Photo by RuralResurrection, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Upcoming Events
No ticketed events are currently listed for Midwest Electric Railway. Many heritage operators publish schedules seasonally or run on regular open hours instead of dated events.
Check the operator’s website for current hours and special runs, or subscribe to event alerts and we’ll email you when something is scheduled.
About Midwest Electric Railway
Riding the Midwest Electric Railway glides through the heart of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, on a 2.5‑mile electric trolley loop that circles the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion campground between Locust and South Walnut Streets, crossing E. Thresher Road twice. Historic trolleys pause at the Depot, Barn, Log Village, Midway, South 40 and Campers’ Gate, offering views of 19th‑century prairie life while volunteers maintain the tracks and cars year‑round.
History
The Midwest Electric Railway was founded in 1971 as a not‑for‑profit educational organization dedicated to preserving historic electric passenger trolleys. From its inception, volunteers constructed the trolley tracks that encircle the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion campground, and those volunteers continue to maintain the line today. The organization’s mission has remained consistent, focusing on the preservation of both Iowa‑based and out‑of‑state electric rolling stock while providing trolley service for reunion attendees.
The Trains
The Midwest Electric Railway operates a fleet of ten historic electric trolleys along a 2.5‑mile (4.0 km) loop that circles the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion campground, crossing E. Thresher Road twice and running between Locust and S. Walnut Streets. Current trolley stops on the loop include the Trolley Depot, the Trolley Barn, the Log Village, Midway, South 40, and Campers’ Gate. The line uses standard‑gauge track and the trolleys are the primary rolling stock, with no additional locomotive types noted in the available information.
Nearby
The Midwest Electric Railway is a hands-on Iowa stop; leave time for a ride on the cars.
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