Wow. That brings back so many memories. I have moved out of Boston 15 years ago. And let me tell you something. The grass is not greener on the other-side. I miss my city more than anything else that anyone could give me. So.lokk around and enjoy our wonderful and magical city. Trust me, there is nothing like this anywhere. I love my city of Boston....
How often I made that ride back in the 60's and 70's. Going into Boston was always an exciting journey, whether just over to the Garden, or heading downtown to Jordan Marsh. Going back home, was not as exciting, as Charlestown was such an eyesore. Getting off at Sullivan, walking across the cross walk and down to the "neck" and then walking back home past Schraff's… Thanks for the memories.
Stood at that front door many times. On a Christmas Eve during a snow storm it took four hours on a super packed train to go from Sullivan to Essex. We were sitting on a curve in Charlestown with a cemetery staring up at me from the exit door and we were leaning pretty good when my dad said " I think it's going to fall over" I got to work just in time to turn around to go home for the half day. Sold papers as a kid at North Station . The Cadillac's would pull up to buy the paper late at night and hand me a buck for the daily that may have been a quarter. The Stop and Shop bakery was on the left as the train left North Station . That food was great right out of the ovens. Those were the days.
Great film, thanks for showing it. I remember it well. Riding this El, particularly on gray, cold winter weekends, it always felt like a time-trip back to the 1930's, especially at Sullivan Sq. Station. Decrepit, dark, lit just with hanging light bulbs, old. Still, it was always a cool ride..
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!
This is really rare footage! Very few posts of the northern end of the elevated And this is the only one I have seen of the original Sullivan Square sta. Always felt Sullivan Square was underappreciated as a transit station. Thank you
Too bad they took that down. It was as if Boston was part of an exclusive club of American cities with steel elevated railways. NYC, Chicago, and Philadelphia still have theirs. I'm from Brooklyn where driving and shopping under the rumbling els is part of life.
UNFRIGGIN BELIEVABLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME WARP BACK TO THE GOOD OLE DAYS OF THE "EL". MISS THAT "SONG" ON THE S.BOUND SIDE GOING INTO SULLIVAN.
This all came down shortly before I was born, so I've only ever really seen what it looks like now. It is shockingly unlike the modern area (although I'm sure Steve Wynn would have appreciated having an Orange Line connection to his front door).
were you a motorman Richard??? What a gift and service you've provided us all with this great video!!! Born in 1981 and have been a railfan and mbta nut my whole life, and would give anything to have seen this gem of Boston in action, really is a shame what has happened to Boston post big dig, imo losing the Garden and these works of architecture on the T was a huge loss to the city and whenever I see Causeway Street now, the Charlestown Bridge, the new "Garden" etc I feel like I am looking at picture with missing objects in it, almost like Boston lost a piece of it's heart...why tear down anything like this to replace with something else??? We should be building upon our existing rail system to save gas money, not shrinking it or taking parts of it away from communities that could use it like Dorchester, Washington Street, even Charlestown...Chicago couldn't be imagined without its Elevated and neither can Boston in IMO
I hear and feel you: folks just don't appreciate until it's too late, here in NYC we have to have meetings in order to finish planned transit projects before depression and recession took over our minds, BUT we can afford condominiums in a single bound calling it affordable housing or Christlikemindedness to get blessed 😠
What time of year was this? The grainy, faded nature of the footage suggests there might've been some residual snow on rooftops and cars, but perhaps that's just the lighting?
The 01100 class rolling stock were the best! quiet, simple, rugged, and reliable. USA made by Pullman Standard. they were in better shape when retired than the 01200s in 2016
the tower at the corner of north washington st and causway st seen in the video after it leaves north station heading towards city square is actually up at the seashore trolley musem! interesting to note that when they removed Everett Station who would've thought all those years later a casino would be built in that area!!!
i just typed in mbta and all kinds of vids came up i was also amazed as to how many abandoned subway tunnels there are in boston right now..do a search on abandoned subway tunnels (not on youtube use yahoo or google) in boston there seem to be alot more than i thought there would be. check out images.
Look back at it, at least the Charlestown's replacement, the Line to Oak Grove which runs along the Reading/Haverhill Commuter Line kind duplicated the old el except for Everette Station which I heard was very light on ridership. Assembly Square Station opened with bus that run to Everette so it kinda makes up for that. The compele Southwest Elevated shouldn't have beeen torn down. They moved the line too far from Washington Street. I understand they were following the canceled I-95 path but that's a whole neighborhood skipped with only the end point in somehwat of it's original spot. (Moved underground.)
@@zackboone15 People in Roxbury actually didn’t want the EL to come down. There’s even video of it. People in Roxbury still to this day say they miss the elevated Orange Line. People in New York would never tear down their elevated trains and lose that beautiful view of the city. Boston was stupid to lose that.
