Train from Cedar Rapids to Cedar Falls (Waterloo, Iowa City: amusement park, camps)

[metro223]

My Grandma went to UNI (in I believe the 40's) while living near west liberty, she said she would ride on a milk truck from West Liberty to Cedar Rapids, and then take a train (with a cable?) from Cedar Rapids up to Cedar Falls (or Waterloo idk)

....Does anyone know anything about a passenger train during this time? If so, are these the tracks that were paved over for the Cedar Valley Nature Trail? (bike trail from CR to Wloo)

Just curious, I thought this was some interesting Iowa history....

[WoodwardGirl]

That would have been the Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Northern Railway, an interurban line that did use electric trolleys. Here's a little history: Expansion

And, yes, the Cedar Valley Nature Trail is on the former WCF&N right-of-way.

One of the cars has been preserved and is in (very limited) operation in Mt. Pleasant: Midwest Electric Railway Museum

The Story of the Cedar Valley Road Electric Railroad and Interurban Trolley System by Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (Book) in Engineering

[Rez]

Occasionally there is talk about reopening a rail line, but so far that might only be from the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area. I wish there were something from Waterloo/Cedar Rapids-- it would help open up job possibilities.

[PrairieSkies]

The company which ran the railway also built Electric Park, Waterloo's early version of an amusement park.

In addition to running from Waterloo to Cedar Rapids, the railway also ran from Waterloo to Waverly.
[url=http://www.campsilos.org/excursions/grout/two/act5e.htm]Waterloo and Cedar Falls Rapid Transit Railway[/url]

I haven't ridden the trail in about eight years, but at that time only the sections closest to Waterloo and to Cedar Rapids were paved. The bulk of the trail is hard pack soil. You can still see some of the old infrastructure which supported the railway, once you get away from the cities.