Serving Chicagoland & ​Northwest Indiana as the
​​BLACKHAWK CHAPTER 
of the

ALL ABOARD!

Since 1969, the members of the ​Blackhawk Railway Historical Society have been interested in our railroad history and are actively involved in its study and preservation. 

​Today's well-documented events are the historical record for tomorrow; therefore, we are also interested in today's railroads.  

OUR NEXT MONTHLY MEETING > FRIDAY, JUNE 5 - ​7:30 to 9:30 PM
Gladys Fox Museum, 231 E 9th Street, ​Lockport, IL 60441-3403 

  • ​Free admission
  • Public welcome
  • Food and drink available
  • ADA accessible
  • Doors open at 7 PM​
  • Program: Fred Pajak takes a look at how America's railroads are celebrating the country's 250th birthday!

​Coming to our area this Summer...


Union Pacific's famed Big Boy No. 4014, the world's largest operating steam locomotive, as part of a historic coast-to-coast tour to celebrate America's 250th anniversary, will be passing through Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana.
  • THURSDAY, JUNE 4 - UP 4014 will move from West Chicago, IL (on the former C&NW) to UP's former C&EI yard in South Holland (Yard Center), IL ​
    ​
  • FRIDAY, JUNE 5 - UP 4014 heads out of South Holland (Yard Center), IL, and works its way through Hammond, IN, to connect to Norfolk Southern's former Nickel Plate line to Fort Wayne, IN

  • FRIDAY, JULY 17 - On its return home, UP 4014 will use this day to move from UP's former C&EI yard in South Holland (Yard Center), IL, heads south on the former Chicago & Alton (where it will pass through historic canal towns Lemont, Lockport, and Joliet, IL), and then overnights in Bloomington, IL

Go to the official UP Steam website for more information about 4014 and the entire tour.

OUR NEXT INDIANA SWAP MEET > SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18 - 10 AM to 2 PM
​​American Legion Post 66, 132 N Wiggs St, Griffith, IN 46319 

  • ​​Admission FREE ($2 donation requested)
  • The building is open for vendor setup at 8 AM
  • Vendors can confirm a reservation or ask about table availability by calling or emailing John Eagan

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​Contents © 2026 Blackhawk Railway Historical Society, Inc. - an Illinois not-for-profit corporation. ​

​Contents © 2026 Blackhawk Railway Historical Society, Inc. - an Illinois not-for-profit corporation.   Photos and images on this site without credit belong to Blackhawk Railway Historical Society or the Public Domain.  Credited photos and images are the property of their owner.  The Blackhawk Railway Historical Society, Inc. is a chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.

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