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In addition to TMER&L's interurban and streetcar operation, they also maintained electric switching operations
at their Lakeside and Port Washington Power Plants. After the abandonment of interurban and streetcar
operations, these switching operations continued to draw railfans.
Operations at Lakeside were by far the most extensive. Carloads of coal were brought in from interchanges
with the Chicago & Northwestern and Milwaukee Road via the Belt Line. It was unloaded from railroad hoppers
and stored in huge piles until needed. Electric shovels and cranes reloaded coal into TM hoppers to transport to the
rotory dumper.
Of special interest was the employee shuttle operated from the Lakeside Plant through the coal yards to
Kinnickinnic Ave. This service used a variety of streetcars through the years. Although intended for employees,
railfans were usually able to catch a ride.
Switching was handled by their fleet of home-built steeplecab locos, but with the demise of the streetcar and
interurban lines, many other pieces of work equipment found their way to Lakeside. Although seldom, if ever used,
they escaped scrapping and were later donated to TWERHS.
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LAKESIDE
April 15, 1921 - Plant opens. First in world to burn
pulverized coal. Soon holds world record for
efficiency.
At first, coal is unloaded from ships at Kinnickinnic
River and hauled through streets to Lakeside.
Connection is soon made with C&NW near Howard
Ave.
Because few employees own autos, a shuttle service
runs between power plant and streetcar line on
Kinnickinnic Ave. Variety of interurbans and city
streetcars used through the years.
1925 - Generating 86% of electricity for TMER&L.
1931 - Work begins on Lakeside Beltline railroad
intended as freight by-pass for traffic between
Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha, as well as bringing
in coal. Built with minimum of grade crossings.
April 17, 1932 - Beltline opens from coal yards west
to Rapid Transit Line near 100th and Howard Ave.
Also connects with C&NW, the M-R-K interurban line
and the Milwaukee Road at Powerton Jct.
1950's - With end of Rapid Transit service, Belt Line
abandoned west of Powerton Jct.
E-Z Paintr is the last industry on line.
May 8, 1961 - Shuttle service discontinued.
1969 - Lakeside converted to natural gas. Tracks
from scales west sold to C&NW. Used to store
bad-order cars waiting repairs at Cudahy shops.
Surplus equipment, track and wire donated to
TWERHS and moved to East Troy.
Loco L-9 remains to shuttle supplies.
1970's - Natural gas shortage causes Lakeside to bring
in tank cars of fuel oil. L-10 returned from East Troy
to assist L-9.
1976 - CNW removes track connection. L-9, L-10
M-26 and portable substation stranded.
1979 - Army Corps moves L-9 to East Troy on trucks
as part of training.
1984 - L-10, M-26 and portable sub sold to IRM and
moved to Union, IL.
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PORT WASHINGTON
Sept. 1, 1935 - Power Plant opens. Rail connection
made to TMER&L Milwaukee-Sheboygan line
(former Milwaukee Northern Rwy.) Interchange
made with C&NW.
Most coal brought in by ship. Locos mostly used to
shuttle cars within plant and bring in supplies from
C&NW.
Sept. 23, 1940 - Passenger service discontinued
between Sheboygan and Port Washington.
Mar. 29, 1948 - Passenger service discontinued
between Milwaukee and Port Washington. Portion of
line between power plant and CNW remains for power
plant operation.
1976 - Electric freight operation ends. Track, wire
and equipment donated to TWERHS.
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L-8 with a loaded hopper car at Port Washington
Power Plant.
Although all the locos were homebuilt by
TMER&L no two were exactly alike.
L-8 was the longest of TM's locos.
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Reddy Kilowatt, the
symbol used by several
electric companies wore a
workcap on this emblem
from the side of the locos.
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Car 523 was one of several streetcars assigned to
the Lakeside shuttle through the years.
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A well-kept, L-10 sits amid coal hoppers in the
Lakeside power plant yard.
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L-9 pulls a string of hopper cars into the interchange with the
Milwaukee Road know as "Powerton Jct". along the Lakeside
Belt Line.
Although TM's homebuilt steeplecabs were built for hauling
interchange freight on their interurban lines as well as moving coal
hoppers at the power plants, most interchange freight was
handled by their M-series freight motors, and the steeplecabs
spent most of their time at the power plants.
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