Thanks for making time to listen to a few of my stories.
I have always been interested in American history but heading a children's charity and raising a family did not allow time. Upon retirement I spent several years re reading those history books that I had just read in school to pass the test. During these reads, I paid particular attention to record (for retelling) those interesting and informative stories my history teachers didn't have time to share.
I organized Santa Express Trains to the North Pole for 10 years during my tenure with the children's charity. This intensified my passion for trains which I had had from youth. Upon retirement, I continued feeding my train passion by riding most of Amtrak's trains, even serving as an Amtrak tour guide.
My train passion went through the roof when I learned Robert Todd Lincoln arguably set the record for riding the most miles on trains before age 25, and while Secretary of War he traveled by train to many military places out West, AND at age 55 replaced George Pullman as the CEO of nation's largest rail manufacturing company, the Pullman Palace Car Co. Robert serve as CEO for 11 years and then continue as chairman of the Board for another 14 years! He definitely became a railroad baron.
With this knowledge, I chose to become a Robert Todd Lincoln reenactor. I found only 2 books on Robert Todd Lincoln. Yet, these books contained valuable information and stories I found delight in sharing as his reenactor.
For information and stories about
Robert Todd Lincoln tap here Mary Todd Lincoln tap here
Choo Choo Activities
for Kids
Updated: March 2026
Table of Contents
Diners closed on Sundays
Two Toots & Whistle Grill
Glen Ellyn & Batavia
Choo Choo Diner -Des Plaines
Train Merchandize for kids/adults
Shoppes at 127
located 127 3rd St Geneva
Ride Trains
Fox Valley Trolley Museum
Illinois Railway Museum
Polar Express
Museums & Cabooses/Locomotive
Bartlett Train Museum Depot
Museum of Science & Industry
Huge model train layout
Historic Zephyr train,
Historic Locomotive
West Chicago (mini locomotive)
Batavia (with caboose)
Plainfield (with caboose)
Aurora - Historic Roundhouse (with
caboose)
Train Watching
Geneva
Naperville
Rochelle
South Suburbs
4 railfanning locations
plus rail activities
Other
Chicago Union Station Great Hall
Great Midwest (Model) Train Show
Rail Webcams
Chessie Restaurant - Barrington
Bull Moose Bar & Grille - Somonauk
Riding Chicago's 'L'
Bonus:
Kids Stories
Animal Stories
Glen Ellyn Bartlett
closed on Sundays & Mondays
Two Toots & Whistles Grill
Kids love 2 Toots
GLEN ELLYN 2 TOOTS & WHISTLE
Many Geneva families take the Metra Union Pacific West train, get off at Glen Ellyn and walk 1 block west of the train station.
BARTLETT 2 TOOTS & WHISTLE
COMBINE YOUR VISIT WITH
BARTLETT TRAIN MUSEUM.
Both diner and museum are located within 1 block of each other on Metra's Milwaukee District West line in downtown Bartlett.
The Bartlett Train Museum has several hands on activities for children including activating the train horn and putting on a conductors uniform.
Check for Museum hours at their website.
Choo Choo Diner Des Plaines
Ride Metra UP West to Ogilvie Chicago station,
then board Metra's UP Northwest line
(located in same station), get off in Des Plaines.
Walk 1 block to
CHOO CHOO DINER
600 Lee St, DesPlaines, IL
providing smiles since the 1950's!
Train Clothing & More
for Kids/Adults
Shoppes at 127
127 S 3rd Street Geneva
(across from Court House)
Rt 31 South Elgin
Fox Valley
Trolley Museum
Highly recommended for little kids.
The train goes slow through the forest and along the Fox River. After a 10 minute ride, it stops at a Forest Preserve. You can get out, have a picnic, or just walk around before catching the next train back to the station.
The train travels about 4 miles round trip.
A beautiful big red caboose sits next to the station and is accessible.
Great Midwest Train Show (s)
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I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Usually 1st Sundays of Month
9am to 3pm at the DuPage County Fairgrounds.
3 Buildings full of Trains
Operating Model Train Displays
TRAINS KIDS CAN RUN!
Museum of
Science & Industry
A really gigantic train model train layout! .
Twenty (20) operating trains
Check it out at
Also, home of the Burlington Zephyr
Wow, the entire train is at the museum!
Board the train, sit down, and imagine yourself running the rails at over 100 miles per hour between Chicago & Denver.
Locomotive 999
The first steam locomotive to go over 100 MPH
CHICAGO UNION STATION
built 1925
There are just no words to adequately describe the Great Hall at Chicago Union Station. Kids (and adults) are in awe!
The kids will notice people waiting for their Amtrak train as well was observing people walking fast (even running) to catch their commuter train. Although not the best place to see trains, nevertheless, it's atmosphere will be memorable.
West Chicago
City Museum
This was a railroad town. The Museum has lots of train pictures. Kids love ringing the bell and watching a little train run around a track.
Two train lines cross the town for train watching. Check out the locomotive , next to the Metra station.
Bartlett
Bartlett Depot Museum
Hands on train museum for little kids
Exhibits that highlight Bartlett's rail history.
The Depot Museum features Metra photographer Mark LLanuza 's "Ticket to Ride" photos.
The Junction Diner 7401 Madison Forest Park IL
Union Illinois
45 min from Geneva
Illinois Railway Museum
Largest Train Museum in the U.S.
Consistently voted the best railway museum in the United States!
This is the place to see and ride trains!
Train sells out fast!
Mid July at
Illinois Railway Museum
Batavia
Batavia
Depot Museum
Visit the caboose too!
Former Depot built in 1855 to serve
the Chicago & Aurora RR which eventually became the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Aurora
Historic Roundhouse
Inside the Aurora Transportation Center, adjacent to the Roundhouse, learn about this historic building.
Plainfield
Joliet
Train Station
Mendota
Rochelle
The story of railroads in Rochelle begins in 1854 when the Air Line Railroad was completed between Chicago and the town of Lane (Lane was the first name of Rochelle). The railroad later became the Chicago and North Western and today is owned by the Union Pacific (UP).
Sixteen years later the Chicago & Iowa Railroad was built through Rochelle in 1870 and it crossed over the Air Line Railroad between 11th Street and 12th Street. The railroad was later called the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Although now condos,
still an interesting
place to see all
these cabooses together.
Themed & Holiday Rides
Polar Express
(various Metra lines)
Fox Valley Trolley Museum
Illinois Railway Museum
Miscelleanous
Chicago's 'L'
Some recommend riding the 'Brown Line'
all above ground
numerous curves
not too long a ride
Favorite: Galesburg Rail Cam
Sandwich Illinois
Bull Moose Bar & Grille
Enjoy an historic setting incorporating an 1893 Pullman Palace dining car used by President Roosevelt in his 1912 “Bull Moose Party” presidential campaign.
Barrington
BONUS