Illinois

Illinois is a state in the United States of America, and the container for the city of Chicago. Outside of Chicago, it's just farmland. It's the land of Lincoln. Trains are the state's erythrocytes, radiating out of Chicago and into the great beyond.

"Heh! From now on, Africa will seem like... Illinois!" - Eckels.

Illinois is bordered by Wisconsin to the north, Lake Michigan to the northeast, Indiana to the east, Okin Tucky to the southeast, Missouri to the southwest, Iowa to the northwest, and the vast expanse of space going upward.

Notable communities and places

Aurora

It is, in fact, the second-largest city in the state. Not something I'd expect to know.

Cairo

Pronounced "kay-ro", unlike the Egyptian capital.

Carbondale

SIU land. Amtrak named a train to Chicago after its mascot, a Saluki dog. Was in the path of totality for both the 2017 and 2024 eclipses.

Casey

It has a bunch of big things; I went there once.

Champaign

UIUC land. Spelt differently from "champagne" as in the drink. Amtrak named a train to Chicago after... well, uh, I don't like cultural appropriation. So until recently their mascot was an Inoka man, coming from an Algonquian confederation of 12-13 bands that happened to be the state's namesake. Even if the mascot was dropped, I say we change the nickname altogether because of the systemic racism associated with it. How about the Greyhounds? They're fast like a Saluki.

Chicago

Main article: Chicago

B E A N

DeKalb

So I'm looking at a hypothetical map of Midwest regional rail, and while there is already a very busy commuter rail line to Aurora, they seem to have extended it to DeKalb, though the latter is, in fact, not on the same line.

Dolton

Over 100 trains roll through the junction where the Union Pacific line crosses over the CSX and IHB tracks.

Downers Grove

If you want to watch the twice daily parade of commuter trains zipping through the Chicago suburbs, then this place is for you!

East St. Louis

Like Regular St. Louis, but for military wives and stoners.

Evanston

It exists. Also, why is it called Northwestern when it's in the northeastern parts of the state?

Galesburg

More trains! Come to Peck Park if you're interested.

Grundy County

Used to lie on the equator when Earth was Pangaean. It had Tullimonstrum, whose secrets were discovered through coal mining.

Hinsdale

Another great place to watch commuter trains.

Joliet

A very busy junction where the former CRI&P line crosses over the joint former AT&SF-C&A-MC line.

Kankakee

Good morning America, how are you? The southbound City of New Orleans pulls out here, having departed Chicago and stopped at Homewood. All aboard!

Kaskasia

The capital of Illinois for a brief period in 1818. It is very small, and only accessible from Missouri.

Metropolis

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... the Super Museum?

Naperville

Yet another great place to watch commuter trains.

Normal

Home to Illinois State University, the Joker calls this city Crazy.

Peoria

Located roughly 33 miles north of the word "Illinois", the Illinois River flows through Peoria on its way to the Great Lakes.

Rochelle

Two busy railway lines cross each other there. This attracts plenty of train enthusiasts.

Rockford

For the first time since 1981, Rockford will finally get passenger rail!

Springfield

The capital. Not in the Simpsons. Even if there is a "Shelbyville" not too far away.

Union

It has an incredibly large railway museum! Do you like trains, especially older ones? Go here then, I guess.

Itinerary

Arrive at O'Hare or Midway Airport or Union Station and make your way to Omni Chicago Hotel. From O'Hare, take CTA's Blue Line to Washington and bus 146 from State & Randolph to Michigan & Huron. From Midway, take the Orange and Red Lines, interchanging at Roosevelt. From Union Station, take bus 151 to Michigan & Huron. After checking in, if you have enough time, feel free to explore Chicago.

Day	Journey	Destination	Highlights	Hotel	Breakfast	Lunch						Dinner
1	To get to the Art Institute: CTA bus 3 to Michigan Ave & Jackson Blvd To get to the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, or Adler Planetarium: CTA bus 146 to Soldier Field & Field Museum To get to the Museum of Science and Industry: CTA bus 2 to Stony Island & 57th Street To get to the Linkin Park Zoo CTA bus 22 to Clark & Wisconsin Then pretty much take the same routes and look for the Blue Awning. Walk around River North and/or the Magnificent Mile Walk to Quartino Ristorante Walk back to Omni Chicago Hotel	Chicago	Either of the following: The Art Institute of Chicago American Gothic Nighthawks Field Museum Sue Mastodons Some sauropod African bush elephants Shedd Aquarium Sharks Beluga whales Jellyfish Penguins Some triggerfish sculpture Adler Planetarium Exhibits on the Solar System Museum of Science and Industry The Great Train Story A United Airlines Boeing 727 New York Central and Hudson River Railroad No. 999 A replica of Stephenson's Rocket A U-boat, for some reason The Pioneer Zephyr A Swiss-themed Rube Goldberg-adjacent machine Coal mining exhibit Linkin Park Zoo Kovler Seal Pool Lunch options for each Chicago’s First Lady cruise on the Chicago River Optional drink at Chicago Athletic Association - The Unbound Collection by Hyatt	Omni Chicago Hotel	676 Restaurant & Bar	About Last Knife	The Field Bistro	Soundings Cafe	Cosmic Café	Dawn A.M. Eatery	Café Brauer	Quartino Ristorante
2	To get to Wrigley Field: CTA Red Line to Addison To get to Wicker Park: CTA bus 148 to State & Washington CTA Blue Line to Damen To get to Hyde Park: CTA bus 3 to Michigan & Washington Walk to Millennium Station Metra Electric District to 55th - 56th - 57th St. To get back downtown to either of the following: Northerly Island CTA Red/Blue Line to Jackson for the first two, followed by CTA bus 146 to Solidarity Dr & Planetarium Metra Electric District to Museum Campus/11th St. for the third Ohio Street Beach The same three train lines, plus CTA bus 2 to Navy Pier Terminal To get to Logan Square: CTA Blue Line to Logan Square Pretty much the same route back to the hotel		Either of the following neighbourhoods: Wrigleyville Chicago Cubs Wicker Park Hyde Park Either of the following walks: Northerly Island Ohio Street Beach			Whatever there is at Wrigley Field, if not Big Star Wrigleyville		Small Cheval- Wicker Park		14 Parish		Longman & Eagle
3	Check out by 5:30 AM CTA bus 125 to Clinton & Quincy Walk to the Greyhound station Burlington Trailways 1485 to Galena Taxi to DeSoto House Hotel and check in Explore the streets and hop on a trolley... no, not an actual tram	Galena	Galena Trolley Tours Galena River Trail	DeSoto House Hotel	Unsure	Paradise Bar & Grill						Embe Eatery and Lounge
4	Uber to Poopy's Pub Uber to Mount Carroll for a stretch of legs Uber to Springfield	Savanna Mount Carroll Springfield	Great River Road	President Abraham Lincoln Springfield - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel	DeSoto House Hotel	Poopy's Pub						Boone's
5	Walk to Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Walk to the Illinois State Capitol Building	Springfield	Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Illinois State Capitol Building		Charlie Parker's Diner	The Dublin Pub						Replay Lounge

Trivia

• If you turn Illinois upside down, it will look like an incredibly deformed Michigan. This will also upset the residents of Illinois, so don't do it.
• Illinois is the 25th largest state by land area.