The ILS started back in the late 1960s by a group of guys with an interest in Live Steam model railroading.   Many had small layouts in their back yards and were looking for a larger space to build a layout to run their locomotives.   Through flyers in local hobby shop windows the club founders were able to organize enough members to buy an old apple orchard in what at the time was unincorporated Lockport, IL.  

Today the ILS is a faint comparison to that old orchard but our 1-1/2 station still bears the name orchard station as a reminder of where we started.   Please enjoy the photo albums below to see the ILS over the years.