About The Line

LeRoy Stellpflug boards 253 at the East Troy Depot

    The East Troy Electric Railroad Museum operates on original Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company interurban trackage dating back to 1907. Seven miles of the original line from Milwaukee to East Troy, plus an additional mile and a half added later  remain, and continues as a living railroad as well as a museum.
    The East Troy Electric Railroad is operated entirely by volunteers, a group of people dedicated to preservation of this historic railroad and the presentation of early electric railroading in the interurban setting.

The line is connected with the Wisconsin Central Ltd. at the Mukwonago, Wisconsin interchange. Freight still moves over the East Troy Electric, though at a rate much less than in the heyday of the line's freight business.

The line was transferred from the TM to the Village of East Troy in 1939. The village operated the railroad with its own employees for freight purposes. A deal was formed between the Village and The Wisconsin Electric Railway Historical Society and they began operations on Memorial Day 1972. They operated the East Troy Trolley museum through 1984 on the line lease from the Village.

In 1985 an agreement was struck with the village for freight and the entire operation was taken over by Wisconsin Trolley Museum, Inc, under the name of the East Troy Electric Railroad.

The not-for-profit Friends of East Troy Railroad Museum, Inc. was first formed in 1975 to assist the development of the museum.  As the 1990's began, Friends' mission was redefined, with a much wider scope.  It was decided to bring the entire railroad, the vehicles, artifacts, and operations into Friends.

This goal was achieved in stages, first with the purchase of the railroad property itself in January 1995.  Then Friends bought all of the privately-held rolling stock and parts on the line, which was executed in parcels and completed in September, 2000.  Then, the operating corporation was brought under Friends in December, 2000.

     When you do visit, you are invited to visit the East Troy Shops, two blocks down the tracks from the East Troy Depot.  Walk right on in and say hello.  Any of the volunteers will be happy to give you a quick tour, tell you about what we're doing, answer your questions about the equipment, the railroad, and anything else.  Please take the opportunity to look inside the equipment, too.  That's what we're here for.
     Most passenger trips (except during Fall Fun Days) are extended beyond the East Troy Depot for a Shop Tour.  Your crew will take you through the shop and tell you about what you're seeing.

Photo by Scott Patrick

   The East Troy Electric Railroad also features award-winning dinner train service, using the railroad's Art Deco diner twins, Ravenswood and Beverly Shores. In addition to the scheduled public trains that include Mother's and Father's Day, plus many other theme trains, the diners are available for a wide range of chartered events, ranging from birthday and anniversary parties to corporate events to wedding receptions.
See the Dinner Train page, or call 262-642-3263 for further information and reservations.

The East Troy Electric Railroad also maintains the freight connection that led to the survival of this line into the 1990's.   Farm products, lumber, and tubing are the commodities still being shipped.

Here, L-9 eases down the East Troy Industrial Park spur along Young Street with two loads for Equity Co-op

Photo by Scott Patrick

The Greater Milwaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau
invites you to come and enjoy the Genuine American city

When you visit the East Troy area, be sure to patronize the business members of the East Troy Chamber of Commerce

At the other end of the line, visit the businesses of the Mukwonago Chamber of Commerce

Just south of East Troy is beautiful Lake Geneva. The website of the Geneva Lake Area Chamber of Commerce & Lake Geneva Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has many recreational activities.