Silver Creek & Stephenson Railroad - Trip Report

Posted by: Yard Goat on Dec 4, 2011

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I was intrigued when Roger Holmes of the Silver Creek & Stephenson Railroad, invited me to a Photo Special to be held in July, 2011. The photo session was conveniently scheduled between the Little River Railroad Birthday Celebration and the Rock Island Train Festival.

Silver Creek & Stephenson Railroad - Background

The Silver Creek & Stephenson Railroad is located at Freeport, Illinois, and operates on the former Milwaukee Road right of way on track that was relaid by museum volunteers. The mission of the not-for-profit organization is to present examples of branch line railroad operations once common across the country.

Silver Creek & Stephenson maintains and operates one steam locomotive, a 1912 Heisler. This is a geared coal-fired steam locomotive which served several different wood products companies in Mississippi and South Carolina. After its industrial career ended, the locomotive began passenger service at the Maggie Valley Railroad in North Carolina and Whitewater Valley Railroad in Indiana before coming to the Silver Creek & Stephenson in 1986.

Three other locomotives on the Silver Creek & Stephenson roster are diesel powered “critters”, which are small engines typically used in industries such as mills, to pull or shove a few cars at a time around the property. The Silver Creek & Stephenson's three examples are all classics, and they brought out #5 for the Photo Special, in addition to the Heisler. Brookville Locomotive Works, which still manufactures locomotives, built the 150 horsepower industrial engine in 1945. Gasoline is used to start the engine, which then runs on diesel fuel.

The photo session allowed the photographers to view the two engines in operation at many locations along the nearly two mile long Silver Creek & Stephenson track, with the crews dressed in period clothing. Antique cars, trucks and even a fire engine helped to create some nice scenes.

After the morning photographer special, Silver Creek & Stephenson held its annual “throttle time”, which allows paying participants to operate a steam locomotive under the watchful eyes of a qualified engineer.

The volunteers are a friendly group We enjoyed visiting with several of them during lunch inside the large train shed, which offered some relief from the blazing sun.

The video program about the Silver Creek & Stephenson Photo Special is found on our DVD, Steamin’ Summer – Volume 2!

Visit the Silver Creek & Stephenson

The Silver Creek & Stephenson is well worth visiting. Another attraction of interest is directly across the road, the Silver Creek Museum. This institution exhibits items related to America’s historical heritage. A 130-ton stationary Cooper Corliss Engine is housed in a separate building. The museum also offers lunch, including homemade pie!

There is also an annual Threshing Show which operates in conjunction with both the Museum and the Silver Creek & Stephenson.

I hope you will consider a trip to the Silver Creek & Stephenson in Freeport, IL soon!

Steve Mitchell, Yard Goat Images