That was not the orange line. That was the Green line from where it came out of the tunnel after Haymarket, going by the old Boston Garden and across the Charles to Lechmere.
No, definitely Orange line side. Both Orange and Green stopped at Haymarket and North Station. The Orange line went right after the North Station stop the Green line went left past the front of the Garden.
I always hated the Orange line. Especially the vulgar smell of stale urine of the old wooden weather shelter at City square. For a more in-depth nostalgic look at old City square in color check out the opening scene of the movie FUZZ. A early 70s screen jem starring Burt Reynolds and Raquel Welch.
Jay Voke the El was AWSOME. Some of us looked forward to the smell of piss and Cigarette butts. It meant you were on the El or close to it. It was the same smell as the men’s room at the Old Boston Gahden. Miss them both dearly. Piss , butts and everything.
Wow. That brings back so many memories. I have moved out of Boston 15 years ago. And let me tell you something. The grass is not greener on the other-side. I miss my city more than anything else that anyone could give me. So.lokk around and enjoy our wonderful and magical city. Trust me, there is nothing like this anywhere. I love my city of Boston....
How often I made that ride back in the 60's and 70's. Going into Boston was always an exciting journey, whether just over to the Garden, or heading downtown to Jordan Marsh. Going back home, was not as exciting, as Charlestown was such an eyesore. Getting off at Sullivan, walking across the cross walk and down to the "neck" and then walking back home past Schraff's… Thanks for the memories.
Stood at that front door many times. On a Christmas Eve during a snow storm it took four hours on a super packed train to go from Sullivan to Essex. We were sitting on a curve in Charlestown with a cemetery staring up at me from the exit door and we were leaning pretty good when my dad said " I think it's going to fall over" I got to work just in time to turn around to go home for the half day. Sold papers as a kid at North Station . The Cadillac's would pull up to buy the paper late at night and hand me a buck for the daily that may have been a quarter. The Stop and Shop bakery was on the left as the train left North Station . That food was great right out of the ovens. Those were the days.
I rode this line from Forest Hills to Everett where I took a trackless trolley to Malden in the late 50's and early 60's.
I did the same and when i got to Malden Square, I got on the Service Bus Line out to Saugus, Where i grew up.
What a view we used to get on The old Orange line..It was simply beautiful.
Great film, thanks for showing it. I remember it well. Riding this El, particularly on gray, cold winter weekends, it always felt like a time-trip back to the 1930's, especially at Sullivan Sq. Station. Decrepit, dark, lit just with hanging light bulbs, old. Still, it was always a cool ride..
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 was 15 and remember riding those rails...rolls back the years doesn't it folks
Used to ride this Orange line from Everett to Forest Hills. when I was a Kid , for 25 cents and for Saturday entertainment.
Hi Jack, I'm glad I wasn't the only one but I remember when it was only 10 cents. My cousin and I would do the same thing and we had a blast.
@@arlfred0508 That's great. Happy to hear from someone who also has great memories of the old elevated Orange Line. Thanks for commenting.
My house was 72.5 feet from the orange line. My friends would say “how an you sleep with those trains?” I would say “what planes?”
i remember that well going to city square to get a bus to chelsea and the smell of the bakery at north station...
I used to live in Charlestown and I used to hear about the El. I always wondered what it must have been like. Feel like I just found a time machine!
This is really rare footage! Very few posts of the northern end of the elevated And this is the only one I have seen of the original Sullivan Square sta. Always felt Sullivan Square was underappreciated as a transit station. Thank you
Thanks this brought back many a memories. It was nice taking a ride in the past
Ed
Ed Poste is this the same Ed Poste that worked at ACME PRINTING ? This is Smitty
Too bad they took that down. It was as if Boston was part of an exclusive club of American cities with steel elevated railways. NYC, Chicago, and Philadelphia still have theirs. I'm from Brooklyn where driving and shopping under the rumbling els is part of life.
UNFRIGGIN BELIEVABLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME WARP BACK TO THE GOOD OLE DAYS OF THE "EL". MISS THAT "SONG" ON THE S.BOUND SIDE GOING INTO SULLIVAN.
Thank you for this memory.
Lorraine
Thanks for posting. This is a part of Boston history I never experienced.
