Midwest Electric Railway facts for kids

The Midwest Electric Railway (MERA) is a special place in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. It's a non-profit group that keeps old electric trolleys running. You can find it at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion grounds. The MERA has 10 historic trolleys. They regularly run on a 2.5-mile loop. This loop goes around the reunion's campgrounds.

Discover the Midwest Electric Railway

The MERA is like a moving museum! It's a tourist railroad run by volunteers. They operate electric trolleys on a 2.5-mile loop. This loop circles the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion campground.

You can ride the trolleys during special times. They are most active during the five days before Labor Day. This is when the Old Threshers Reunion takes place. The trolleys also run on some holidays. Sometimes, special groups can reserve a ride. You can check the Old Threshers Reunion website for current information.

The trolley tracks were built by MERA volunteers. These dedicated people still maintain the tracks today. Every year, they work hard to keep everything in top shape. All the maintenance and repairs are done by volunteers.

Where is the MERA Located?

The Midwest Electric Railway is right in the middle of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. It's on the grounds of the Midwest Old Thresher's Reunion. The tracks are between Locust and S. Walnut Streets. The railroad crosses E. Thresher Road in two spots.

The main building for MERA is a silver trolley barn. This is where the trolleys are stored. It's on S. Locust Road, less than half a mile south of Thresher Road.

A Look at MERA's History

The Midwest Electric Railway started as a non-profit group in 19xx. Its main goal was to save old electric passenger trolleys. Many of these trolleys used to run in Iowa. The group also wanted to give rides to people during the Midwest Old Thresher's Reunion.

Back then, the trolleys had three main stops. These were the trolley depot, the trolley barn, and the campers' gate. Today, the MERA still has the same goals. They now also save electric trolleys from outside Iowa. Current trolley stops include The Trolley Depot, the Trolley Barn, the Log Village, Lakeview, South 40, and Campers' Gate.

Explore the Historic Trolleys

The MERA is home to many unique trolleys. Each one has its own story!

Meet the Trolleys

• Streetcar #381
  • What it was: A city streetcar, also called a "One-man Safety Car."
  • When it ran: From the 1930s to the 1950s.
  • Where it ran: First in Knoxville, Tennessee, then in Waterloo, Iowa.
  • From: The Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Northern Railroad.
  • Built by: Perley Thomas in 1930.
  • Cool fact: This was the last streetcar to run in an Iowa city! It was a "Safety Car." This design made sure doors only opened when the car stopped. The car also couldn't move until the doors were closed. This made it much safer.

• Streetcar #1945
  • What it was: A lightweight city car, also a "One-man Safety Car."
  • When it ran: Around the 1920s.
  • Where it ran: In Milan, Italy.
  • From: Azienda Trasporti Municipale, Milan, Italy.
  • Built by: Carminati & Toselli in Milan in 1927. Its running parts were by Italian General Electric.
  • Cool fact: It was lightweight for quick service on narrow city streets. Like other safety cars, its doors only opened when it was stopped.

• Streetcars #1718 and #1779
  • What they were: Open-air cars, also called "Open Bench Summer Cars." They were used in cities and between cities.
  • When they ran: From about 1888 to the 1940s.
  • Where they ran: In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  • From: Rio de Janeiro Tramway.
  • Built by: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in 1911. They used an American design by J.G. Brill Company from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their running parts were by Westinghouse Electric Co.
  • Cool fact: Thousands of streetcars in America used this "Naragansett" design. They had a long step on the side for easy boarding. These open cars were very popular for summer rides!

• Streetcar #9
  • What it was: A car for suburban passenger service, also an "Express Car."
  • When it ran: Around the 1910s.
  • Where it ran: Between Centerville, Albia, and Mystic, Iowa.
  • From: The Southern Iowa Railway, Centerville, Iowa.
  • Built by: Barber Car Co. in York, Pennsylvania, in 1912. It started as a 4-wheel car. The Southern Iowa Railway later rebuilt it into an 8-wheel car.
  • Cool fact: It was used for both city and intercity travel. The original 4-wheel design made for a bumpy ride!

• Streetcar #320
  • What it was: A heavy, high-speed interurban car. It was used for travel between cities and for commuters.
  • When it ran: From the 1910s to the 1940s.
  • Where it ran: On the Southern Iowa Railway.
  • From: The Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad.
  • Built by: Jewett Car Company in Newark, Ohio, in 1914.
  • Cool fact: This heavy car was built for fast, long-distance trips. It could go up to 80 miles per hour!

Important Buildings

Car 1718 stopping at the Yarmouth depot and ticket office.

The old Chicago Burlington and Quincy train station from Yarmouth, Iowa, was moved here. It was first used as the trolley ticket office and gift shop. Later, it was used for storage. Now, it's back to being a ticket office! It adds a nice old-time look near a trolley stop.

The Trolley Barn was built in the early 1970s. It was needed to store all the growing collection of trolleys. While the building isn't old itself, it's very useful. It has a special pit for trolley maintenance. It also has plenty of room for storing trolleys. Plus, there's a room for the volunteer operators and conductors to rest.

Fun Special Events

The Midwest Electric Railway hosts exciting events throughout the year.

Midwest Old Thresher's Reunion

Every year, during the week before Labor Day weekend, the trolleys are very busy! Volunteer operators and conductors give rides to people. They ferry campers and train fans around the 2.5-mile loop. The Log Village at the south end of the loop shows what life was like in the 1800s in Iowa. Campers also use the trolleys to get to the main fairgrounds. This helps them visit all the daily attractions.

Haunted Trolley Ride

Near Halloween each year, the Midwest Electric Railway offers a spooky experience! They operate a special haunted trolley ride. It's a fun and thrilling way to celebrate the season.

Trolley School

Once a year in June, the Midwest Electric Railway holds a "Trolley School." This is a unique chance to learn how to operate a real trolley! After the lessons, students get to operate some of the trolleys themselves.

See also

• List of United States railroads
  • List of Iowa railroads
• List of heritage railroads in the United States
• List of railway museums