space for museum volunteers and also houses restrooms.
Maintenance of Way SHED
Completed in 1991, this building is used as a workshop and storage shed for the museum’s larger maintenance equipment. It contains four tracks to store motorcars and other maintenance vehicles.
Milmine Shed
Constructed by the Wabash Railroad in Milmine, Illinois, this shed was relocated to the museum and is currently used to store tools. It is painted to appear as an Illinois Terminal Railroad structure.