Ah yes, the dearly departed Orange Line Elevated. Thanks for uploading this. You can tell this was from early 1987. At about 3:53 (when the focus is on the Red Fez sign), you can hear "Living On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi playing in the background. That tune was the #1 song in the country during most of February that year. You captured the Elevated during its final few months. The new underground Orange Line stops would open May 4, and the last of the old elevated track would be torn down later on.
Really excellent stuff, and thanks for posting it. I took the ride many times - both directions, and both termini - and had forgotten so many of the landmarks yuo showed. The ambient sound - traffic, music of the time, etc. - adds great color and nostalgic value. Really, THANKS!
I look and l cry 😢 because the orange line was a wonderful thing for kid to go on. I live in the south end for a long time. Some things wen I get on the orange line I didn't pay. I was 5 years old. Going down town. Os it was a good thing. Thankyou for your time today And have a wonderful day.
Thank you so much, Peter, for posting this movie! This is so good, of the old EL trains being filmed from the sides and the cars and traffic on Washington Street
Listening to what was playing on the radio while this person was recording the video, Breakfast Club - Right on Track, Vesta - Once Bitten Twice Shy, and Living On A prayer to name a few is surreal. Although I'm very nostalgic for "The El", it was really an eye sore. When it came down Washington street looked so bright and clean!
Hey Thanks for posting this. But the you left out the best part! Dudley Square, where the train looked like it would tip over and the noise it made. I appreciate this though.
This was done with a VHS-C camcorder. It had no portrait setting. I have no idea how this video ended up looking like this. I posted it years ago. I need to find the original copy and see what that looks like. There should be a mpeg2 file around here somewhere. I did transfer the tapes to digital files. Curious.
Wow, such memories. It's hard to watch as I sit in my nice suburban home where there are no street lights or power lines. I grew up near JP High and remember getting nervous when it was quiet. This shows how gritty life was and its part of the person that I am. It's not a Disney movie and those of us who see the angles and constantly look over our shoulder have that environment to thank for making us more aware of what's going on. KISS played Wishing on A Star every Sat at noon w Uncle Dale
Yep me too - stabbed twice - gun at my head a few times and I boxed out of Jeremy's (and the Y basement). Boston had lots of dive bars and rooming houses back then. I was living right on the EL when the very last train ran by my window late that night (April '87) and I remember thinking, I gotta remember this night. Had trouble sleeping for about a week after that - maybe just missing the late night trains or the ones that started super early (just after 5:15am).
Loved the video, I used to take the orange line from Essex station to egelelston sta in Jamaica plain. Great memories. Thanks Great video and Great content 👍
@littlelostnebula wondering the same thing. The "Reno" style escalators CANNOT be found on a youtube video anywhere (if anyone can prove us wrong, PLEASE DO SO). Boston was the last place to have them, and either South Station, Harvard Square, or Downtown Crossing was the last hold-out. It was supposed to go to the Smithsonian, but due to budget problems and stuff....it didn't happen! :-(
I remember dodging car puddles as I walked home on Washington St from Forest Hills station. You had to be on your toes!. When they tore down the tracks the bus stop was in the big parking lot across from Hughes Oil.
@2012alexg Actually it is the E line. There used to be tracks along Washington street south of the Forest Hills sta. to the Arborway yard where the old PCCs that ran on the Arborway line were stored. Busses were also stored there. If I ever finish photoshopping these pictures, my first slide show post will have old Arborway yard pics.
Totally classic. Good job. I was a rider. I remember Skippy Whites Records as it crossed Mass ave. I love all of Bostons trains. I rode what my dad called the "Curley Cars" on the Green line, when it used to go all the way to the Arboretum in JP. Last time I saw one of those run was in Mattapan Dorchester.
@sieman700 yes. they were the Flyer D901s indeed, they were retired in 1994/95 when the 0-series RTSs came, and bus 8415 remained in service until the 0400-500 Neoplan buses came along in 2004/05
Seems like nobody took shots on the north side of the city. Sullivan square was a really cool station and I saw them filming a movie with Raquel Welch in City Sq Charlestown as my train stopped at the station. Got to say the streets looked pretty rough and neglected under that El . Third world not world class.
