Illinois Railroad Association

05/26/2026

Looking forward to again hosting Union Pacific Railroad Big Boy #4014 here in the Land of Lincoln!

02/21/2026

BNSF Railway investing in Illinois, keeping our state competitive, and moving our economy forward!

Big investment news for Galesburg. BNSF Railway is expanding its rail yard here with new tracks to increase capacity and improve efficiency. The project is part of BNSF's $4 billion national investment plan. BNSF employs about 1,000 people in Galesburg, making it our largest employer. Ken Springer with Knox County Area Partnership says this strengthens our region's competitive advantage in transportation.

Read the full story on WGIL.com: ➡️ https://t.ly/LoVD-

02/12/2026

Did you know that before he was in the White House, Abraham Lincoln was one of the most sought-after railroad attorneys in Illinois? 💼

​Representing companies like the Illinois Central Railroad, Lincoln didn’t just argue law; he argued for the future of infrastructure. In the landmark Hurd v. Rock Island Bridge Co. case, Lincoln successfully defended the right of a railroad bridge to cross the Mississippi River, famously stating that a person has as much right to cross a river as they do to travel down it.

In the State House, Abe was a railroad advocate through his fervent support for "internal improvements", what we call infrastructure investments today.

And as President, he signed legislation creating the Transcontinental Railroad!

​Today, on his 217th birthday, we honor the man who helped lay the tracks for the rail networks that still power our state’s economy.

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02/01/2026

It's our 75th birthday; our "Diamond Anniversary"!

In the railroad world, a diamond is where two lines meet—a point of connection, coordination, and momentum. 🚂💎

Today the Illinois Railroad Association celebrates our 75th, our "Diamond", Anniversary. Since our founding on February 1, 1951, we’ve stood at the intersection of Illinois’ economy and the national supply chain.

For seven and a half decades, we’ve advocated for the tracks that connect our farms to the world, our factories to the coast, and our communities to the future.

As the "Rail Hub of America," Illinois is where the diamond happens every day.

Thank you to our amazing members, the railroads and businesses which move our economy. Thank you to our rail partners who work with us every day to transform the world. And thank you to all who work, use, and love the railroads of Illinois. You help us make Illinois the greatest railroad state in the nation!

Join us in celebrating 75 years of keeping Illinois on the right track!





Union Pacific Railroad
BNSF Railway
Canadian National Railway Company
Norfolk Southern
CSX
CPKC
GATX
TTX
Railway Supply Institute (RSI)
Association of American Railroads