The open streetcar, as the name implies, was a car open to the elements, ends and sides. Although, today, such lack of protection might seem odd, it seemed much less so in the mid 19th Century when many of the horse drawn vehicles were open and, on even closed carriages, the driver and often some passengers rode outside. And open cars, both horse drawn and electric, had one real advantage. They were cooler in summer. On hot summer days, a closed car could be stifling whereas an open “breezed” could be delightful. In the days long before air conditioning, on hot evenings and Sunday afternoons, people might got for a ride just to cool off.
But, obviously, open cars were not suitable in northern winters, so that companies typically had to maintain two sets of cars, a costly proposition. Also, there was risk that people might fall from the open sides and, with people able to get on and off at will, it could be difficult to make sure that all fares were collected.
In an attempt to resolve these problems, the convertible car was developed. This was, in essence, an enclosed car with side panels that could be removed and replaced with screens of very heavy steel wire in hot weather. A more elaborate arrangement was the semi-convertible car. In these cars, the entire set of window sashes could be raised into the car’s roof, leaving the top half to the car side open except for safety bars or screens. These arrangements were workable, and some of these cars lasted until the end of streetcar service. But they also were expensive and bothersome. So, with the coming of forced air ventilation, no more were built.
Author: G.T. Atwood
Restoring rare historic rail cars like our Rio de Janeiro open car #1774 and Toledo semi-convertible #588 requires continuous time, care, and community support. While our summer rides and outdoor tours pause during the off-season, our volunteer crew at the Northern Ohio Railway Museum works behind the scenes year-round to preserve these treasures. If you’d like to see these cars brought back to life, consider getting involved as a volunteer, making a tax-deductible donation, or sharing this piece of transit history with fellow rail fans.