LET'S GO FOR A TROLLEY RIDE.

The East Troy Electric Railroad commemorates fifty years of railway preservation (by several different preservation groups) in the Lake District of southeastern Wisconsin.

The rides, quite literally, come with all the requisite bells and whistles that are part-and-parcel of riding the retro-nostalgic rails.

It was in October 1971 when ambitious plans were announced for the East Troy Trolley Museum and its electric excursion railway, which opened to standing-room-only crowds the following May.

Today, a half-century later, electrified streetcars, trolleys and interurbans — a rolling stock roster now 27 cars strong — still ply the venerable 115-year-old line, gently rocking and clickety-clacking the rails between East Troy and Mukwonago, conjuring up sepia-toned memories of yesteryear while also pointing to a greener electrified retro modern future.

“This year will be special for our volunteers and a great time for people to come out to ride our trains,” said Ryan Jonas, president of the East Troy Railway Museum. “When you take a ride on our trains, you’ll hear about the history of the electric railroad line, which has been in continuous use since 1907. This year you’ll also hear about the hundreds of volunteers and what they have done to maintain the railroad and restore its trolleys, streetcars and interurban cars for 50 years. It really is an amazing story.”

Much of the content of the article will be familiar to regular readers of Cold Spring Shops. As, perhaps, will this historical recollection.

Volunteer Evan Richards, motorman on No. 9, has fond memories of riding Milwaukee city streetcars to see the National League Milwaukee Braves play at County Stadium as a child, recalling the streetcar lines were removed after the Braves’ 1958 World Series matchup against the New York Yankees.

When the East Troy Electric Railway runs 1920s-era TMER&L double truck streetcars, Richard said he often kids passengers that “if you’re here trying to catch a ballgame, you’re 60 years too late.”

“You know how the Chicago Cubs had all the problems with The Goat? If the Brewers want to win the World Series, they better put a streetcar line back in,” Richards said.

I've apparently got a neighbor involved in the preservation effort, as well.

Find yourself a preservation railway and ride it.