Midwest Electric Railway
| Reporting mark | MERA |
|---|---|
| Locale | Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, Eastern Iowa |
| Dates of operation | 19xx–Present |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Length | 2.5 mi (4.0 km) |
| Headquarters | Mt. Pleasant, Iowa |
 RailPictures.Net – Search for Midwest Electric Railway photographs at RailPictures.Net. |
|
|
RR Picture Archive – Search for Midwest Electric Railway photographs at RRPictureArchives.net. |
The Midwest Electric Railway (initialized MERA, reporting mark MERA) is a non-profit trolley operation located on the grounds of the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. It is home to 10 pieces of trolley history that are regularly operated on a 2.5 mile loop surrounding the organization's campgrounds.
The volunteer association runs a tourist railroad which operates electric trolleys around a 2.5 mile loop around the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion campground. Guest prices and hours of operation vary throughout the year based on the activity's of the Midwest Old Threshers Association. The trolley operation is most active on the five days preceding Labor Day during the reunion. The trolleys operate on special holidays and when special organized groups reserve time. Visit the Old Threshers Reunion website for the latest information.
The campground's trolley tracks were originally constructed by the Midwest Electric Railway's volunteers and are still maintained today through volunteer efforts. Every year maintenance and reconstruction is organized and accomplished entirely through volunteer labor.
The Midwest Electric Railway is located in the heart of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa on the campgrounds of the Midwest Old Thresher's Reunion sandwiched between Locust and S. Walnut Streets. The railroad crosses E. Thresher Road in two places. The main headquarters for MERA and trolley storage is in a silver-painted trolley barn which is located on S. Locust Road less than a half mile from south of Thresher Road.
The Midwest Electric Railway, a not-for-profit educational organization, was founded in 19xx . Its goal at that time was to preserve historic electric-powered passenger trolleys that had operated in Iowa and transport passengers around the campground during the Midwest Old Thresher's Reunion. The original trolley stops were the trolley depot, the trolley barn, and campers' gate.
Today, the purpose of the organization remains largely the same including the preservation of non-Iowa operated electric rolling stock. Trolley Stops currently include The Trolley Depot, the Trolley Barn, the Log Village, Lakeview, South 40, and Campers' Gate.
Usage: City Streetcar/One-man Safety Car Circa 1930s – 1950s Operated: Knoxville, Tennessee; later Waterloo, Iowa From: Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Northern Railroad Builder: Perley Thomas, 1930 Notes: Last streetcar to run in an Iowa municipality; The “Safety Car”, a landmark design which eliminated all boarding and alighting mishaps as doors were open only when the car was stopped. Improved safety in one-man operation. A landmark design in which boarding and alighting mishaps were eliminated, since doors opened only when car was stopped and car could not start until doors closed
...
Wikipedia