Trolley Times
EAST TROY
The Official 2018 Visitors Guide of the East Troy Railroad Museum 2002 Church Street, P.O. Box 943, East Troy, WI 53120 • 262-642-3263 • www.easttroyrr.org
All aboard! Travel back in time with the East Troy Railroad Museum
Climb on board the East Troy Electric Railroad to visit a time when life was a little simpler. Our historic interurban railroad cars and trolleys take a scenic 14-mile round-trip through beautiful Southeastern Wisconsin. You may board at our depot in East Troy, at the Elegant Farmer or at Indianhead Park in Mukwonago. Meander through the museum in our depot, where kids can be trolley motormen, discover the joy of model railroad layouts, and learn about electricity. The gift shop features a unique selection of railroad souvenirs for all ages. Delight your taste buds at J. Lauber’s Ice Cream Parlor across the tracks from the depot, enjoy coffee and a sandwich at 2894 on Main or partake of a delicious meal at Ivan’s on the Square in East Troy. The East Troy Railroad Museum is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization run by volunteers committed to the operation and preservation of historic trolleys and interurban railcars. All proceeds and sales benefit the education and preservation work of the museum. Your contributions are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Above: Car 13 and Car 26 are lined up next to Lauber’s Ice Cream Parlor for the 2017 Night Photo Shoot in this photo taken by William Eklund. Left: Kids of all ages enjoy riding our trains and learning the history of the railroad. Photo by Calie Herbst.
The amenities • Parking is free at the museum. • Smoke-free trains run rain or shine. • Discover, Visa and MasterCard are accepted. • Public washrooms are available. Train schedule, ticket prices and equipment subject to change without notice.
EAST TROY RAILROAD MUSEUM 2018 SCHEDULE FRIDAYS June 1 to October 26 Eastbound, departs East Troy Depot 10 a.m., Noon, 2 p.m.
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Westbound, departs Indianhead Park, Mukwonago 10:40 a.m., 12:40 p.m., 2:40 p.m. (not a round-trip) Westbound, departs Elegant Farmer Depot 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. (not a round-trip)
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SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS April 7 to November 4 Eastbound, departs East Troy Depot 10 a.m., 11 a.m., Noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. Westbound, departs Indianhead Park, Mukwonago 10:40 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 12:40 p.m., 1:40 p.m., (2:40 p.m. and 3:40 p.m. are not round-trips) Westbound, departs Elegant Farmer Depot 11 a.m., Noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., (3 p.m. and 4 p.m. are not round-trips) FARES Ride to your heart’s content! Adults $12.50 • Seniors (65+) $10.50 Children (3-14) $8 (all fares are plus tax) Children 2 and under ride for free. All tickets are good all day long for as many rides as you would like. All train schedules can be found online at easttroyrr.org/schedule.html. Visit us on Facebook at Facebook.com/EastTroyRR PUBLISHED BY
East Troy Times & Southern Lakes Newspapers, LLC 1102 Ann St., Delavan, WI 53115 (262) 728-3411 in conjunction with
The East Troy Railroad Museum
2002 Church St.-P.O. Box 943, East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-3263 www.easttroyrr.org
EAST TROY RAILROAD
Welcomes you to its 111th season Welcome to the East Troy Railroad Museum! We hope you enjoy your time here. Sit back and relax as we take you on a journey back in time where there was no road rage or gridlock. As we roll into another year, we are celebrating the railroad’s 111th year of continuous operation! There is so much you can do at the museum! Our award winning dining cars will operate more than 15 times this season, offering you a choice of first class dining experiences with fantastic four course meals, or family-oriented pizza and pasta trains, or you might enjoy one of our new beer tasting trains. Pizza trains will be offered May 12, June 2, Aug. 4 and Aug. 18. Our popular burger train will depart May 19. Or check out our new family Pasta Nite on July 21. Remember that you can also charter your own train any day or night
of the week – with or without food. Visit our website at easttroyrr.org to reserve your seats today! Join Santa, Rudolph and his friends for a magical journey filled with carols and hot chocolate on our Christmas Train! Our heated trolleys will take you on a journey to the Elegant Farmer where guests can visit Santa’s Workshop on Nov. 24 and 25 and Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16. Remember that this museum would not function without its wonderful team of volunteers. Our group of dedicated volunteers will do their best to give you a memorable experience. Interested in joining the group? Please ask a volunteer about opportunities. No matter what talent you might be able to bring to the table, we welcome your help! Because we are an electric railroad, we ask that you do not touch anything
under our cars. As safety is the most important thing, please inform any of our volunteers if you see an unsafe situation. Finally, if you are thinking about visiting us more than once, you might consider becoming a member. It’s a good deal since the benefits include unlimited free rides for a year, a 10 percent discount in the gift shop, a quarterly member newsletter and access to member-only events! Stop by the depot counter for more information! On behalf of all the members of the museum, I would like to thank you for helping us preserve this wonderful piece of history! Please tell 50 of your closest friends about us and see you again soon!
~ Ryan Jonas
East Troy Railroad President
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2018 Lineup of Events TROLLEY TIMES • 2018
low light. We will stage our historic railcars in a setting sure to produce some outstanding photos. This event is limited to 30 participants.
