BOONE, Iowa—A new exhibit called “Electric Railroads of Iowa” is open to the public at the James H. Andrew Railroad Museum and History Center. It is comprised of 19- 4 color 7’ display panels and covers such topics as the
inception of Iowa’s trolleys and interurbans, their growth and declining years, and identifies Iowa’s major lines and trunk lines in eastern, central and western Iowa.
Other topics covered include horse-car narrow gauge predecessors to the electrics, investment and finances, trolley freight, city transit, passenger equipment, streetcar and trolley types, various car designs, trolley advertising, trolley and interurbans operations, and preservation of electric equipment today.
This exhibit utilizes many, never published rare Iowa photos of trolleys and interurbans taken throughout the state. Also included is a self-running computer presentation with maps indicating all major lines, as well as two custom trolley videos and a display case containing rare trolley artifacts.
The James H. Andrew Railroad Museum and History Center is on the grounds of the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad located at 225 10th St., Boone, IA 50036. For more information call 1-800-626-0319 or see www.bsvrr.com or e-mail: mike@bsvrr.com.
This project was sponsored by a grant from Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Current museum hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Mike Wendel will be on the KWBG Tuned In Program Monday to talk more about the new exhibit.
Des Moines Street Trolley #260 circa 1920 at the corner of 6th Ave., Des Moines,
Iowa.
(contributed press release and photo)
