CLEAR LAKE – The Iowa Trolley Park in Clear Lake now welcomes visitors with a new sign made possible with a grant from the Cerro Gordo County Community Foundation. The sign features a silver steam locomotive hung within a red steel oval on which appear routed wood letters identifying the Iowa Trolley Park. This sign is positioned at the front of the driveway that leads to an acreage on which the museum, railroad tracks, and depot are found. Future plans for the sign include the addition of LED lighting. An authentic train order semaphore signal that was transferred from a Mason City location will also be positioned adjacent to the sign.
The Iowa Trolley Park is growing, aided by Stan Gentry, president of the Iowa Trolley Organization, and his team of over 20 local volunteers, as well as countless train enthusiasts throughout the country. The grounds currently feature a main building/interpretive center and railroad tracks with a fully functioning hand pump car and diesel locomotive. Also included on the grounds is an authentic depot which was relocated to this site from Clear Lake where it had served the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific railroad. As a new addition, an authentic steam locomotive is being constructed within the main museum building. This project will take approximately two and a half years.
To aid in this project, the “Adopt a Part” program was started. This program has enabled groups both locally and from all over the country to build and contribute to the final locomotive, including the building of the smoke box by a group in Chicago, and building of the cab by a group in Reno. Photos and blueprints have served as guides in reconstructing the locomotive exactly as it would have appeared when steam locomotives were actually in daily use. Consultants also have offered their expertise.
Children’s education is a major emphasis at the Iowa Trolley Park. The interpretive center, located within the museum building, caters to the young, with historical pictures and a variety of colorful lanterns on display. Toddlers and young children have easy access to railway related toys on a centrally located low table. The building of the authentic steam locomotive can be explained from many vantage points within the museum. A hand-cranked car ride for children ages 2 – 10, donated to the museum by a private family, can often times be seen around the community at public functions.
The Iowa Trolley Park is located at 3429 Main Avenue in Clear Lake, and is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00am to 4:00pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Iowa Trolley Park is also open for special events.