Beer Tasting Trains May 26, Sept. 8
Join us for one of our fun and educational beer tasting trains! Enjoy five different beers while traveling the route of the East Troy Railroad. The trains are run as a joint event with Black Point Estate on Lake Geneva. They feature Michael Rehberg from Black Point as our beer tasting host, and hors d’oeuvres from Toothpicks, our wonderful caterer. This 2-1/2 hour event starts and finishes at the East Troy Depot. Book your seats online under our Dinner Train heading at: easttroyrr.org.
Railfan Weekend/Railfest June 23 & 24
On Railfan Day we take all of our equipment out of the barn and put it on display. You can ride a different rail car on each trip of the day. Once again this year, we are also offering fun family activities like face painting, model railroad car building, speeder rides on our industrial spur, miniature train rides and operating model railroads.
Chicago Day July 7
Celebrate Chicago’s railway history with a revival of the Chicago, South Shore & South Bend railroad of 90 years ago. We have six operating South Shore cars, originally built in the 1920s, plus 1924 Chicago Elevated Cars that will be running. Several National Park rangers from Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore will be on hand to explain the history of the South Shore Line. Join us for a fun-filled day and consider staying around to enjoy our dinner train that evening.
Milwaukee Day Sept. 22
We are home to one of the last streetcars built by The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company still in operation. On Sept. 22 we will celebrate Milwaukee’s rich rail history during Milwaukee Day. Joining the 1920 built streetcar, which once whisked residents in the greater Milwaukee area to the ballpark and shopping, is a 1907 line car (D23) equipped to repair the overhead line and to respond to trolley emergencies. Also featured during the weekend is L8, a stately locomotive built in Milwaukee in 1935 that once moved coal cars to and from the Port Washington power plant.
Christmas Parade Train Dec. 1
Special heated passenger cars will pick up riders from Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago and transport them behind the East Troy Railroad’s Santa Train to the Division Street crossing in East Troy. Riders will be able to walk to the East Troy Village Square for the community Christmas tree lighting. The trolley will leave at 8 p.m. from the East Troy Depot to take riders back to Elegant Farmer. The event is co-sponsored by the East Troy and Mukwonago Chambers of Commerce. Tickets can be purchased online at easttroyrr.org.
Christmas Trains
Nov. 24 & 25 Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 & 16
Our magical ride will take you a half hour from our East Troy Depot, 2002 Church St., East Troy, to Santa’s workshop located at the Elegant Farmer. Here children can visit Santa and get a Sept. 8 photo taken with the jolly elf himself! Santa’s Join us for the third annual Night Photo Shoot, workshop wouldn’t be complete without some hot for photographers who enjoy trains and who enjoy chocolate and cookies! Children receive a special gift on the return to East Troy. the unique photos that result from shooting in
Night Photo Shoot
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Join us for some family fun at the East Troy Railroad’s Railfan Day/Railfest, which includes face painting in the depot.
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The work on D23 is nearly finished in this photo, with just some additional work on the canvas roof remaining. One exciting thing to note about this photo is that the trolley pole is up and the car is energized. The Overhead Maintenance Team, led by Zach Frame, worked hard to install the overhead wire into the maintenance facility this winter. We no longer have to rev up our diesel engine to move cars in and out of the facility.
PREPARING
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Line Car D23 for the Next 100 Years
ver the winter our volunteers repaired and repainted one of our original pieces of equipment from The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co. (TMER&L). Car D23 is a Line Car, which is a special piece of equipment used to maintain the overhead wire and support systems that hold the overhead wire (also called the catenary or the trolley wire). The condition of some parts of the wood siding on the car was deteriorating and it was clear that a new coat of paint was in order. A volunteer team worked to replace any damaged or rotted wood on the car, then primed the new sections and repainted the entire car with a new coat of yellow paint. Stencils were ordered to allow the team to re-create the TMER&L lettering and the D23 numbering. Car D23 was built in 1907 by TMER&L in their Cold Spring Shops in Milwaukee. It was originally numbered D21. It is powered by four 125hp traction motors mounted to the axles of the wheels. It is 54 feet long and weighs 30 tons. Built on passenger-type trucks so it could respond quickly to trolley emergencies, it has a wide variety of very functional features. The roof has three insulated platforms to allow access to the overhead wire for maintenance and construction. The center platform raises some five feet via a 600v motor inside, and then has a swing-out extension that enables the repair crews to reach the line poles. The interior has workbenches, numerous bins filled with repair parts, storage cabinets and a trolley wire dispensing reel.
In addition to the new paint, D23’s governor for the air brakes was worn out and was scheduled for an upgrade to an S-16 governor, which is the standard used in most of our operating equipment. The floor inside D23, in the area where the air governor was mounted, was also rotted and needed to be replaced. D23 also received a complete inspection and was run through a maintenance checklist prepared by Ron Jonas and the volunteer team that maintains all the cars. During this process the axles were inspected and the crew determined that two bearings needed replacement. Since this car is more than 100 years old, it does not have roller bearings, which were an innovation from the 1940s and 1950s. It has old-style “friction bearings,” which need constant lubrication. They use a special type of oil and something called “wicking,” which is designed to keep the oil in contact with the bearings. After the new bearings had been installed all the axle bearings were re-wicked and lubricated. As part of the maintenance checklist, the 600v controllers were also inspected, cleaned and lubricated, the compressor oil was changed and the 600v compressor circuit was rewired. The rebuilt S-16 governor was then mounted and the air line plumbed in with a desiccant filter. Once everything had been connected, the new governor was tested in conjunction with the compressor and braking systems and found to be operating properly. You can regularly find car D23 being used by the overhead team to repair the line during the week. It will also be prominently displayed during Milwaukee Day on Sept. 22.
