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Shedd Aquarium

Fever River Railroad

1055 W. Beach Street, Freeport, IL 61032

Museums

A great place to learn about trains and see how they function.

For model railroad aficionados – and everyone else who ever enjoyed model trains – this model railroad is something to see. The Fever River Railroad is a 120 foot by 24 foot HO scale model of a hypothetical railroad running from Duluth, Minnesota to St. Louis, Missouri. This fully operational model railroad has detailed scenery, rail yards, factories and interchanges with many other railroads. The model railroad allows for the operation of multiple trains along railroad right-of-way that portrays typical towns along the Duluth to St Louis route.

The Fever River Railroad is an ongoing project with upgrades to the layout and scenery that provides an exciting model railroad experience. A collection of railroad memorabilia and pictures, many from the surrounding area, is on display throughout the facility which is the previous Chicago Central (IC) bunkhouse. It is the large tan building located behind the Canadian National Yard Office on a gravel drive with the street name “Fever River Place”. The Stephenson Society of Model Trainmen who operate the railroad host an open house twice a year at which the Fever River Railroad may be enjoyed or visitors are welcome at other times by prior appointment.

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