If you love all things trains, then you have to visit this incredible park. You’re not a true railfan if you haven’t been to Illinois’ railroad heartland. Though passenger service ended in this town in 1971, you can still visit here for a blast from the past.
Grab the kids or just your buddies and enjoy a day of learning and sight-seeing at this marvelous train park. Keep scrolling for all the details.
Just outside of Rockford in the town of Rochelle is a park everyone in Illinois should visit. The Rochelle Railroad Park was built to show visitors how trains operate.
Facebook/Rochelle Railroad Park A hot spot for train watching, at least 80 trains pass through this part of Illinois daily carrying millions of tons of products.
Open 24/7, this park preserves an important part of Illinois history. The first air line railroad was completed in 1854, connecting Rochelle (formerly known as Lane) to Chicago. Today that line is known as the Union Pacific (UP).
Facebook/Rochelle Railroad Park An additional railroad was built from Iowa to Chicago, passing through Rochelle and the UP. That railroad is know as the Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF) line and it extends to the west coast.
Parking is free and there is even space for busses and RVs, which accommodates class field trips and other large groups of travelers.
Facebook/Rochelle Railroad Park
Open every day besides Tuesday, there is a gift shop on-site that sells train t-shirts, mugs, toys, and other gifts. It also has two large viewing areas facing both the BNSF and UP lines.
Facebook/Rochelle Railroad Park
Features of the park include a seven ton Whitcomb locomotive, an 1854 air line railroad, electric generators, and hobo signs, which is how wanderers and searchers used to communicate with one another.
Facebook/Rochelle Railroad Park
The park also has picnic tables, covered benches, grills, and fire pits. You can hang out in the “hobo jungle” and enjoy a bonfire all night.
Facebook/Rochelle Railroad Park
The Rochelle Railroad Park is located at North Ninth Street in Rochelle, and you can get more information on its Facebook page or website.
Facebook/Rochelle Railroad Park
A hot spot for train watching, at least 80 trains pass through this part of Illinois daily carrying millions of tons of products.
An additional railroad was built from Iowa to Chicago, passing through Rochelle and the UP. That railroad is know as the Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF) line and it extends to the west coast.
If riding is more your style, check out these five incredible day trips you can take by train.
Have you ever been to this train park? Share your experience with us!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