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Joe Buerger (left) and Mike Jaehn install new wood trim on D23.
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Line Car D23 is being prepped and primed in this photo. Jerry Borzych is on the ladder while Steve Southworth and Joe Buerger look on.
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TROLLEY TIMES • 2018
Volunteer of the Year -
Jerry Borzych he East Troy Railroad Museum would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of its many volunteers. Each year at our annual volunteer appreciation lunch, one devoted volunteer is recognized with our Volunteer of the Year award. This recognition is given to one truly outstanding and inspiring volunteer who has taken a leadership role to preserve and enhance the museum while encouraging others to do the same. The 2017 award went to Jerry Borzych, who works as a motorman practically every weekend and who volunteers in the maintenance facility in the offseason, doing things such as helping to repair and repaint Line Car D23 (see the nearby photo). Borzych is in his ninth year as a volunteer. He started at the railroad after retiring from his job at an industrial manufacturing company, where he did purchasing and inventory control work. Now Borzych enjoys operating the cars at the East Troy Railroad, especially the streetcars. “I used to ride the Milwaukee streetcars when I was young,” explained Borzych. “I would sit at the back, where the motorman would sit if he was operating the car in the other direction, and I would think ‘I’d like to run a streetcar someday.’ And now I can run a streetcar.” “I knew the railroad was there many years
ago. I used to take the kids out there and ride the trains to get pumpkins at the Elegant Farmer,” said Borzych. “When I retired, I wanted to get involved with something and the East Troy Railroad was ideal. Because as I said, I always wanted to learn how to run a streetcar.” The best thing about being at the railroad is the people, he said. “Nice people out there – solid gold people – you can’t beat them.” According to East Troy Railroad Museum President Ryan Jonas, the feeling is mutual. “Jerry Borzych was chosen for this award this year because our other volunteers recognized the time and commitment he brings to the railroad,” Jonas said. “He’s someone you can count on to be there, to do his job professionally and safely and to always be looking for additional ways to help the railroad.”
Join the team Interested in becoming a volunteer? Just let one of our volunteers know, or call our office at (262) 642-3263 and leave a message, including your name and phone number, to let us know of your interest. We are always looking for people to help staff our depot, to work in the car barn, to paint, to cut our grass and to work on the trains themselves. Volunteer opportunities also include being a conductor, learning to operate our trains, selling tickets, marketing and much more!
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Volunteer of the Year Jerry Borzych poses at the maintenance facility with Line Car D23, which has just received its new paint job.
Memberships The East Troy Railroad Museum is a registered nonprofit 501(c)3 educational corporation dedicated to the preservation of the rail heritage of Wisconsin and America. More than 350 people support the East Troy Railroad through membership each year. Would you consider joining them? You would be supporting the museum, helping to ensure that it can continue to show future generations what rail travel was like in the early 20th century. You would be
providing funds to help us maintain our existing fleet of cars and pursue new acquisitions in the future. You would help to assure that this last remaining portion of Wisconsin’s once vast interurban system continues to showcase historic electric railroad cars that ran on interurban systems in Wisconsin, Illinois or Minnesota. One-Year Individual Membership is $40, One-Year Family of Four Membership is $75 (each additional child is $12).
All memberships include free rides for the member or member family for one year, plus reduced fares for special events (dinner trains and pizza trains not included). You also receive 10 percent off your gift shop purchases. Membership forms are available at the East Troy Depot or online at www.easttroyrr.org. Forms can dropped off at the depot or mailed to: East Troy Railroad Museum, P.O. Box 943, East Troy, WI 53120.
Join the Business and Corporate Sponsors Program The East Troy Railroad Museum now offers sponsorship opportunities to businesses interested in reaching the 25,000 people who ride our trains each year. The sponsorships, which start at $500, include packets of tickets to ride our regular trains, a business logo on our website, plus a private chartered train at the $1,000 and $5,000 levels. The East Troy Railroad’s website has more than 500,000 page views
annually. “We value the relationships we have in the community and hope we bring value to many area businesses by bringing people here to ride our trains,” East Troy Railroad President Ryan Jonas said. “This is a way for a business to show support for the railroad while also reaching a fairly large audience.” One of the first corporate sponsors to sign up was Wisconsin Public Radio. WPR has 34 radio
stations carrying programming on the Ideas Network, the NPR News and Classical Network and the All Classical Network. WPR’s radio stations, studios, networks and online streams serve local, regional and statewide audiences with high quality programming. WPR is heard locally on WHAD, at 90.7 on the FM radio dial. For more information on our corporate sponsors program, please contact Ryan Jonas at (262) 642-3263.
