The earliest railroad passenger cars were little more than re-purposed horse-drawn carriages, but quickly evolved into bigger and increasingly specialized designs. Wood was cheap, readily accessible, and easily repairable; however as train length and speeds increased, the limitations and safety concerns of wood construction became more apparent. During a transition period, some cars were either built with or retrofitted with a steel underframe, but by the 1910s railroads were starting to favor all-steel construction. Wooden car fleets were gradually transitioned or to shortlines or branchline services while others were converted to work train service or served as office space. These secondary uses allowed some cars to survive long enough to be acquired by museums like Mid-Continent.
Type: Second-Class Coach
Builder: Barney & Smith Car Co.
Build Date: 1906
Duluth South Shore & Atlantic #213
Type: First-Class Coach
Builder: Jackson & Sharp Co.
Build Date: 1888
Type: Business Car
Builder: Barney & Smith Manufacturing Co.
Build Date: 1884
Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western #63
Type: First-Class Coach
Builder: Barney & Smith Car Co.
Build Date: 1888
Type: Second-Class Coach
Builder: Pullman Co.
Build Date: 1905
Type: Combination Car
Builder: American Car & Foundry
Build Date: 1903
Type: Second-Class Coach
Builder: American Car & Foundry
Build Date: 1903
Type: Baggage Car
Builder: Barney & Smith Manufacturing Co.
Build Date: 1886
Type: Fish Car
Builder: Pullman Co.
Build Date: 1913
Duluth South Shore & Atlantic “Duluth”
Type: Sleeper
Builder: Barney & Smith Car Co.
Build Date: 1902
Type: Combination Car
Builder: Osgood Bradley Co.
Build Date: 1864
Type: Coach
Builder: Hicks Locomotive & Car Works
Build Date: 1910
Type: Narrow Gauge Combination Car
Builder: Unknown
Build Date: Unknown
Type: Combination Car
Builder: Pullman Palace Car Co.
Build Date: 1898
Type: First Class Coach
Builder: Barney & Smith Car Co.
Build Date: 1907
Type: Coach
Builder: Pullman Car Co.
Build Date: 1908
Chicago Burlington & Quincy #1900
Type: Baggage Car
Builder: American Car & Foundry Co.
Build Date: 1911
Type: First Class Coach
Builder: Harlan & Holingsworth Co.
Build Date: 1893
Duluth South Shore & Atlantic #701
Type: First Class Coach
Builder: American Car & Foundry Co.
Build Date: 1902
Type: Sleeper
Builder: Barney & Smith Car Co.
Build Date: 1902
Type: Railway Post Office (RPO)
Builder: Barney & Smith Car Co.
Build Date: 1906
Kewaunee Green Bay & Western #77
Type: Mail-Baggage Car
Builder: Hicks Locomotive & Car Works
Build Date: 1909
Type: First Class Coach
Builder: Pullman Co.
Build Date: 1905