Did you know WMU used to have a trolley? 
It’s true, the famous Western Trolley was once classified and registered as a railroad. In fact, it’s the only known incline railroad in the history of the state of Michigan. For nearly 40 years, the trolley carried students and faculty up and down the steep incline of Prospect Hill, home to the original WMU campus and where Heritage Hall sits today.
An article in a 1931 issue of the Western Herald reported the Western Trolley averaged 2,280 passengers daily. In the trolley’s heyday, it was featured in newspapers from Chicago to Detroit. After World War II, however, its use declined, and by 1949, the Western Trolley was shut down due to safety issues and rising maintenance costs.
Enjoy looking back at WMU’s history? We’ve got just the ticket for you! Stay tuned to your portal for future Throwback stories.