The Engines of the Winona

The Engines of the Winona. Winona Railway Trail. The Winona Interurban Railway once ran along this corridor. The passenger and freight service was initially powered by electricity and later by internal-combustion engines until its demise. , , The Winona Interurban Railway was created just as electric trains were replacing steam engine trains throughout the United States. Electricity could now be generated in a power house by either a steam-powered or hydro-powered turbine. It could then be transferred through wires to either an overhead cable or a third ground rail where contact was made with the locomotive. The electric railway kept local exhaust and noise levels down, and it had a rapid acceleration rate. This was appreciated especially in large metropolitan areas where commuter trains were used exclusively. , , Soon, technology brought yet another development, the diesel internal-combustion engine. For interurban routes this engine had even greater benefits than the electric railway; it was a more powerful and more economical mode of transportation. Most electric railways, including the Winona Interurban Railway, converted to these engines. , , Although passengers and goods are no longer transported along this route, it can still be enjoyed as a bike and pedestrian trail. Now the only form of transportation here is human-powered.