Shaker Height Rapid Transit was built to serve a new community under development. Shaker Heights’ routes still operate to this day as the Cleveland's RTA Blue & Green Light Rail Lines. They are all that remain from Cleveland's once vast streetcar system. In 1920 1203’s body was leased to the Shaker Rapid where it was upgraded for rapid transit service. In 1930 1203 lead the first rapid transit train into the new Cleveland Union Terminal.

In the early 1930’s the car was returned to CRC where it was stored at the Miles carbarn. During this period the Northern Ohio Traction & Light Company went out of business. CRC used 1203 to test out the feasibility of running service to Bedford.

1203 was later returned to the Shaker where is ran in regular service until replacement by PCC cars. 1200’s were then used only during rush hour. 1203’s final assignment on the Shaker came in the mid-1960’s when the car was moved to the end of the Van Aken line and used as a trash car.

NORM acquired the car in 1968 and did a cosmetic restoration to its sunburst paint scheme and ran it along with two other 1200’s on fantrips on the Shaker and Cleveland rapids from 1969-1971. The car was moved to Trolleyville in 1974 and finally to our museum site in 1979.

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1203 being moved into the carbarn by NORM’S Trackmobile towing C&O caboose 90960 for braking purposes. Photo taken 11/5/03

This is Center Door Car 1203 on a fantrip at Trolleyville USA.

Here is a color photo of the same car on it's home rails of the Shaker Rapid during a early NORM fantrip.

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Last updated 01/02/08