NORM Collection
Rio de Janeiro Tramways Power & Light
Open Car # 1774

Rio de Janeiro Tramways Power & Light Open Car # 1774 was built by the line in 1912. Before air conditioning, a trolley without sides was the obvious solution to summer heat. Air blowing through the speedy car was its “climate control”. By the 1920s mechanical ventilation had made closed trolleys more comfortable in summer. America’s open trolleys disappeared, and preservationists turned to Latin America for examples of the type. 1774 is one of a dozen such cars brought to U.S. museums from Rio de Janeiro in 1965. It had been at two other museums before coming here.

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This photo shows sister car # 1794 in service in Rio de Janeiro.

This photo shows sister car # 1779 at the Midwest Electric Railway at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, another car from the set brought to the U.S.

This photo shows car # 1774 suspended by a crane in one of its early moves. Another car of the same type is in the backgound.

This photo shows # 1774 shortly after it arrived at the Museum.

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Last Updated 02/24/08