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<p>In 1891, the Milwaukee and Wauwatosa Motor Railway constructed a steam dummy line from 35th Street and Wells Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Wauwautosa, Wisconsin. In 1895, an electric railway was constructed between Waukesha, Wisconsin and Waukesha Beach, Wisconsin by the Waukesha Beach Electric Railway. Both railroads were acquired by the Milwaukee Light, Heat and Traction Company (MLH&T) in 1898, which soon became part of The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company (TMER&L). TMER&L completed lines into downtown Milwaukee and a connection between Wauwautosa and Waukesha. In 1906, construction began on the line west of Waukesha Beach, with the railroad reaching Oconomowoc in 1907 and Watertown in 1908. Originally, the railroad planned to extend westwards to Madison, Wisconsin; however the line was never extended past Watertown. In 1938, TMER&L separated its electric power and its electric traction divisions, with the transportation division reorganized as the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Transport Company (MER&T). The line between Oconomowoc and Watertown was abandoned in early 1940; followed by the line between Waukesha and Oconomowoc in mid-1941. The remainder of the line was abandoned in mid-1951 after years of financial difficulties. Today, little remains of TMER&L line to Watertown, although portions have become part of trails between Watertown and Oconomowoc and between Waukesha and West Allis.</p>
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