baɪ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti, ðə lˈaɪn wʌz wˈʌn ʌv ˈoʊnli θɹˈiː "tɹˈɑːli fɹˈeɪt" ɹˈeɪlɹoʊdz stˈɪl ɪn ˌɑːpɚɹˈeɪʃən ɪnðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts, ɐlˈɔŋ wɪð ˈaɪəwə tɹˈækʃən ɹˈeɪlɹoʊd ænd ðɪ ˈiːst tɹˈɔɪ ᵻlˈɛktɹɪk ɹˈeɪlɹoʊd, bˌʌt baɪ ðæt tˈaɪm, ðə pˈɜːl bɹˈuːɚɹi wʌz ɪts sˈoʊl ɹᵻmˈeɪnɪŋ ɹˈɛɡjʊlɚ kˈʌstəmɚ.
By 1990, the  line was one of only three "trolley freight" railroads still in operation in the United States, along with Iowa Traction Railroad and the East Troy Electric Railroad, but by that time, the Pearl Brewery was its sole remaining regular customer.