The car barn for the A line still stands out in Watertown and I think there's still a remnant of the A line switch, where Comm ave and Brighton street meet
@@jec9126 Years ago, I have seen the remnant of the A Branch switch at Packard's Corner, but the last couple of times I have been that way (I don't go there very often) it doesn't seem to be there any more.
this was definitely one of your best videos. You should do a video about track 61, and how it was once a massive freight line but is now a test track for the red line
Hey thank you, i worked hard on it so that means all! Thats funny cus im already kinda doing a video about track 61 area ane bostons old freight service
I can tell you I operated A Boston and Albany commuter train with my dad in1956 He was an Engineer for the B & A I went to work for the Metropolitan Transit Authoriy (T) in 1967 operating PCC on the highland branch
Yes! The A branch should not be forgotten! Yes, Newton Corner is the worst intersection in Massachusetts, so I totally get why they didn't want trains running against traffic...but they should have at least kept it running to Oak Square. Bus replacements are always a lazy way out.
Other Green Line branches that are grade-separated from road traffic: the Union Square (Somerville) and Medford/Tufts branches. With respect to reliability, arguably the Type 9s were even less reliable than the Type 8s, at least for the first few years -- less tendency to derail, but more incidences of other stuff breaking (even in the last few months, I have been on a Type 9 train showing the infamous "Call Police" signs due to an electronics/software glitch), and even now I don't see them very often (and yes, I know they are much fewer in number than the others, but even so, if they worked right, I should be seeing them more often).
MBTA's plan was the Boeing LRV's would take over the D Line, and PCCs would no long run on the D Line. But in 1978. The PCC's returned. Derailment always happen on D Line, with its twisted tracks. The Boeing LRVs had alot of crashes on D Line. The Type 8s took 9 years to fully operate on D Line
I rode the Watertown line on a fan trip using Type 5 #5734 and PCC #3295 (They’re abandoned in Boylston now) back in 1978 or 1981. Seashore Trolley Museum just got done with them and we ran the whole green line. I operated 5734 into Park St for about 200 feet.
@@erik_griswold I got that part, I was asking about the intown end. Then I just realized that this was before construction of the Mass Tpke Extension (east of 128), which did not open until 1963. So there was a surface connection to the line leading into South Station?
Hopefully, we can bring back the A-branch train to Watertown SQ soon to help alleviate major traffic congestion (i.e. #57 bus in Allston VILL and/or Newton CNR). Beth Budner, Auburndale, MA!
Why do they take the trains why do you take the trains out of the arborway service I wish they were back on Huntington Ave South Huntington avenue center Street like they used to be I miss those days
When the Riverside line open up the only cars that were new was the picture window cars they were rebuilt with air horns and a high beam headlight on the roof the MTA put trackless trolley coaches on the lines out of Harvard Square to free up the PCC cars out of North Cambridge the PCC cars # 3002 thru # 3021 were rebuild repainted with air horns and a high beam head light then some of the # 3200 series were rebuilt with air horns and high beam head light too so they could be mu with the Tremont cars ( # 3002 - # 3021 series ) in the early 1970’s the MBTA voted to rebuild the Riverside line for the future Boeing LRV ‘s all services ended at Cook Junction there was a loop there the line was rebuilt with new rails tied power cable a new sub station for the LRV’s in 1976 the first LRV # 3416 run from Riverside to Park Street Station at Fenway Park Station there was a freight spur that ran into the Sears main warehouse when Sears shut down the MBTA took over the spur and rebuild it to store LRV ‘s for the Red Sox season the next group of LRV ‘s to run on the Riverside line with be the Type # 10 110 foot cars ( # 4000 - # 4101 ) now being built by CAF USA INC the bodies are being built in there plant in Spain then being ship to the CAF USA Inc plant in New York what a friend of mine of mine told me that the platforms on the Riverside and the C B and E line with be rebuild to handle them he also told me that they are going to look like the Type # 9 design the first test cars will be in Boston in 2024
Will there be a part dedicated to the defunct branches like the A Branch?
Great Idea! If there’s enough info for a video, then ill definatley do it
The car barn for the A line still stands out in Watertown and I think there's still a remnant of the A line switch, where Comm ave and Brighton street meet
@@jec9126 Years ago, I have seen the remnant of the A Branch switch at Packard's Corner, but the last couple of times I have been that way (I don't go there very often) it doesn't seem to be there any more.
Excellent presentation. The Riverside Branch was the first post-WW2 light railway in the country!
Freight used to use the riverside switch off the WML, and over the 95 Bridge to deliver liquor in Needham.
this was definitely one of your best videos. You should do a video about track 61, and how it was once a massive freight line but is now a test track for the red line
Hey thank you, i worked hard on it so that means all! Thats funny cus im already kinda doing a video about track 61 area ane bostons old freight service
I can tell you I operated A Boston and Albany commuter train with my dad in1956 He was an Engineer for the B & A I went to work for the Metropolitan Transit Authoriy (T) in 1967 operating PCC on the highland branch
Wow!! Thats so amazing!
