An unusual streetcar restoration project has been taking place in Providence, Rhode Island over the past couple of years. United Electric #1068, a 1912 Osgood-Bradley product and the only preserved streetcar from Providence, has been going through a heavy rebuild courtesy of a professional antique automobile restoration company called Dick Shappy Classic Cars. It appears that this company is turning its experience in auto restoration to the railway field with impressive results:

http://www.classiccars.ws/projects/1911osgbradtrolley/index.html

Is anyone on the Interchange in contact with this company? I'd be interested in what the motivation for taking on this project was, and what the intended use for the car is once restoration work is wrapped up. Is there a specific purchaser in mind, or is this being done on spec - or maybe just as a personal interest project? (Judging from some of the photo captions I would guess the latter.)

Wow! He's missing parts, so he just has them made!
Some of the captions say that Bill Wall of Branford Trolley Museum has been helping, so he must know something. Branford [url]BERA.org[/url] does have 2 Rhode Island cars, 61 and 1504, but according to the original post, they're either not restored or not from Providence.

An amazing amount of work and restoration. Apparently this is a 'body' only - I wonder if he plans to get trucks and underbody equipment, brakes, compressor, resistors, etc. I would hope he has leads on this stuff after investing so much work. I would also expect many of us brothers in arms would like to see this work - maybe even send him a project!

The only question I might have is what appears to be a piece of Romex dangling from the ceiling. Probably not what I would use if I ever planned on putting 600 volts on the car.

Bob Kutella

I hope he wired the sockets in 5-socket series configuration rather than in parallel if he plans to use 600 volts (or designed the system so it can be so connected if necessary).

Typical non-metallic sheathed cable (Romex is a trademark) is rated for 600 volts, but has solid conductors--not really suited for an active vehicle. The body of Pacific Electric 530 at OERM has been wired with house-type circuits and fixtures for display purposes; if the owner of the Providence car just wants a static display (a PE tower car in Orange County CA and the interurban in Plano TX come to mind) this shouldn't be a problem.

Frank, et al:

I was born and reared in Providence, RI. So when I heard about this project several years ago I was obviously intrigued. What makes this project more interesting is that it is being supported exclusively by one individual who simply loves old things. What a guy!

Two summers ago I visited the project while in Rhode Island. Mr. Dick Shappy built a building specifically to restore the car, Rhode Island Company, later United Electric Railways No. 1068, Osgood Bradley Car Co., 1911. The fellow that was the lead worker was a locally renowned old house restorer so he knew carpentry. The car was pretty much torn down when I visited and much progress has been made since, as the photos on his website shows.

Mr. Shappy has been in contact with Branford and has received both technical advice as well as hardware items to help with the project. When I discussed the project with Mr. Shappy 2 years ago during my visit he did indicate that he intended to make the car operational. But he had no plans at that time to donate the car to any Museum. As you can see from his classic car website, while Mr. Shappy loves old cars, and specifically Cadillacs, he's fascinated by other old things. Rhode Island Co. 1068 caught his eye and the rest, as they say, is history.

Sometime in the not too distant future I plan another visit to my old "home" state to do an in-depth article on No. 1068 for ARM's Railway Museum Quarterly.

To clarify a comment made in a previous post.
RICo. 1504 is an wreck/emergency car built by the company and travelled all over the RICo and UER system over the years until abandonment of the last like in Providence in 1948
No. 61 single-truck passenger car built in 1892 for the Union RR Co of Providence. Later converted to a sand car and in operation until 1948.
No. 16, single truck snow plough. Don't have info on the car handy. It was a "double track" right hand wedge plow and was used in Providence.

No 61 is barely operational--one motor only. It's not used in regular service. Much exterior and interior restoration work has been done to No. 1504 but I'm not sure if it runs. No. 16 hasn't turned a wheel in years from what I recall.

Thanks!