Rio de Janeiro Open-Air Cars No. 1718 & 1779

Midwest Electric Railway operates two popular open-air summer cars, No. 1718 and No. 1779. Built in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Car No. 1718 was constructed in 1910 and Car No. 1779 in 1911.

These open-bench cars were built following the American J.G. Brill “Narragansett” design, a style widely used on thousands of streetcars across the United States. Designed for warm-weather operation, the cars featured open seating and a full-length upper side step for quick and easy boarding.

Constructed with durable Brazilian Peroba de Campos hardwood, both cars operated in Rio de Janeiro until 1965, when they became part of a group of streetcars imported to the United States through the Association of Railway Museums. Car No. 1718 was later refurbished at the Iowa Terminal in Mason City.

The two cars joined the Midwest Old Threshers collection in 1970 and 1973 and remain visitor favorites today thanks to their open-air design, quick loading, and refreshing summer breeze during the Reunion.

Streetcar No. 9

Built in 1910 by the Barber Car Company of York, Pennsylvania, Streetcar No. 9 originally operated on the Southern Iowa Railway, serving the communities of Centerville, Albia, and Mystic. Designed as a 4-wheel interurban car, it could carry up to 36 passengers during its years of service in southern Iowa.

The car arrived at Midwest Old Threshers in 1968 and became the flagship of the electric railway collection. In 1971, it earned another distinction by becoming the first streetcar to operate during the Old Threshers Reunion.

Today, Streetcar No. 9 remains the only operational Barber car known to exist, preserving a rare piece of electric railway history. While the car does not operate regularly today and requires ongoing restoration and maintenance work, it continues to stand as one of the most historic pieces in the Midwest Electric Railway collection.

Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Interurban Car No. 320

Built in 1914 by the Jewett Car Company, Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Interurban Car No. 320 was one of the last wooden interurban cars operated by the Chicago Aurora & Elgin Railroad. Designed for high-speed passenger service between Chicago, Aurora, and Elgin, Illinois, the car carried 52 passengers and was capable of speeds exceeding 70 miles per hour.

Measuring 48 feet long and 8 feet wide, Car No. 320 operated in regular service from 1914 until 1961. Purchased by the Iowa Railway Historical Museum in Centerville, the car arrived at Midwest Old Threshers in 1968, where it has remained on display and in operation ever since.

The car later became the most recently restored interurban car on the grounds, undergoing a complete restoration to its original appearance between 1991 and 2000, preserving an important piece of Midwest electric railway history.

Motor Flat Car No. 1100

Built in 1917 by the American Car Company in St. Louis, Missouri, this 43-foot work car was originally delivered to the Union Electric Company for use at the Keokuk hydroelectric dam. Known as Car No. 1100, it made daily trips across the dam to Hamilton, Illinois, transporting workers, equipment, and supplies for the plant’s operations.

The car faithfully served the hydroelectric plant for an impressive 84 years before being retired in 2000 following modernization updates at the facility and replacement by a diesel switch engine.

In 2001, Ameren UE, formerly Union Electric Company, donated Car No. 1100 to Midwest Old Threshers, and it arrived on the grounds in 2002. Its cab, constructed of tongue-and-groove wood siding, is mounted on a 40-foot motorized flat car.

In 2022, seating was added so the car could once again carry passengers during the Old Threshers Reunion, giving this historic work car a new life while continuing to preserve its rich industrial and transportation history.

Waterloo Car No. 381

Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, this streetcar was built in 1930 by the Perley A. Thomas Car Works. After operating in Knoxville, the car was sold to the Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern Railroad in 1948, where it continued in service until August 1, 1958.

Waterloo Car No. 381 holds 42 passengers and is still considered a modern car by today’s standards. It holds a special place in Iowa transportation history as the last streetcar to operate in regular service in the state of Iowa.

Following the end of service, the car was donated by the City of Waterloo to Midwest Old Threshers in 1971, where it continues to preserve the legacy of Iowa’s electric railway history.

Milan Cars No. 1945 & 1811

Built in 1927 by Carminati & Toselli, these lightweight city cars once operated through the busy streets of Milan, Italy. Based on the Peter Witt design, they were built for quick service through narrow city streets.

Milan Car No. 1945 came to the Midwest Electric Railway in 2002, while Milan Car No. 1811 arrived on the grounds in 2025. Before coming to Mount Pleasant, both cars were refurbished by the Gomaco Trolley Company.

Several hundred of these historic cars still operate in Milan today, keeping this classic style of streetcar alive nearly 100 years later.