OK, so I got a hold of someone in KC, they donated the Milwaukee Road Sleeper "Jefferson River" that used to be in their collection to a small start up museum in Iowa and from the pictures it looks like they have more than one Milwaukee Road Car. Hope they make it Financially and it sounds like they are on an active CP Rail line (is that the line to Kansas City?). Anyways here is a link to their website.
https://americanpassengertrainhistorymuseum.org/
Charles City is in Northeastern Iowa. Milw. Rd's east-west grain line across north Iowa, originally from Prairie du Chien, WI. Now CP. Former IC line from Waterloo to Minnesota crosses there.
GrampCharles City is in Northeastern Iowa. Milw. Rd's east-west grain line across north Iowa, originally from Prairie du Chien, WI. Now CP. Former IC line from Waterloo to Minnesota crosses there.
OK, thanks I might visit there once the pandemic lifts. They have already started fixing the Milw Rd Sleeper via Facebook updates, they have their eyes it seems on the collection held by Mr Ellis as well in Alamosa, CO. They mentioned a CN RDC going through town on the IC line.
So if you go to Charles City (as I did on my way to Mason City to see the electric locomotives) you'll easily find a large number of passenger cars sitting outdoors, near what seems to be a walking/bike path. I am told that some of the rails were interurban rails at one time.
There are no signs, no fences, just a bunch of passenger cars. Some are in good shape. Some are not. Is this the collection for the museum or is that just a coincidence that some owner keeps his cars stashed there?
Dave Nelson
If it's an old interurban, it's probably the Charles City & Western which ran from Marble Rock though Charles City to Colwell, IA. According to the Hilton-Due interurban book, it amzaingly ran passenger service to 1952. At some point after this, it was acquired by Iowa Terminal, now Iowa Traction. Wikopedia has further infomation about it under the Iowa Traction topic. A surving CCW interurban pasenger car is run by the Boone & Scenic Valley tourist road (on a portion of the former Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern interurban). Illinois Railway Museum has one of their electric locos. I'm not sure about this, but Iowa Traction may use one or more former CC&W electric locos on their Mason City line.
CMStPnPAnyways here is a link to their website. https://americanpassengertrainhistorymuseum.org/
"We have a new Website! https://www.apthm.org/ Please go there!"
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