The Independence & Monmouth Railroad Company, touted as the nation’s shortest railroad line, was organized by 10 local businessmen in 1889 and made its initial run from Independence to Monmouth in 1890. The initial run featured a weak steam engine and a heavy passenger load. It stalled on Beeler Hill at the east edge of Monmouth and the passengers had to get out and push the train up to level ground. The I&M later maintained passenger service over the Southern Pacific tracks to Airlie and Dallas. It was abandoned in June 1917.

In 2022, the cities of Monmouth and Independence received funding to implement a trolley service between the two communities. State legislators provided $3M in American Rescue Plan (ARPA) grant funds through the state budget to support a local transit service that links downtown Independence, downtown Monmouth, and the Western Oregon University (WOU) campus.

The pilot trolley service, managed and operated by Cherriots, will operate for two years to provide proof of concept to determine the long-term viability of the service, develop a long-term operating plan, and demonstrate the economic recovery benefits of the service. The project aims to determine the feasibility of and demand for intercity transit service, and the potential of such service to support and serve economic development, education, community events, and tourism in Monmouth and Independence.