The Whistle Stop / Monon Connection Museum

Recently, I have been making better decisions about what I eat. What I love about the Whistle Stop is their robust salad bar. Every other restaurant in the greater Monticello area serves up the same foods. Whistle Stop is a great option as it has options for the whole family.

I have been enjoying Whistle Stop for years. When I travel from Kentucky to Michigan, I have made it a tradition to stop there on the way to or on the way back. The two menus (breakfast, lunch/dinner have choice selections that work for the local and transient diners. Today, I had one trip to the salad bar and green pepper soup. The soup had a robust tomato base with just the right amount of beef to enhance the taste. The salad bar had fresh garden salad and prepared salad selections. The bar was chilled jist right to keep the fixings crisp and fresh. For the rest of their menu visit their web sight. To add to the experience, there is a small unique museum and gift shop and a display of railroad equipment.

Lots of great displays in museum, Flagler car was awesome. Tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Food in restaurant was very good and service was great. Would highly recommend.

Food at the restaurant is really subpar but it’s a nice little museum and we love exploring the trains.

Very nice place for the train enthusiast. It has trains that run over head. The museum tour was very interesting.

Wow, what a great surprise this restaurant was. We were taking country roads back to florida and passed this place. Made husband do a u-turn to go back. So glad we did! Great salad bar, husband loved his burger. Great menu with lots of options. Would definitely stop in again if ever in the area.
Was sad the museum wasn't open. But did get to look at some things inside on the way to restroom.

I took a field trip here with my school Railroad Club. Joe was our amazing tour guide who was so knowledgeable! Lynette was our server and also coordinated our trip. Service was outstanding! The nicest and most accommodating staff! Such a neat collection of railroad memorabilia that you can’t see anywhere else.

I really enjoyed the homestyle food and great service at the cafe, along with all of the RR memorabilia. A very good pork tenderloin sandwich. I had a very enjoyable conversation with the museum spokesperson and will be back to take the tour soon.

Good food ,friendly staff, interesting railroad memorabilia

We had a great time! Even went on a tour after lunch ! Our tour guide was Joe and he was just a delight ! Thank you so much for keeping the history alive!

The Museum has an incredible collection of railroad memorabilia. The planning and design that went into the displays are simply outstanding. You could spend a couple hours carefully looking at everything that's on display. The docent is very knowledgeable and shares many stories about how the artifacts came into the Museum's collection. Well worth a stop if you are anywhere nearby.

You bet I recommend the Monon Connection….! Been stopping there for years, because both my daughters attended Purdue Univ. and I would stop there with them for lunch to and from picking them up from the college….. Of course I had to stop because I was an engineer on the Union Pacific railroad and I’ve even donated some things to the museum…..Dale the owner was a terrific guy and an avid railroad fan…… I loved talking to him when I’d stop in….. He had some very knowledgeable people who will give you tours of the museum like Harold, Mark and Joe….It’s one of the best private collections of railroad memorabilia, in the country…. And the restaurant is great… I have recommended the place to many people and it’s always a positive result… The restaurant literally has trains running overhead…..It’s just a great place to take your grandkids or children, they will love it…..! 5 STARS ✨ I Highly recommend The Monon Connection and Restaurant….💯👍

We stopped on our way home, it was fun seeing the old trains - we did stop in for lunch great service but I wasn't a fan of the food. I ordered the railroad ties (chicken strips) sorry to say they were over cooked and no flavor at all, my husband had the chicken fried steak he enjoyed it. If we're ever back that way, I'll stop in again but try something else.

My grandson loved going into the caboose. The food was fresh and good. The waitress was a sweet young lady. I would recommend!

Staff is very nice. Food is great. I would have given a 5 except they didn’t tell us they were out of noodles for the beef stroganoff special and it was served over potatoes with a side of potatoes & green beans. I probably would’ve ordered something else if I would’ve known. I absolutely love the trains and taking the grandkids there.