Group Tour Rail Trail Daytrip to Sterling

Highlights
Dillon Home Museum - 1005 E. 3rd St., Sterling, IL  www.sterlingparks.org
Open Tue-Thurs-Sat 10a-4p and Sun 1-4p or by appointment
New River Model Railroad Museum - 17845 Rigler Rd, Sterling, IL 815-625-7699
www.newriverrailroad.com (by appt for groups of 10 or more only)

The Dillon Home Museum is the former residence of P.W. Dillon, son of the original owner of the Northwestern Steal & Wire Co.   Located on the grounds is a completely restored 1929 Baldwin steam locomotive #73.  While here, take time to tour the Italian Renaissance-style home which was built in 1857 and still contains its original furnishings. Local history exhibits are located in the museum carriage house also located on the grounds.

The New River Model Railroad Museum, located approx. 8 miles north of Sterling off IL Rt 40, is a "must see" for the seasoned or novice model railroad buff!  It features an impressive H.O. scale layout which presents model trains in operation featuring the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad traveling through the New River Gorge in West Virginia in the 1950's. Watch the diesel and steam locomotives pulling long trains through the steep mountains, along rivers, over bridges, through towns and by coal mines which have been re-created with historically correct attention to detail.   All this is on a double main line which covers over 100 scale miles of track on a layout in progress that is currently 36' x 40'.
Tour options:
Groups have the option of either having lunch at one of the many restaurants in the Sterling/Rock Falls area or a catered lunch hosted by the owner of the New River Model Railroad Museum can be arranged to be served on site where tour participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about the layout, the trains themselves and his visits to West Virginia

The Northwest Illinois Model Railroad Club has a set-up located at 101 Main Street in Chadwick which is approx. 10 miles north on IL Rt 40. Their layout features a large 30'x 60', 3 level, H.O. scale layout, operating on Digitax DCC, and a 14'x 25' N Scale layout operated with DCC and DC both.  They also invite the public to view their facility at an Open House held the 3rd weekend in both March  & November.