It's easy to take for granted as this train quite literally travels in our backyard nearly every single day, but it's also been recognized as one of the most scenic trips you can make in Illinois thanks to its "ocean view dome".

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The Illinois Zephyr just got some nice recognition from Only In Your State that praised it as a "little-known Illinois train line" that offers a scenic trip. They're not wrong as long as you appreciate the farm fields that blanket the part of Illinois between Quincy and Chicago.

The official Illinois Zephyr website documents all the attractions and things you can see along the route including:

  • Chicago Loop
  • Willis Tower
  • Downtown Naperville
  • DuPage Children’s Museum
  • Naperville Riverwalk
  • Mendota Museum
  • Union Depot Railroad Museum
  • Kewanee Historical Society
  • Downtown Galesburg
  • Galesburg Railroad Museum
  • Discovery Depot Children’s Museum

This traveler shared video many years ago showing the "Ocean View" dome car which really is about as good as it gets aboard the Illinois Zephyr.

I am an unapologetic rail fan. One of the best trips I've taken in my life was a journey on the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad which I rode twice back in the mid-1980's. For me, there's nothing better than traveling by train. Call me old-fashioned, but I'm not sorry.

It has been a challenging time for trains as you might recall that the morning Zephyr trip from Quincy to Chicago was cancelled by Amtrak a few months ago due to crew shortages. The good news is that KHQA reported a couple days ago that the route will be restored soon according to Amtrak. Maybe things are looking up for us fans of the rail.

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