Great video! Can't wait for the next video!
Thank you! Me too!!
What about video 6: The A-Branch? Great video and great information! Looking forward to the other ones!
Love that idea!
Yes! The A branch should not be forgotten! Yes, Newton Corner is the worst intersection in Massachusetts, so I totally get why they didn't want trains running against traffic...but they should have at least kept it running to Oak Square. Bus replacements are always a lazy way out.
Excellent video as always, looking forward to the rest.
Other Green Line branches that are grade-separated from road traffic: the Union Square (Somerville) and Medford/Tufts branches.
With respect to reliability, arguably the Type 9s were even less reliable than the Type 8s, at least for the first few years -- less tendency to derail, but more incidences of other stuff breaking (even in the last few months, I have been on a Type 9 train showing the infamous "Call Police" signs due to an electronics/software glitch), and even now I don't see them very often (and yes, I know they are much fewer in number than the others, but even so, if they worked right, I should be seeing them more often).
MBTA's plan was the Boeing LRV's would take over the D Line, and PCCs would no long run on the D Line. But in 1978. The PCC's returned. Derailment always happen on D Line, with its twisted tracks. The Boeing LRVs had alot of crashes on D Line. The Type 8s took 9 years to fully operate on D Line
I rode the Watertown line on a fan trip using Type 5 #5734 and PCC #3295 (They’re abandoned in Boylston now) back in 1978 or 1981. Seashore Trolley Museum just got done with them and we ran the whole green line. I operated 5734 into Park St for about 200 feet.
6:04 the rail is electrified and can be seen from the commuter rail
Indeed!
Just happened on this. Used to live in Jamaica Plain section of Boston and know the Green Line well. Thanks for this history
How did the Boston & Albany surface trains access the east end i.e. where the current entrance to the tunnel is located
Go to 1:45 and you see where it joined with the current B&A (Framingham/Worcester Line).
@@erik_griswold I got that part, I was asking about the intown end. Then I just realized that this was before construction of the Mass Tpke Extension (east of 128), which did not open until 1963. So there was a surface connection to the line leading into South Station?
Yes! I spoke about it in the video, right by lansdowne station. It was called brookline junction
So well done , a terrific job.
The D Line is literally in my backyard -- just outside the Newton Highlands station. I'm looking forward to learning more about the D-Line.
Excellent narration.
Thanks!
Hopefully, we can bring back the A-branch train to Watertown SQ soon to help alleviate major traffic congestion (i.e. #57 bus in Allston VILL and/or Newton CNR).
Beth Budner, Auburndale, MA!
Oh good, I'm glad you DID!
Beth
Looking forward to all the possible videos
Great video 😊
Thanks!
I'm ready for you to dontge E line and when you do please talk about why it stop going to forest hill.
❤. great music.
Awesome!
It looks like a good line for photography.
Interesting. But why green?
I was here!!!
🙌
Famous person in the comments?
@@BostonByRails you 🫶
The E branch history
Why do they take the trains why do you take the trains out of the arborway service I wish they were back on Huntington Ave South Huntington avenue center Street like they used to be I miss those days
When the Riverside line open up the only cars that were new was the picture window cars they were rebuilt with air horns and a high beam headlight on the roof the MTA put trackless trolley coaches on the lines out of Harvard Square to free up the PCC cars out of North Cambridge the PCC cars # 3002 thru # 3021 were rebuild repainted with air horns and a high beam head light then some of the # 3200 series were rebuilt with air horns and high beam head light too so they could be mu with the Tremont cars ( # 3002 - # 3021 series ) in the early 1970’s the MBTA voted to rebuild the Riverside line for the future Boeing LRV ‘s all services ended at Cook Junction there was a loop there the line was rebuilt with new rails tied power cable a new sub station for the LRV’s in 1976 the first LRV # 3416 run from Riverside to Park Street Station at Fenway Park Station there was a freight spur that ran into the Sears main warehouse when Sears shut down the MBTA took over the spur and rebuild it to store LRV ‘s for the Red Sox season the next group of LRV ‘s to run on the Riverside line with be the Type # 10 110 foot cars ( # 4000 - # 4101 ) now being built by CAF USA INC the bodies are being built in there plant in Spain then being ship to the CAF USA Inc plant in New York what a friend of mine of mine told me that the platforms on the Riverside and the C B and E line with be rebuild to handle them he also told me that they are going to look like the Type # 9 design the first test cars will be in Boston in 2024
The caf builds are horrid looking things aren't they