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United Electric Railways: History, Route, Photos

Published: May 14, 2025

By: Adam Burns

The United Electric Railways Company (UER), based in Providence, managed Rhode Island's interurban streetcars, trolleybuses, and freight trolleys during the early to mid-1900s. This company was established in 1919 after the Rhode Island Company, the previous streetcar operator, faced financial trouble and went into temporary receivership.

To ensure continued service without financial hiccups, the UER was immediately placed under the oversight of the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission. By 1921, the UER had consolidated the network and saw ridership peak at an impressive 154 million people annually by 1923.

UER played a significant role in facilitating urban development and improving commuter mobility by providing an efficient and reliable mode of public transportation. The company's electric streetcars and trolleys were especially crucial at a time when automobile ownership was not yet widespread. They connected neighborhoods and business districts, thereby stimulating economic growth and urban expansion.

At its peak, United Electric Railways managed an extensive network of electric rail lines, reaching several cities and towns.

In 1926, the New England Power Company acquired UER, but operations remained under the UER name through the Rhode Island Service Company until 1951, when it became the United Transit Company. Public transportation in Rhode Island was nationalized in 1966 with the launch of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA).

The rise of automobile travel and increasing suburbanization during the mid-20th century led to a decline in ridership. This shift, coupled with mounting operational costs, eventually led to the gradual dismantling of its streetcar services. By the mid-1960s, UER had largely receded, marking the end of an era for electric rail transit in the areas it once served.

UER car #2107 is seen here in a postcard from around 1940.