For it's time, the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company was one of the most profound urban transit systems in the United States! With its first streetcar operated on April 3rd 1890, so began a system and legacy that would soon stretch throughout the entirety of Southeastern Wisconsin, and by the 1920s the MER&LC was at it's peak, with lines stretching to Watertown, Sheboygan, Racine, Kenosha, Burlington, and East Troy, connecting every town and village in between. Alas, it was not to last, as the Great Depression took a huge toll with several lines and routes being reduced in service, replaced with buses, or abandoned or sold altogether. World War II would only bring more misfortune, and by the 1950s automobiles had syphoned away the majority of the riders and all the profits. Finally, on March 2nd 1958, the last streetcar in service turned its last wheel on Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee, ending the Milwaukee Electric Railway's legacy......or did it?
The Village of East Troy, tucked away in the northeast corner of Walworth Country, wasn't content to loose its rail service, as several businesses in the community depended upon it. When the remainder of the line connecting East Troy to Milwaukee was abandoned in 1939, the Village purchased the segment to Mukwonago and a connection with the Soo Line, enabling it stay in operation. For 10 years, former MER&LC crews operated the line and it's electric freight haulers. Upon the contract's ending in 1950, East Troy hired it's own crews and operated the line out of pocket for another 35 years! They did so in conjunction with museum operations, as the Wisconsin Electric Railway Historical Society relocated its collection to East Troy from North Freedom in 1967. They operated via a trackage rights agreement, which continued until 1985 when East Troy contacted the Wisconsin Trolley Museum, asking for them to take over the railroad's operation. An agreement was quickly made, and so was born the East Troy Electric Railroad!
Today, the ETER is one of the premier railroad museums in Wisconsin, made even more so by the additions of several pieces of equipment outside of those brought in in 1967 and 85. For Railfan Day, I was fortunate to see most of these pieces in operation, with a few exceptions, and was even invited aboard Electric Motor L-8 as she returned to "Phantom Woods" after making a run to East Troy with a Photo Freight Train. We'll see the crossing at Highway 20, meets at Army Lake Siding, the stations and storage barns at East Troy and the "Elegant Farmer", and a rare run-around move at Beulah Siding as L-8 works to get behind Milwaukee Road Transfer caboose 01738. And of course, we'll ride aboard L-8 as she follows a pair of Chicago Elevated Interurbans back to "Phantom Woods". This is a beautiful seven-mile stretch of railroad, and the volunteers that work to keep this true relic of a bygone era in operation for all enjoy are some of the best in the business!
Enjoy Everybody! There is plenty more to come!
Негізгі бет East Troy Electric Railfan Day: Sparks In The Rain
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