The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.
Reporting mark: TMERL
View Exhibit mapWhen Milwaukee traction fans refer to The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co., they usually use the abbreviated "TM", and it usually includes TMER&L and its subsidiaries and successors.
The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co. was the largest electric railway and electric utility system in Wisconsin. It combined several of the earlier horsecar, steam dummy and streetcars lines into one system. Its Milwaukee streetcar lines soon ran on most major streets and served most areas of the city. Its interurban lines reached throughout southeastern Wisconsin. They also operated the streetcar lines in Appleton, Kenosha and Racine as well as doing their own switching operations at the Port Washington and Lakeside power plants.
The first electric streetcar in Milwaukee operated on Wells Street April 3, 1890. The last streetcar in Milwaukee (and Wisconsin) operated on Wells Street on March 2, 1958.
The first interurban ran between Milwaukee and Kenosha on June 1, 1897. Other lines soon reached out to Watertown, Burlington and East Troy. In 1922 TM acquired the Milwaukee Northern Railway and added their Milwaukee to Sheboygan interurban line to the system.
During the depression, streetcar and interurban lines were cut back, replaced with buses, abandoned or sold.
Abandonments ceased during WWII, when gas and tires were rationed, and defense workers needed transportation.
After the war, riders returned to their autos and abandonments resumed. The last two remnants of interurban lines were to Hales Corners and Waukesha. They closed out their days being operated in Rapid Transit service by Speedrail until June 30, 1951. Electric locos continued operating at the power plants until the early 1970's.
A complete history, or even a comprehensive list of historical highlights would be too involved for this website. If you are interested in more details, we suggest the followings books, that might be available in your library or on the second hand book market.
Sources:
"TM (The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Lights Co.)" by Joseph Canfield, published by CERA as their Bulletin 112.
"Path Of A Pioneer" by John Gurda, The story of Wisconsin Electric Power Co., published by WE Energies.
Above information and further information available here: http://www.trainweb.org/twerhs/tmerl.html
CNW - TMERL Overpass (Port Washington) (Ozaukee County, Wisconsin)
Lost Pony/through plate girder bridge over The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co. on Chicago & North Western RailwayRemoved but not replaced
Folsom Street Bridge (Milwaukee County, Wisconsin)
Lost Baltimore deck truss bridge over Milwaukee River on Folsom Street & The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Replaced by a new bridge
Highland Drive Bridge (Ozaukee County, Wisconsin)
Built by Milwaukee Northern, later TMER&L, railroad abandoned 1940; Lost 2015Slab bridge over Ozaukee Interurban Trail on Highland DriveDemolished
Ozaukee Interurban Trail - Cedarburg Bridge (Ozaukee County, Wisconsin)
Built 1907 by Carneige Steel, Used as and interurban rail bridge until 1948, restored and reopened for bike traffic in 2002Through truss bridge over Cedar Creek on Ozaukee Interurban Trail - Former Electric Interurban LineOpen to pedestrians
TMERL - 76th Street Overpass (Milwaukee County, Wisconsin)
Lost Steel stringer bridge over 76th Street on The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Removed
TMERL - Brookdale Road Overpass (Milwaukee County, Wisconsin)
Lost Deck plate girder bridge over Brookdale Road on The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Removed but not replaced
TMERL - Cedarburg Viaduct (Ozaukee County, Wisconsin)
Built 1906; Removed ?Lost Pony/through plate girder bridge over Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad on The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Removed
TMERL - Clement Avenue Overpass (Milwaukee County, Wisconsin)
Lost Pony/through plate girder bridge over Clement Avenue on The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Removed
TMERL - Fox River Bridge (Waukesha County, Wisconsin)
Built 1907; Removed 1939Lost Pony/through plate girder bridge over Fox River on The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Removed
TMERL - Grafton Viaduct (Ozaukee County, Wisconsin)
Built 1906; Removed ?Lost Warren deck truss bridge over Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad on The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Removed
TMERL - Kinnickinnic Avenue Trestle (Milwaukee County, Wisconsin)
Lost Pony plate girder bridge over Chicago & North Western Railway & Kinnickinnic Avenue on The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Removed but not replaced
TMERL - Menominee River Viaduct (Milwaukee County, Wisconsin)
Lost Parker through truss bridge over Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad & Menomonee River on The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Removed
TMERL - Milwaukee River Bridge (Ozaukee County, Wisconsin)
Built 1850 for the Michigan Central, relocated here for the Milwaukee Northern (Later TMER&L) in 1906; Abandoned 1948Lost Pratt through truss bridge over Milwaukee River on TMER&L interurban lineDemolished
TMERL - Mukwonago River Bridge (Waukesha County, Wisconsin)
Built 1907; Removed 1939Lost Girder bridge over Mukwonago River on The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Removed
TMERL - Nemahbin Lake Bridge (Waukesha County, Wisconsin)
Lost Closed-spandrel arch bridge over Outlet between Upper and Lower Nemahbin Lakes on The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Replaced by a new bridge
TMERL - Pigeon Creek Bridge (Ozaukee County, Wisconsin)
Lost Pony/through plate girder bridge over Pigeon Creek on The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Removed
TMERL - Root River Bridge (Milwaukee County, Wisconsin)
Built 1905Closed-spandrel arch bridge over Root River on Access Road(?)Removed
TMERL - South Lake Drive Overpass (Milwaukee County, Wisconsin)
Built 1928; Removed ?Lost Pony/through plate girder bridge over South Lake Drive on The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Removed but not replaced
TMERL - Wells Street Viaduct (Milwaukee County, Wisconsin)
Built 1892, removed 1961-62Lost Deck truss bridge over Menomonee River on Wells Street/Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company in MilwaukeeRemoved
TMERL - West Junction Overpass (Milwaukee County, Wisconsin)
Built 1927 ; Removed ca 1951?Lost Pony/through plate girder bridge over Chicago & North Western Railway on The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Removed
TMERL - White River Bridge (Racine County, Wisconsin)
Lost Pratt through truss bridge over White River on The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Removed
TMERL/CNW Overpass (Milwaukee County, Wisconsin)
Lost Warren through truss bridge over Chicago & North Western Railway on The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.Removed
UP - Wiscona Rail Crossing Bridge #2 (Milwaukee County, Wisconsin)
Built 1911Abandoned pony/through plate girder bridge over Canadian National Railway on Abandoned Union Pacific RailroadDerelict/abandoned
UP - Wiscona Rail Crossing Bridge #3 (Milwaukee County, Wisconsin)
Built 1907, Widened 1911Abandoned deck plate girder bridge over Local Trail on Abandoned Union Pacific RailroadDerelict/abandoned