WIMMER: Electric trolley cars popular pre-WWII

What do the letters A V I mean to you?

If you have lived in and around Newton since before World War II, you probably remember they stand for Ark Valley Interurban.

Construction on the line started in 1910. Its electric powered trolley cars eventually provided passenger service from Wichita to Valley Center and on to Sedgwick.

From there, the line extended to Newton, Halstead and Burrton.

A short spur also served Bethel College for a few years.

In 1915, the line was extended to Hutchinson.

The first trolley ran to Hutchinson just prior to Christmas in 1915.

One item of note is the short line to Bethel College lasted from 1913 to 1925.

When the service was discontinued, two motor cars were left on the Bethel campus and served as student dorms for a period of time.

From a transcript of Sunflower Journeys, television episode 1602B, I learned the two cars left at Bethel were later sold.

One went to the Great Plains Transportation Museum, the other to a private individual in Walton.

I drove to Walton the next day to find the trolley car.

After visiting at the Walton café and the library, I found out the car had been purchased by Max Davis.

I finally contacted Max’s son and found out the old motor car had been sold to an individual in Manhattan.

Max and his family had tried to resurrect the old motorcar, but after he was gone, it was too much for them to handle.

Max has been gone more than four years now and probably is best remembered for driving his antique car across the United States in the “Great Races” of 1986, ‘87 and ‘88.

Included in this issue are pictures of old No. 8 standing on the Bethel campus.

The kind folks in Manhattan sent a picture of the shell that is left.

They have it parked on their rural home property and are planning on restoring it to its original condition.

The lady of the house said her husband had better get busy, since it is to be finished in two years to serve as a centerpiece for his 50th anniversary high school graduation party.

For more detailed information, check for Ark Valley Interurban Railway on Wikipedia via the Internet.

Another place for some information is the KTWU Sunflower Journeys as mentioned above.

Just Google Ark Valley Interurban to bring up other sources and pictures.

Some of the sources explain that the AVI ceased passenger operation in July of 1938.

Another owner operated it from 1939 to 1940 as a short line freight service with some of the old electric cars.

After October of 1940, diesel engines were put into use.

In 1942, the government’s War Production Board requisitioned the line for scrap metal. and the track and other metal capital equipment was removed and used for the war effort.

Information wasn’t too clear on infrastructure still standing.

Only a bridge west of Halstead was mentioned.

I have pictures of two concrete bridges over the east and west branches of Emma Creek on Southwest 36th Street.

The bridge west of Halstead is not visible from the road since it is on private property and a hundred yards or so back through the trees.

All that is standing now are the concrete piers. They are less than 50 yards south of the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe tracks.

Everyone who travels west on U.S. Highway 50 probably has noticed the concrete form south of the highway in the middle of the field.

It carried the AVI over a drainage ditch in that field.