I wished they left the Orange Line the way it was but instead of demolishing it just add the other line as an additional service. The silver line is so slow and pointless. Also because they tore down the Orange Line I-95 doesn't run through Boston which is why I-93 is always a headache to drive on. Back in the 80's before they were considering tearing down the Orange Line the state was going to use that money to have I-95 run through Boston and a I-695 Beltway similar to NJs Garden State Parkway
Because when the T relocated the Orange Line to the Southwest Corridor, they were forced to promise a return of some sort of "rapid transit" to Washington Street in the future.
the old fashion wooden wscalators were at egealston (If spelled right.) station, and they were steep as fuck! If you sliped on them you would slide straight down and take a lot of people with you. None of them were in town. And downtown crossing was called Washington street, dover station is now back bay, mass ave was north hampton, dudley is now ruggles, egealston is roxbury crossing, and the rest from there are the same as always.
Benjamin Chan From what I've heard its an extension of a hospital that was smaller in the 80s. I'll have to look back on Google Maps just to make sure though.
You're right Matt. The old El train entered at about Oak Street (between Washington and Ash) and went on to stop Exeter Street. Tracks leading to it were there for years, but finally got removed when the new Tufts Medcal Center complex (that I think you were talking about) got built. Though, it was called The New England Medical Center back then).
Really excellent stuff, and thanks for posting it. I took the ride many times - both directions, and both termini - and had forgotten so many of the landmarks yuo showed. The ambient sound - traffic, music of the time, etc. - adds great color and nostalgic value. Really, THANKS!
Ah yes, the dearly departed Orange Line Elevated. Thanks for uploading this. You can tell this was from early 1987. At about 3:53 (when the focus is on the Red Fez sign), you can hear "Living On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi playing in the background. That tune was the #1 song in the country during most of February that year. You captured the Elevated during its final few months. The new underground Orange Line stops would open May 4, and the last of the old elevated track would be torn down later on.
Really excellent stuff, and thanks for posting it. I took the ride many times - both directions, and both termini - and had forgotten so many of the landmarks yuo showed. The ambient sound - traffic, music of the time, etc. - adds great color and nostalgic value. Really, THANKS!
I look and l cry 😢 because the orange line was a wonderful thing for kid to go on.
I live in the south end for a long time.
Some things wen I get on the orange line I didn't pay.
I was 5 years old.
Going down town.
Os it was a good thing.
Thankyou for your time today And have a wonderful day.
Thank you so much, Peter, for posting this movie! This is so good, of the old EL trains being filmed from the sides and the cars and traffic on Washington Street
I used to travel the Orange Line in Boston back in those days. Thanks for posting.
as a Boston Native this brings back so many great memories
same here
passing skippy white records
Man, they should've kept it elevated. It was nice riding the Orange line overlooking the Roxbury through South End. It was an amazing view above.
Listening to what was playing on the radio while this person was recording the video, Breakfast Club - Right on Track, Vesta - Once Bitten Twice Shy, and Living On A prayer to name a few is surreal. Although I'm very nostalgic for "The El", it was really an eye sore. When it came down Washington street looked so bright and clean!
Hey Thanks for posting this. But the you left out the best part! Dudley Square, where the train looked like it would tip over and the noise it made. I appreciate this though.
Yep. so true - I remember the same feeling as it approached Dudley, like it was gonna tip right over. Kinda of a cool memory huh?
Even in 1987 people filmed in portrait :)
This was done with a VHS-C camcorder. It had no portrait setting. I have no idea how this video ended up looking like this. I posted it years ago. I need to find the original copy and see what that looks like. There should be a mpeg2 file around here somewhere. I did transfer the tapes to digital files. Curious.
Wow, such memories. It's hard to watch as I sit in my nice suburban home where there are no street lights or power lines. I grew up near JP High and remember getting nervous when it was quiet. This shows how gritty life was and its part of the person that I am. It's not a Disney movie and those of us who see the angles and constantly look over our shoulder have that environment to thank for making us more aware of what's going on. KISS played Wishing on A Star every Sat at noon w Uncle Dale
Damn Right Boston was a dirty scary place back then
Yep me too - stabbed twice - gun at my head a few times and I boxed out of Jeremy's (and the Y basement). Boston had lots of dive bars and rooming houses back then. I was living right on the EL when the very last train ran by my window late that night (April '87) and I remember thinking, I gotta remember this night. Had trouble sleeping for about a week after that - maybe just missing the late night trains or the ones that started super early (just after 5:15am).
Loved the video, I used to take the orange line from Essex station to egelelston sta in Jamaica plain. Great memories. Thanks Great video and Great content 👍
Great stuff peter, bring back memories, keep up the good job
loved growing up in Roxbury
I love the old New England telephone van at 2:34
Washington Street station had wooden slats in the escalators. There was one that went from Chauncey Street down two flights to the station.
