Trains on the Farm

[Abby Brown] On the surface, this cluster of farm buildings might look like any other Iowa farmstead.

But inside is a tribute to railroad history like nothing you've ever seen before.

(Map marking Butler County in northeast Iowa.)

When Frances Edeker was two years old, he received his first train, launching him into a lifelong adventure of working in the railroad industry, collecting trains and educating people all about it.

In Clarksville, the Trains on the Farm Museum has several buildings packed with train collectibles.

There's so much to see and learn here. You could spend several hours touring all the buildings. But it's well worth the time when you get to admire so many amazing train scenes.

(A toy train and cars running inside an exhibit that depicts a western town set in the foot hills of a mountain.)

Since the museum owner worked in the railroad industry, he knows a lot about train safety and has a lot of safety signs and other collectibles.

(A yellow diamond shaped sign reads “See Tracks, Think Train”)

You'll notice that there aren't just trains here. There are also lots and lots of toys. All kinds of toys from many different eras.

(A display sign reads “Happi Time Barn playset, Vintage 1930’s Sears Happi Time Barn play set with paper animals.”)

You can almost see the years tick by when you notice the different materials that dollhouses and other items are constructed from.

(The Happi Time Barn playset’s paper red striped paper barn with the paper hitch and paper wagon inside.)

Some from cardboard.

(A red farm tractor pulling a green and red wagon, all made of cardboard.)

Some are rubber.

(A brown cow lays in a fenced pen. White goats and white sheep graze in the pen beside a red brick silo.)

Some are wood.

(Wood and metal dollhouses face two sets of railroad tracks.)

It's fascinating to notice how toys were made differently throughout the decades.

Francis Edeker, owner of Trains on the Farm, has turned his love of collecting into a very entertaining and big history lesson.

Every county in Iowa has tracked its history throughout the years. In Butler county, we had a lot of fun checking out the trainload of information in this unique museum.

Funding for FIND Iowa has been provided by The Coons Foundation, Pella and the Gilchrist Foundation.