Really nice memories though, very nice :)
I fimed it with my old 8mm camera when I knew the elevated was going to be tornn down
This all came down shortly before I was born, so I've only ever really seen what it looks like now. It is shockingly unlike the modern area (although I'm sure Steve Wynn would have appreciated having an Orange Line connection to his front door).
were you a motorman Richard??? What a gift and service you've provided us all with this great video!!! Born in 1981 and have been a railfan and mbta nut my whole life, and would give anything to have seen this gem of Boston in action, really is a shame what has happened to Boston post big dig, imo losing the Garden and these works of architecture on the T was a huge loss to the city and whenever I see Causeway Street now, the Charlestown Bridge, the new "Garden" etc I feel like I am looking at picture with missing objects in it, almost like Boston lost a piece of it's heart...why tear down anything like this to replace with something else??? We should be building upon our existing rail system to save gas money, not shrinking it or taking parts of it away from communities that could use it like Dorchester, Washington Street, even Charlestown...Chicago couldn't be imagined without its Elevated and neither can Boston in IMO
I hear and feel you: folks just don't appreciate until it's too late, here in NYC we have to have meetings in order to finish planned transit projects before depression and recession took over our minds, BUT we can afford condominiums in a single bound calling it affordable housing or Christlikemindedness to get blessed 😠
What time of year was this? The grainy, faded nature of the footage suggests there might've been some residual snow on rooftops and cars, but perhaps that's just the lighting?
@@HayastAnFedayi Not a motorman. Just someone that wanted to capture something I used commuting to Boston for many years.
The 01100 class rolling stock were the best! quiet, simple, rugged, and reliable. USA made by Pullman Standard. they were in better shape when retired than the 01200s in 2016
the tower at the corner of north washington st and causway st seen in the video after it leaves north station heading towards city square is actually up at the seashore trolley musem! interesting to note that when they removed Everett Station who would've thought all those years later a casino would be built in that area!!!
Just before the elevated train entered Sullivan Square station, there was a trackside sign advising the motorman to "WATCH THE SLIDE".
I recently saw a stub of one of the support beams on the alford st (rt99) rotary.
i just typed in mbta and all kinds of vids came up i was also amazed as to how many abandoned subway tunnels there are in boston right now..do a search on abandoned subway tunnels (not on youtube use yahoo or google) in boston there seem to be alot more than i thought there would be. check out images.
A scene from the 1955 film Six Bridges To Cross was filmed on the el station
I miss the Boston Elevateds
Thank you!
I rode this line as far as Sullivan Station
i never rode the orange line elevated from haymarket to everett cause i wasn't born yet when it was in service
It was called North Station and not Haymarket. Station. Haymarket was a major bus terminal.
i take a bus from lynn to haymarket then orange line to sullivan every day and let me tell you...wow
Great post!
How did you find this? These kind of cool videos are kinda rare! :)
isn't the opening few seconds north station?
Yup. The old Boston Garden/North Station.
Ah yes, the OTHER Orange Line Elevated.
:( It's so sad they took it down! Stupid!!!
Look back at it, at least the Charlestown's replacement, the Line to Oak Grove which runs along the Reading/Haverhill Commuter Line kind duplicated the old el except for Everette Station which I heard was very light on ridership. Assembly Square Station opened with bus that run to Everette so it kinda makes up for that. The compele Southwest Elevated shouldn't have beeen torn down. They moved the line too far from Washington Street. I understand they were following the canceled I-95 path but that's a whole neighborhood skipped with only the end point in somehwat of it's original spot. (Moved underground.)
The residents of Charlestown at the time disagreed with you. Most of them considered it a blight on the Main St. corridor.
The people in Roxbury said the same thing, but look what they got now. Ladies and gentlemen, the Silver Lie.
@@zackboone15 People in Roxbury actually didn’t want the EL to come down. There’s even video of it. People in Roxbury still to this day say they miss the elevated Orange Line. People in New York would never tear down their elevated trains and lose that beautiful view of the city. Boston was stupid to lose that.
good thing.
Everywhere On Teddy Bear
I weekend bullgang
A Clown Bonne Cruusher
9 2%%🎄🎄
J And Do What
that's not EVERET STATION it's SULLIVAN STATION. The ugliest building in Somerville, Ma :)
william francis Collett i thought Old Sullivan Station was in Charlestown ? No ?!
Definitely Charlestown.
Family Alabama Strongg Johnson Didn't School Selfish 🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆
?
That was not the orange line. That was the Green line from where it came out of the tunnel after Haymarket, going by the old Boston Garden and across the Charles to Lechmere.
No, definitely Orange line side. Both Orange and Green stopped at Haymarket and North Station. The Orange line went right after the North Station stop the Green line went left past the front of the Garden.
Positively The Orange line El.I heard the squeaking Wheels going around the corner onto North Washington Street/ Rutherford Ave. 😂😂😂😂
Looks.like.dudley.and.wash.
I always hated the Orange line. Especially the vulgar smell of stale urine of the old wooden weather shelter at City square. For a more in-depth nostalgic look at old City square in color check out the opening scene of the movie FUZZ. A early 70s screen jem starring Burt Reynolds and Raquel Welch.
Jay Voke the El was AWSOME. Some of us looked forward to the smell of piss and Cigarette butts. It meant you were on the El or close to it. It was the same smell as the men’s room at the Old Boston Gahden. Miss them both dearly. Piss , butts and everything.
JAY JOKE, MOMMY STILL CUTTING THE CRUST OFF YOUR SANDWICHES ! SEMPER FI.
I do remember it but barely