28 December in Idaho History

1903    First Coeur d'Alene & Spokane Railway electric line train arrives in Coeur d'Alene

D.C. Corbin and associates created the Coeur d'Alene Railway and Navigation Company in 1886 with the backing of the Northern Pacific Railway.  Corbin's plans included two lines, the first was a branch line from the NP main line at Hauser Junction through Post Falls and on to Coeur d'Alene where it would connect with the steamboats.  This was the first railway in Coeur d'Alene.

In 1902 the Coeur d'Alene & Spokane Railway Company was started by lumberman F.A. Blackwell and banker Wiliam Dollar and planned an electric interurban railay btween the two growing towns.  On December 28, 1903 the first electric line train arrived in Coeur d'Alene and was greeted by hundreds of people.
The "electric line" was a pivitol key in the development of Coeur d'Alene as a tourist destination.  The line became very popular, especially in summer months as tourists combined the rail trip with a steamboat excursion on the lake.  In July of 1907, over 100,000 passengers made the trip from Spokane.