Why not join our volunteer family? For people who volunteer at the East Troy Railroad Museum, it feels like you become part of a second family. Only this family runs a railroad. And we need every member of the family to do his or her part to make it a smooth-running operation. It is challenging, it is fun, it is educational and you know your work is appreciated. Some volunteers can only give a couple of days a month and others may put in 150 days a year. Some want to work in areas where they bring experience and are comfortable with the tasks. Others want to be challenged by learning new skills and look forward to doing something completely different than what they do in their “day jobs.” The variety of tasks needed to operate a railroad and museum give people plenty of options. So let us know what interests you. From selling merchandise in the gift shop to being a motorman (woman) on our trains, there are many different kinds of people using many different kinds of skills here. What we all have in common, though, is a desire to see things happen. This is the motivation that brings us out to the line and keeps us coming back regularly. We all know that whatever our contributions, they are needed to keep this historic line alive and growing. Some of us will be singled out for recognition in the volunteer events throughout the year, but any of us would quickly tell you that we don’t do it for the cheers of our peers. We get all the gratification we need by simply accomplishing something we believe to be important and worthwhile. That’s how it is. We can see the need, and find it interesting and often fun to answer the call. On just about any weekend, we invite you to stop on out and visit the museum to talk with one or more of the volunteers about what it’s like to work here. Some interesting, involving, and rewarding tasks await you. Or call us at (262) 642- 3263 and ask about getting involved. See you out there!
TROLLEY TIMES • 2018
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Pizza Trains return for another run
Enjoy a family fun night out for pizza and bottomless soda on a train! Our popular Pizza Trains are back, but get your reservations in early because they tend to sell out in advance. There will be four Pizza Trains this season between May 12 and Aug. 18. Boarding is at the East Troy Depot at 2002 Church St. The train takes a leisurely trip to Byrnes Park, which has a wonderful green space and playground. Here, energy can be “burnt off” while those who would like to remain on the train are welcome to do so. Coloring books and crayons are available to keep everyone entertained during the trip, which totals about an hour and 30 minutes. Everyone also receives a coupon for a scoop of ice cream from Lauber’s Ice Cream Parlor, located directly across the tracks from our Depot in East Troy. Tickets include your choice of pizza, garlic bread and bottomless soda. Advance reservations are required.
• Schedule Check-in/boarding: 4:30 p.m. Departure: 5 p.m. Return: 6:30 p.m. Note: Departure times differ from Dinner Trains. Pizza options (Selected at time of reservation, one pizza per table) Cheese, Sausage, Pepperoni, Veggie, Veggie and Pepperoni. All dinners also include a basket of garlic bread and soda.
• Pricing Table for two – $54. Table for four – $82 The cost includes the meal, soda and gratuity. Sales tax is not included. A cash bar is available. Onboard restrooms are provided. The entire train is a non-smoking environment. Seating is provided in the form of tables for two and four, to a maximum of 50 persons per each of the two dinner cars. Seating is limited and prepaid (non-refundable) reservations are required. Discover, Visa and MasterCard accepted. For more information visit easttroyrr.org or call (262) 642-3263.
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The family-friendly Pizza Trains run May 12, June 2, Aug. 4 and Aug. 18 on the East Troy Railroad.
Meet our new Executive Director:
Charles Kaiser
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New Executive Director Charles “Chas” Kaiser enjoys an operating day.
With the continued growth of the East Troy Railroad Museum, Ryan Jonas and the ETRM Board of Directors agreed that an Executive Director was needed to oversee the expanding operations side of the railroad. Charles Kaiser assumed these duties last summer. Kaiser is a retired corporate commercial pilot with over 30 years of experience. Near the end of his career he was responsible for corporate compliance and operational procedures. His background and skills will be valuable as we seek to improve our operations while assuring compliance with the regulations that our museum must follow as an operating tourist railroad.
Kaiser also oversees the Administrative Team at the railroad, which is comprised of each of the department heads, and he now runs the monthly team meetings that keep everyone aware of activities and issues across the various departments at the railroad. Originally from Connecticut, Kaiser now resides with his wife in northern Illinois. He enjoys visiting railroad museums wherever he travels and maintains a membership at the Railroad Museum of New England near his hometown. He also loves to run our trains in East Troy, so look for him and say “hi” if you see him during your visit. He’d love to hear about your visit and interest in railroads.
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Must present trolley ticket or this ad.
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TROLLEY TIMES • 2018
BIG RED MAKES BIG MOVES EASY.
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Be sure to check out the new East Troy Railroad Museum Guide, which is for sale inside the gift shop at the East Troy Depot.
• Moving & Relocation • Storage –Indoor/ Outdoor • Specialized Services
BIG OR SMALL WE MOVE IT ALL! Proudly serving Wisconsin for over 30 years!
