The Silver Creek & Stephenson Railroad
The Silver Creek & Stephenson Railroad is a not-for-profit educational operation preserving America's railroad heritage. Rather than recreating famous mainline passenger service, the railroad focuses on the smaller branch-line trains that once connected rural towns to the outside world.
When operating conditions allow, visitors can experience steam railroading behind the club's 1912 Heisler locomotive on a 3.4-mile round trip. Because the railroad uses antique equipment, substitutions are sometimes necessary when a locomotive or car is out of service.
A short history
1982: The Stephenson County Antique Engine Club purchased the Heisler locomotive.
July 5, 1983: The club purchased 1.72 miles of right-of-way from the bankrupt Milwaukee Road after the rails and ties had been removed. Club members salvaged rail from as far away as Mankato, Minnesota, and ties from around Illinois.
May 28, 1985: Club members laid the first track.
May 1986: The train shed was built to house and maintain locomotives and rolling stock.
Late July 1986: A club railroad brochure records that the railroad opened to the public.
July 1987: Track construction reached the Yellow Creek bridge.
July 1988: The rails had been extended to within five blocks of Baileyville Road.
Spring 1992: Construction began on the Silver Creek Depot.
May 31, 1993: The Silver Creek depot was dedicated. Based on plans from the Illinois Central depot in Eleroy, Illinois, it houses the ticket office and railroad memorabilia. A later club brochure credits Ed Schmidt with donating the depot.
Running the Heisler
A 2016 club brochure describes the work required to operate the 1912 Heisler. When the locomotive was cold, the crew could spend about three hours building enough steam to move it. The brochure says a round trip used about 200 gallons of water and about 200 pounds of coal. Those figures are preserved here as historical operating information rather than current operating guarantees.
More railroad experiences
Train of Terror runs on select October nights. The club has also historically offered a Throttle Time experience for people who want to operate railroad equipment under supervision.