This Is Smyrna, TN

During the early part of the 20th century, electric railways were much more common than most people now think. These are not the transit lines you see in Europe with the poles dragging along the power cables above them. These were long distance interurban railways that stretched for many miles, and they were for moving people and goods for industry.

OR Electric Albany ca 1912

In Oregon they had the Oregon Electric Railroad. In the time frame we will be talking about, the 1910’s, they had over a hundred miles of track stretching across a good distance along the coast of Oregon. Here are two examples of two of their electric engines to get an idea of what a real electric railroad engine looks like during the specific time period.

OR Electric Jct City ca 1914

Now you might wonder why electric railways would be of interest to some of you.  Most people don't know that at one time there was a planned railway that would run over 100 miles from Clarksville, to Nashville, passing through Nolensville, Smyrna and Murfreesboro, and ending in Woodbury of all places. 

This was the Murfreesboro Electric Railway. While a lot of talk happens whenever the idea of a commuter rail connecting the outlining communities with Nashville comes up, when it comes to the MER, there were plans, surveys made, land rights given, and grading had started on the railroad.

Then it vanished...Poof!

Gathering the small scraps of information that I could it seemed to me