Upon arrival in Freeport it was stored and periodically diplayed for four years in the clubs building on the Stephenson County Fairgrounds.

On July 5, 1983 after the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad went bankrupt, our Club purchased 1.72 miles of its right-of-way, which runs diagonally from Walnut and Lamb roads to Baileyville road. The rails and ties were removed prior to our purchase.

Rail was hauled from as far as Mankato, MN and ties were salvaged from throughout Illinois. The first track was laid by club members on bare roadbed on May 28, 1985.

The railroad shed which houses the Heisler, Brookville, and Plymouth locomotives and their maintenance facilites was erected in May 1986. It now also houses the gift shop and lunch stand.

The Silver Creek Depot was dedicated in 1993. It was built from the original plans for the Illinois Central depot that was in Elroy Illinois. It handles ticket sales and houses a large collection of donated railroad memorabilia.