@littlelostnebula wondering the same thing. The "Reno" style escalators CANNOT be found on a youtube video anywhere (if anyone can prove us wrong, PLEASE DO SO). Boston was the last place to have them, and either South Station, Harvard Square, or Downtown Crossing was the last hold-out. It was supposed to go to the Smithsonian, but due to budget problems and stuff....it didn't happen! :-(
I remember dodging car puddles as I walked home on Washington St from Forest Hills station. You had to be on your toes!. When they tore down the tracks the bus stop was in the big parking lot across from Hughes Oil.
@2012alexg Actually it is the E line. There used to be tracks along Washington street south of the Forest Hills sta. to the Arborway yard where the old PCCs that ran on the Arborway line were stored. Busses were also stored there. If I ever finish photoshopping these pictures, my first slide show post will have old Arborway yard pics.
This footage has the St. Elsewhere - esque feel to it completely.
Totally classic. Good job. I was a rider. I remember Skippy Whites Records as it crossed Mass ave. I love all of Bostons trains. I rode what my dad called the "Curley Cars" on the Green line, when it used to go all the way to the Arboretum in JP. Last time I saw one of those run was in Mattapan Dorchester.
3:00-3:20 (starting roughly around 3:10, albeit at a different angle and a wider shot) was used in the Season 1 opening theme for St. Elsewhere.
boston elevated orange line was back in the 80s
2:34 New England Telephone Van :)
@sieman700 yes. they were the Flyer D901s indeed, they were retired in 1994/95 when the 0-series RTSs came, and bus 8415 remained in service until the 0400-500 Neoplan buses came along in 2004/05
Seems like nobody took shots on the north side of the city. Sullivan square was a really cool station and I saw them filming a movie with Raquel Welch in City Sq Charlestown as my train stopped at the station. Got to say the streets looked pretty rough and neglected under that El . Third world not world class.
It looks a lot like the 1 train on Broadway in The Bronx
wow any one remember the old fashioned wooden escalators?
I wished they left the Orange Line the way it was but instead of demolishing it just add the other line as an additional service. The silver line is so slow and pointless. Also because they tore down the Orange Line I-95 doesn't run through Boston which is why I-93 is always a headache to drive on. Back in the 80's before they were considering tearing down the Orange Line the state was going to use that money to have I-95 run through Boston and a I-695 Beltway similar to NJs Garden State Parkway
Was the El ever rebuilt during its operation? Cause if it wasn't I'm beginning to wonder if those cars could've ran on the Third Avenue El in NY.
They should have saved every old project. That way we would have better transportation and bigger transportation.
OMG! that was the Cathedral!
The entrance to Forest Hills station reeked of booze, whino piss, and diesel fumes. A great place to grow up!
No doubt
Because when the T relocated the Orange Line to the Southwest Corridor, they were forced to promise a return of some sort of "rapid transit" to Washington Street in the future.
@adelgado75 The platforms were also not long enough for 6-car trains.
The boston ma tv cop show took place on the old orange line spencer for hire back in 1987
how oftern did the bums keel over and short out the 3rd rail ?
the old fashion wooden wscalators were at egealston (If spelled right.) station, and they were steep as fuck! If you sliped on them you would slide straight down and take a lot of people with you. None of them were in town. And downtown crossing was called Washington street, dover station is now back bay, mass ave was north hampton, dudley is now ruggles, egealston is roxbury crossing, and the rest from there are the same as always.
I remember those days :-)
Nice video!
I remembered Dover Station.
Why did they tear down part of this line?
Got any more footage of old. Boston??
a lot of people are shallow when it comes to history...
My friend Barry told me they used to call this the Terror Train
Esp as it approached Dudley cause it felt like it was gonna tip right over.
Where is that location in Boston in 4:15? Is it still there or parts of it?
Benjamin Chan Thats the tunnel portal for the El. There's a building there now so its covered up unfortunately
History of it is interesting. Do you happen to know what present-day building stands on the el tunnel portal?
Benjamin Chan From what I've heard its an extension of a hospital that was smaller in the 80s. I'll
have to look back on Google Maps just to make sure though.
You're right Matt. The old El train entered at about Oak Street (between Washington and Ash) and went on to stop Exeter Street. Tracks leading to it were there for years, but finally got removed when the new Tufts Medcal Center complex (that I think you were talking about) got built. Though, it was called The New England Medical Center back then).
3 boston ma tv shows in the 1970s and the 1980s
The friends of eddy coyel spencer for hire and venicheck
hey i was born in MASS ,.
Really excellent stuff, and thanks for posting it. I took the ride many times - both directions, and both termini - and had forgotten so many of the landmarks yuo showed. The ambient sound - traffic, music of the time, etc. - adds great color and nostalgic value. Really, THANKS!