New East Troy Railroad Museum Guide
new, 28-page book about the East Troy Railroad Museum is available for purchase in the gift shop. The guidebook was written and designed by Evan Richards, one of our volunteers from McFarland, and edited by Steve Thomas, a volunteer from Greendale. Featuring more than 30 fullcolor photos, the book also includes several historical black and white images of the railroad in the early 1900s. You’ll find a description of the route of the East Troy Railroad, a copy of the 1929 timetable showing the train schedules between Milwaukee and East Troy, key historical dates and images, photos and descriptions of our facilities, and photos and details about our operating equipment. A map of our line is on the back cover. Richards wanted to develop the book because he noticed that the railroad didn’t really have anything like it available. “We really didn’t have much information about the railroad that was readily available, where we gave people some of the basics about our history and operations,”
said Richards. “Our conductors give people some of the history when they are riding the trains, and provide details about the car in which they are riding. But there wasn’t a lot about the railroad that we offered if people wanted to take something away with photos and information about all our operations and equipment.” Richards is retired from the University of Wisconsin’s Space Science and Engineering Center, where he worked for more than 35 years managing projects involving instruments designed for NASA space flights, including instruments used on the Orbiting Solar Observatory and the Hubble Space Telescope. He first visited the East Troy Railroad in the early 1970s and again in the early 1980s when his brother Charlie Richards worked here as motorman. Several years ago Richards heard that the railroad was doing well and looking for more volunteers to operate its trains. He was thrilled to find out that he could be trained as a motorman and was soon certified to operate several of our cars, including the South Shore cars used for the Dinner Trains. Richards has since become the Charter Manager too, helping to run more than 60 charter trips over the line in the past year.
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TROLLEY TIMES • 2018
East Troy Railroad 2018 Dinner Trains BURGER TRAIN May 19 1/2-pound Angus Burger with trimmings
FATHER’S DAY June 16 Bacon Wrapped Filet or Seared Scallops
SURF ‘N TURF July 7 Filet topped with Jumbo Shrimp or Grilled Chicken Breast
FAMILY PASTA NITE July 21 Family Style Hand Rolled Italian Meatballs in Pomodoro Sauce
SUMMER DELIGHT Aug. 25 Skewers of Beef Tenderloin & Lobster or Chicken Skewers
INDIAN SUMMER Sept. 15 Baby Back Pork Ribs or Pear Glazed Chicken Breast
OKTOBERFEST Sept. 29 Glazed Pork Tenderloin
FALL HARVEST Oct. 6 Braised Beef Wellington or Orange Rustic Roughy
SWEETEST DAY Oct. 20 Beef Tenderloin or Blackened Salmon
PUMPKIN EXPRESS Oct. 27 Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin or Blackened Salmon
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Fine dining on the East Troy Railroad
Since 1992, the East Troy Railroad Museum has been proud to offer elegant Dinner Train experiences to our guests from around the world. Our Dinner Trains take passengers on a two-hour journey over our picturesque line. Salads and appetizers are preset on tables as our guests board the train. Soon a delicious entrée is delivered to the tables, to be enjoyed while beautiful scenery passes by the picture windows. The Dinner Train travels past the Elegant Farmer stop and pauses along the shore of Lower Phantom Lake. Here, passengers hear a brief talk about the history of the line, the cars they are riding in and, of course, the famous legend of Lower Phantom Lake! Sunsets across the lake are beautiful when viewed from this spot. When you come, we hope you’ll share your experience on social media. There should be a number of what we used to call “Kodak Moments,” both inside and outside the cars. It is not uncommon to see swans on the lake along with other birds. After visiting the lake, our train pulls across Highway ES and into Indianhead Park in Mukwonago. Here, guests are offered the chance to get off the train to stretch their legs, get some pictures and enjoy the park. After about 15 minutes, we re-board the train and head back to East Troy
while enjoying dessert and coffee – or after dinner drinks. After all, we are in Wisconsin, so bar service is available! A common question we have received in the past is; “Can we bring our young child on the Dinner Train?” Our Dinner Trains are really designed for adults, but we have designed our Pizza Trains to be perfect for families with young children. See Page 5 to find out more about the Pizza Trains. About our dining cars Starting with two retired South Shore cars built in 1927, our volunteers completely remodeled them, stripping out the old seats and installing carpeting, tables, bars and a lot of custom mahogany woodwork. Both cars are decorated in the “art deco” style with Car 24 displaying more greens and Car 25 displaying more pinks. These cars were also outfitted with new picture windows and upgraded air conditioning systems. When it was time to name our two dining cars, the volunteers chose “Ravenswood” and “Beverly Shores,” representing two stations along the South Shore line, where these two cars stopped for nearly 60 years. For more information, visit the Dinner Train page of our website at easttroyrr.org/ dinner-trains.html.
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Above: In addition to fantastic food, beautiful scenery and sunsets are part of the trip. Top: Guests enjoy an elegant meal in the East Troy Railroad Museum’s Dining Cars. Special dining trains are scheduled throughout the season and are also available on a charter basis. For more information, visit easttroyrr.org.
Charter your own train! The East Troy Railroad Museum offers private charters designed to meet your specific needs, from business lunches to anniversary parties. Last year we hosted more than 60 charters! Chartered trips may make stopovers with advanced planning. There are two parks along our route, plus the Elegant Farmer. You can customize your event by providing live entertainment, bringing your own special food, adding displays, giving business presentations, or just riding the rails. You can also choose from several luncheon or dinner menus developed specifically for our Charter Services. For special occasions, table arrangements may be reconfigured to accommodate musicians, wedding cakes, displays, or anything else you want. Just give us a call to work out the details. If more space is needed, other interurban coaches may be added to the train. Charters may be arranged to include any of our other vintage railcars. The railroad operates charters from mid-May through October and they may be arranged for any day of the week. Charters are two hours in length but can be extended for an additional charge. Docents aboard each train will also share the history of the railroad. For more information or to make reservations, email charters@easttroyrr.org or call (262) 642-3263.
