The region around Terre Haute enjoyed an unusual share of early promotions. Before the feasibility of extending electric lines over the rough country roads and fields had been demonstrated in Indiana, several street railways organized in Terre Haute and
Brazil, Indiana, whose purpose was to build lines on city streets and on roads leading out of the city. The Brazil Rapid Transit Street Railway Company incorporated in 1892. The organizers declared their intention of building a line from Cottage Hill Cemetery in Brazil to
Knightsville and
Harmony along the
National Road. The line began operations July 16, 1893, as the first interurban electric line in the state of Indiana. The company which actually built the Terre Haute connection was the Terre Haute Electrical Company, which completed construction of the line in September 1900. The Terre Haute Electrical Company was reorganized as the Terre Haute Electric Traction Company in 1903 with the purpose of building lines radiating from the city. While the Terre Haute Electric was promoting its line to Brazil, an independent line was being promoted from Indianapolis to
Plainfield. At the end of 1901, the Indianapolis and Plainfield Electric Railroad Company was organized to build it. The Indianapolis and Plainfield Electric Railroad merged with the Danville and Cartersburg Railroad Company in 1903 to form the Indianapolis Coal Traction Company. When the Indianapolis Coal line was built from
Greencastle to Brazil in 1906–1907, the track of the Brazil Rapid Transit Street Railway was used for most of the distance between Harmony and Brazil. Through limited service was established the next July. ==Route==