The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 58

I Rolls Toward the End of an Era Iowa's Last Trolley Car A A I Picture ran-? P' si 7 hJ By William D. Middleton TXiTHEN the old trolley car at top of opposite page clangs its last clang and goes to the barn to stay, it will mark the end of an era in Iowa transportation. This car, pictured crossing a bridge over the Cedar River in Waterloo, is the last streetcar on the last streetcar line in the state. It runs between Waterloo and Cedar Falls and application has been made to abandon it. Already a closely allied branch of the business, the electric passenger interurban service, has faded from the scene.

That was on Feb. 19, 1956, when the Waterloo, Cedar Falls Northern Railroad, known as "The Cedar Valley Road ended passenger service. Until that date, it had in late years operated a round-trip over its 64-mile Waterloo-Cedar Rapids main line on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only. July of last year the Rock Island and the Illinois Central bought the W. C.

F. which still does a thriving freight business, and formed the Waterloo Railroad Co. It is this same company that also still operates the last streetcar. AN KXPF.RIKNCE TO REMEMBER Passenger business on the once-popular Iowa electrics had begun to dwindle by the early I930's, with the construction of paved highways and growing use of automobiles. Even so, of the eight interurban lines which once provided passenger service in Iowa, five were still operating passenger trains at the end of World War II.

But times grew ever harder for the passenger electrics, and by the end of 1955 their number had dwindled until only the W. C. N. still operated passenger trains. Those fortunate enough to ride the open platform observation cars on the "Cedar Valley Road" In the old days found it an exhilarating experience.

It was a hardy rider who stuck it out on the exposed rear platform the length of the Waterloo-Cedar Rapids journey. Despite their age, the big interurbans were able to top 60 miles an hour in open country, and their bounding lurching motion over rough track threatened to hurl the luckless rider from his brass-railed perch. Great clouds of dust from the roadbed swirled across the platform, coating him from head to foot. Stops were many along the route perhaps at a country road to drop a farm wife who'd been to town grocery shopping or perhaps to pick up a farmer bound for town with eggs. Occasionally, too, there 'd be a sudden, unexpected halt while the conductor chased a stray cow off the track.

OLD TIMERS AND FRIENDLY TRAINMEN Most passengers were regular riders, and knew the friendly trainmen on a first name basis. Many were old timers who'd been riding the big orange cars since they began running down the Cedar Valley. The Iowa hrd always been among the nation's most interesting, and attracted railroad fans from all parts of the U. S. The open platform observation cars on the "Cedar Valley Road" were that line's big attraction, but the other roads had their distinctive features too.

IOWA'S LAST TROLLEY CAR, pictured here crossing the Cedar River in Waterloo, makes six round trips a day between Waterloo and Cedar Falls, except on Saturdays and Sundays, when it does not run. The Waterloo Railroad Co. has asked the Interstate Commerce Commission for permission to abandon this service. This line was one of the first in Iowa. ri; te1 rauMt 'Vjl- 1 THE HIGH BRIDGE just north of Boone once provided a spectacular view ot the Des Moines River valley for interurban passengers on the Fort Dodge, Des Moines Southern Railway, but since passenger service ended on the line in August, 1955, only freight train crews enjoy the view and the thrills.

This picture was taken in April, 1955. The bridge stretches 156 feet above the ravine. It is said to be the highest of all interurban bridges. 1-1 of the fastest interurban cars ever built. They were capable of nearly 100 miles an hour.

The last day of CRANDIC passenger operation on May, 30, 1953, brought out a nostalgic crowd of hundreds, and notables from all parts of the state took part in the final run. One Iowa interurban that still runs passenger trains on special occasions is the little Charles Ciry Western Railway, which operates a 24-mile road from Charles City to Marble Rock and Colwell.in Floyd County. Regular passenger service was abandoned by the road in 1952. but the president had passenger car No. 50 retained for occasional excursions.

The The Fort Dodge, Des Moines tl Southern Railway's "High Bridge," over a ravine in the Des Moines River Valley just north of Boone, ranks as the highest bridge ever built by an interurban railroad. The The 156-foot high structure provided passengers with a spectacular scenic view of the river valley, and was a popular attraction for railroad photographers. Only freight train crews enjoy, the view now, for the last passenger train operation on the road was discontinued in August, 1955. THE FINAL RVN ON THE CRANDIC Until passenger operation was discontinued in 1953, the Cedar Rapids SC Iowa City Railway, pop- i AN OPEN PLATFORM observation car of the Waterloo, Cedar Falls 61 Northern line (the "Cedar Valley is shown clattering across a trestle at Denver, on the run from Waterloo to Waverly in May, 1954. This car and another like it burned that same year.

IOWA'S LAST PASSENGER INTERURBAN loaded passengers at this stucco depot in Cedar Rapids. This photograph was taken on Easter Sunday in 1955, and the car, No. 100, made the last interurban run in the state on Feb. 19, 1956. PAGE 4 DES MOINES SUNDAY REGISTER AUGUST 25, 1957 ularly known as the CRANDIC route, operated some (Lontmuea on page.