East Troy Electric Railroad Museum

TMER&L Locomotive L-8

Built: 1935, TMER&L Cold Springs Shops
Acquired: Purchased 1989
Motors: Four 175hp
Length: 45'
Weight: 54 tons

Photo by Scott Patrick

With its spacious cab and effective heaters, L-8 is the secondary work car, called on to help in track maintenance and brush-cutting, as well as serving as a yard goat and backup locomotive. When the Wisconsin skies turn gray and bring in the winter snows, it’s mounted with a prow-type plow on its east end, parked at the front door of the shop, and waits for the call to keep the railroad open so that line maintenance and freight service can get through. Painted in an old Transport Company dark green scheme, L-8 is a fine-looking unit that earns its keep.