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TROLLEY TIMES • 2018
OPEN 24 HOURS – 365 DAYS A YEAR
East Troy Mark Your Calendars for 2018
• Unique Gifts and Souvenirs • Over 200+ Vintage Sodas
• Ice Cold Beer, Wine & Liquor • DOT License Plate Renewals • DNR Licensing, DOT License • Live Bait
May - Nov.
East Troy’s First Fridays (every first friday may - nov.)
May - Oct.
East Troy Farmers Market
(every friday)
May 25 - 28
Corn & Brat Roast & Brewfest
(& community rummage)
East Troy Shell
ET Cycling Classic
Gifts & More!
June 28 - July 1
Off Hwy. 43 & 20 – 2526 E. Main St., East Troy
June 22
(262) 642-4624
Lions Fourth of July Festival
5
$
Sept. 8 - 9
Bluegrass Festival Dec. 1
OFF
Any Purchase in Our Gift Shop of $30 or More
Santa Parade Train
Coupon not valid on gasoline, cigarettes, alcohol, lottery or any c-store merchandise
East Troy Shell 309269
Expires 12/31/18
$
2
OFF
Mix and Match Vintage Soda 6 Pack
East Troy Shell
Expires 12/31/18 309279
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TROLLEY TIMES • 2018
2018 CAR ROSTER No.
Railway Company/City
Type
Built (rebuilt)
Builder
Seats
Received
Restored
6
Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad
Steel Interurban
Pullman Car Co.
54
2010
9
Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad
Steel Interurban
1926
Pullman Car Co.
54
1990
1993, 2015
13
Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad
Steel Interurban
1926 (1940s)
Pullman Car Co.
80
1998
2015
17
Milwaukee Street Railway
Horse Car
1880s
Unknown
2003
21
East Troy Electric Railroad
Single-truck Open Car
1975
ETER
45
1975
1985
23
Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad
Steel Interurban
1927
Pullman Car Co.
80
2010
24
Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad * Restored as Diner No. 24 – The Beverly Shores
Steel Interurban Interurban Diner
1927 (1940s)
Pullman Car Co. ETER
80 50
1992 1992
1995* 1995
25
Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad * Restored as Diner No. 25 - The Ravenswood
Steel Interurban Interurban Diner
1927 (1940s)
Pullman Car Co. ETER
80 50
1983 1983
1991* 1991
26
Sheboygan Light Power & Railway
Wooden Interurban
1908
Cincinnati Car Co.
44
1988
Est. 2005
30
Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad
Steel Interurban
1929
Standard Steel Car Co.
48
1983
1986
33
Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad
Steel Interurban
1929
Pullman Car Co.
48
2010
2016
107
Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad
Combine
1927
Pullman Car Co.
2010
203
Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad
Trailer
1927
Pullman Car Co.
2010
228
Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad
Merchandise Car
1922
Cincinnati Car Co.
1988
Est. 2005
761
Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad
Steel Interurban
1930
Standard Steel Car Co.
2001
Est. 2005
846
Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co. Streetcar
Double-truck Streetcar
1920
St. Louis Car Co.
48
2002
1986
978
Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co. Streetcar
Double-truck Streetcar
1929
St. Louis Car Co.
48
2002
1583
Twin City Rapid Transit Company
1913 (1921)(1948)
TCRT
48
1981
1985
1738
Former Milwaukee Road now ETER
1956
1985
1985
4420
Chicago Elevated (CTA)
Rapid Transit Car 1924
Cincinnati Car Co.
52
1982
1985
4453
Chicago Elevated (CTA)
Rapid Transit Car
1924
Cincinnati Car Co.
52
1995
1999
D23
The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.
Line Car
1907 (1929)
TMER&L
N/A
1989
1989
L6
The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.
Utility Crane Car
1911 (1929)
St. Louis Car Co.
N/A
1988
1989
L8
The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.
50-ton Steeplecab Loco.
1935
TMER&L
N/A
1989
1990
L9
The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Co. Converted to East Troy Railroad Locomotive L9
50-ton Steeplecab Loco.
