08/11/2026
Before highways connected our communities, Inter-Urban electric trains zipped across the Iowa landscape—linking Des Moines, Colfax, Perry, and Woodward.
Author Ron Sims takes us back on a journey detailing the life of this once vital electric short line railroad.
At the turn of the 20th century in Central Iowa, there was an electric railway that was recognized as a leader in the new field of interurban transit. Originating from the Des Moines streetcar system, the line utilized fast, efficient electric cars to move people and freight between Des Moines and the communities of Perry, Woodward, and Colfax.
An early proponent of carload freight transport, the Inter-Urban Railway used electric locomotives to pull cars of freight to interchange with the steam railroads in Des Moines. This relationship ultimately allowed the line to survive after most electric railways had been abandoned, until it was purchased by the Chicago and North Western Railway.
The history in this book comes from the lifelong interest and research of Des Moines native, Ronald D. Sims and contains maps, rosters, and photos from his massive railroadiana collection. It traces the early history of the first electric lines through the heyday of electric transit, to the end of passenger service in the 1940s, and through the adoption of diesel locomotives as a freight-only short line railroad. Through mergers and purchases, part of the line is still operated today as part of the Union Pacific Railroad.
• 210 Pages
• 243 Images
• 13 Blueline maps
• Perfect bound book with laminated cover
Cost is only $50 or $60 with S&H and can be ordered from:
NRHS-Iowa Chapter
P.O. Box 4
Ames, IA 50010
Iowa Railroad Historical Society
225 10th St.
P.O. Box 603
Boone, IA 50036
Sponsored by the NRHS Iowa Chapter and the Iowa Railroad Historical Society