1944
TMER&T ETER
N/A
1988 1988
1990
13332
Soo Line (former Duluth South Shore & Atlantic)
Flat Car (Hobo Car)
1924
Pullman
1985
2002
Double-truck Streetcar Terminal Caboose
9
Welcome to East Troy! TROLLEY TIMES • 2018
By Vanessa Lenz
check out our most notable landmark, East Troy Village Square Park, which has a long history as the backdrop for community events like the 25th he East Troy Area Chamber annual East Troy Bluegrass Festival, of Commerce welcomes Farmers Markets, Brewfest and you to East Troy. We’re so Memorial Day Weekend Corn and glad you’re here. Brat Roast. We know you’ll enjoy your If you journey to surrounding visit to the East Troy Electric businesses, you’ll also find historic Railroad, Wisconsin’s last sights, high quality dining, shops, original electric railroad line. a beautiful café and everything you After your ride, we hope you’ll need for a perfect day or night away. extend your stay and return often to If you’re more of a nature lover, discover all of the great places to go East Troy will capture your heart and things to do in the area. with its striking waterfronts and There’s a lot to see and do in our flourishing green space. Ten local town. If you’re wondering where to lakes and three state natural areas start, I’d suggest taking a cue from are all located within two miles of John McGivern. downtown. When he visited East Troy to film This guide features tips on how to his popular PBS show “Around the make the most of your trip: what to Corner with John McGivern,” our see, what to do and insider secrets. town topped his list of places to go For to-the-minute updates to help that are chock-full of experiences plan your visit, check out easttroy.org. to check off your bucket list. The Emmy Award-winning actor explored what it’s like to live, work and play like a local and narrowed down the absolute must-do & see East Troy places & activities. This includes catching an outdoor show while surrounded by the signature hills of the famous Alpine Valley Music Theatre. When the temperatures are cooler, The East Troy Area Historical Society’s Kubicki Museum and he suggests you grab your skis and Heritage Center on the village snowboards to zip down the hills at square provides a showcase of local Alpine Valley Resort. history including changing exhibits, A top bucket list item for artifacts, books, maps, documents, adventure enthusiasts is a visit to photographs and other materials. East Troy Municipal Airport, which houses more than 100 aircraft and the Regular hours and days of adjacent Skydive Milwaukee, which operation are Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon and Saturdays from 10 has been training jump students for a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, 50 years. call (262) 642-2642 or visit www. If you’ve ever wanted to feel the easttroyhistory.org. proverbial heartbeat of East Troy, EAST TROY CHAMBER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Things to do in East Troy
Connect with local history
Fill up on roadside-inspired BBQ
Take your pick of pulled pork, sliced brisket, pulled chicken, ribs or smoked sausages at LD’s BBQ, located inside BP in East Troy, 1880 Highway ES. The award-winning eatery is inspired by roadside stands and mobile trailers popular in states like South Carolina and New Mexico. For more information, visit ldsbbq.com.
Eat Apple Pie Baked in a Paper Bag
The Elegant Farmer, 1545 Main St., Mukwonago, serves up homemade, fresh-picked and delicious offerings in its Farm Kitchen Bakery, Deli & Market. The business is noted by Gourmet magazine, The Wall Street Journal, “Food Network” and Milwaukee magazine as having “the best pie in America.” The award-winning Apple Pie Baked in a Paper Bag has been the Elegant Farmer’s signature item for decades, baking over a quarter of a million pies each year. For more information, visit elegantfarmer.com.
Grab the perfect cup East Troy’s café 2894 On Main, located on the northwest corner of the East Troy Village Square, was designed to be an easily accessible community hub, featuring Tesla charging stations, community chalk message boards and community tables that welcome meet ups for local groups like the East Troy Computer Club. The beautifully renovated historic site from 1856, features a farm-to-fork menu and uses locally roasted beans with local, organic milk. For more information, visit 2894onMain.com.
SARAH MANKE Trolley Times
The East Troy Cycling Classic, part of the Tour of America’s Dairyland, will return to East Troy Friday, June 22. The action-packed criterium style race course on the East Troy Village Square and surrounding streets allows spectators to see cyclists whiz past every three minutes.
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Step Back In tIme and Relax
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Step back in time
Step back in time with a summertime trip to J. Lauber’s Ice Cream Parlor, 2010 Church St., East Troy, for a malt, sundae or split. Visitors can choose from a four-page menu of traditional treats, ranging from fountain soda to 20 flavors of malts or selections from an old-fashioned candy counter. For more information, call (262) 642-3679.
Visit Wisconsin’s oldest operating inn and tavern Refresh at East Troy House Historic Inn and Tavern, 2093 Division St. The oldest running inn and tavern in Wisconsin has been operating on the East Troy Village Square since 1842. For more information, call (262) 642-7100.
Check out East Troy’s first bookstore InkLink Books, East Troy’s first bookstore, is located on the north side of the East Troy Village Square at 2890 Main St. The building, which dates back to 1862 has been completely transformed into a chic yet comfortable space filled with beloved titles of every genre. With a stunning Old World design, the shop captures the nostalgia of the best independent bookstores by filling its shelves with books from hyper-curated lists. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call (262) 642-9607 or visit facebook.com/pg/inklinkbooks
Calendar of Events 27th annual CommunityWide Rummage Sale May 25-27 The East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce’s 27th annual Communitywide Rummage Sale will return Memorial Day Weekend. For a listing of the 50-plus rummage sales, visit www.easttroy.org in May. Info: (262) 642-3770 or easttroy.org
42nd Annual Corn & Brat Roast May 25-28 The East Troy Chamber will host its 42nd annual Corn & Brat Roast featuring roasted sweet corn, brats, hot dogs, burgers, soda and beer, as well as live entertainment on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Info: (262) 642-3770 or easttroy.org
East Troy Brewfest May 27 East Troy’s Brewfest will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. at East Troy Village Square Park, 2881 Main St., featuring unlimited samples of over 35 craft beers and micro brews from area breweries. Info: (262) 642-3770 or easttroy.org
Memorial Day Observance Monday, May 28 Parade begins at 10:30 a.m., ending on the Historic East Troy Village Square with a ceremony. Presented by American Legion Loomis-Martin Post 188 Info: (262) 470-4694
East Troy Cycling Classic Friday, June 22 The Tour of America’s Dairyland, the largest competitive cycling event in the U.S., will make a stop in East Troy as part of the 11-day race series. Hosted by the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce, along with The Dennis and Janice Klumb Family Foundation, the event features live music, beer tent, kids race and more. Info: (262) 642-3770 or easttroy.org
at Rossmiller Sports Complex and Skate Park (fka Amusement Park), 3090 Graydon Ave., East Troy. Parade – July, 1 at 1 p.m.; Fireworks – July, 1 at dark. Info: easttroylions. org
Corn & Brat Roast-Knights of Columbus July 27-29 The Knights of Columbus will host a Corn & Brat Roast at East Troy Village Square Park, 2881 Main St. Brats, hamburgers, roasted sweet corn and live music. Info: (262) 642-5198
Zac Brown Band Aug. 11 & 12 Country jam group Zac Brown Band will stop at Alpine Valley Music Theatre on Aug. 11 & 12 as part of its “Down the Rabbit Hole” tour. Info: livenation.com.
Blast to the Past 5K August, TBA The East Troy High School Cross Country team will host the Blast to the Past 5K beginning at East Troy High School. Registration is at 7:30 a.m. and the run begins at 9 a.m. Info: etahs.org
East Troy Bluegrass Festival Sept. 8-9 The East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce will host its 25th annual Bluegrass Festival at East Troy Village Square Park, 2881 Main St. The event features top bluegrass bands, fiddle, banjo, mandolin and guitar competitions, gospel music service, food and craft vendors. $10 weekend wristbands. Info: easttroybluegrass.com
Autumn Harvest Festival Sept. 8-Oct. 21 The Elegant Farmer is offering a familyfun farm experience this fall with its popular Autumn Harvest Festival weekends, Sept. 8 through Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Attendees can pick from its 12 varieties of apples right from the tree or pumpkins from the patch. Enjoy beautiful fall colors aboard a tractor-pulled hayride or vintage trolley ride. Try a family-friendly corn maze. For more information, visit www.elegantfarmer.com.
East Troy Lions Club hosts this celebration featuring the famous East Troy Beer Tent (ETBT), truck & tractor pulls, carnival rides, games, fair food and live entertainment
since 1974
J. Lauber’s Ice Cream Parlor For 44 years, Lauber’s has been dishing out delicious ice cream treats in an authentic 1920s setting. Choose from a 4 page menu of malts, sundaes, splits and sodas served to your table while you listen to the 78RPM jukebox and enjoy the collection of ice cream and general store items that line the shelves.
WE SERVE REAL ICE CREAM... not soft serve!
East Troy Farmers Market The East Troy Farmers Market offers the perfect mix of produce, local treats and artisan goods on Fridays from 2 to 6 p.m. from May 25 through Oct. 5 at East Troy Village Square Park, 2881 Main St. The market features a full slate of free family activities, as well as live music. For more information, visit easttroy.org or call (262) 642-3770.
First Fridays East Troy’s First Fridays event series will return, May-November. Each First Friday of the month will feature a showcase event at East Troy Village Square Park with surrounding local businesses collaborating to bring an afternoon and evening of fun. 2018 First Fridays Schedule: • Friday, May 4- May the Fourth be with You • Friday, June 1-Food Truck Fest • Friday, July 6- Family Fun Night Square Takeover • Friday, Aug. 3-Square Fest • Friday, Sept. 7- Pickin’ on the Square • Friday, Oct. 5- Scare on the Square • Friday, Nov. 2- Art & Wine Walk avec fromage For more information, visit easttroy.org.
Thursday Nights on the square
The East Troy Community Band presents free concerts at East Troy Village Square Park on Thursday nights in the summer, June 14 June 22 & June 23 through July 26. Alpine Valley Music Theatre, 2699 County All concerts start at 7:30 p.m. Attendees Road D, will host jam band Dead & Company, should bring their own lawn chairs. For more featuring John Mayer and Grateful Dead alum information, visit www.etband.com. Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann on June 22 and 23. Info: livenation.com.
June 28 - July 1
JUST ACROSS THE TRACKS FROM THE EAST TROY DEPOT
ONGOING
Dead & Company
Lions Fourth of July Celebration
TROLLEY TIMES • 2018
Cruise Nights
Every Saturday evening during the summer, Gus’s Drive-In, 3131 Main St., transforms into a cruise night hot spot attracting car lovers from all over the region and local customers who can enjoy the vehicles, music and drive-in menu. For more information, visit gussdrivein. com.
262-642-3679 Comfortable seating for 60 (for groups over 20, please call) Open May Thru October June 2 – September 3, Monday – Friday, Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Spring, Monday–Friday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. & Saturday & Sunday Noon to 9 p.m. Fall, Saturday–Sunday - Noon to 9 p.m. J. Lauber’s is in East Troy, 2010 Church St. (Hwy. 120) 2 blocks north of the square, next to the Trolley Museum. 15 min. north of Lake Geneva, via Hwy 120, or exit I-43 at 120 (Church St.) and go 1½ blocks past the square to 2010 Church St. 309274
11
12
TROLLEY TIMES • 2018
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