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The Boston Elevated Railway opened the Main Line Elevated on June
10th, 1901, the original Orange Line. The elevated ran from Sullivan Square Charlestown
in the north, entered and then exited the Tremont Street Subway
(part of the Green Line, as parts of it has four lanes), to Dudley Street
Roxbury in the south. The above view shows the two loops for the
trolley lines, which allowed reversing direction very quickly. The
Washington Street Tunnel was opened on November 30th, 1908, ending the use
of elevated cars in the Tremont Street Subway. The line was
expanded from Dudley Street to Forest Hills in 1909, and from Sullivan
Square to Everett in 1919. During the 1970s, the elevated north side
portion to Everett was torn down and replaced with a surface line over an
old railroad right of way. In 1987, the elevated south side to Forest Hills
was also torn down and replaced with a surface line.
Milk Street Station (State Street)
A view of Milk Street
Station looking south. Opened in 1909, the Washington Street Tunnel allowed swift
north/south transit through downtown Boston. The tunnel travels directly under
Washington Street. An interesting fact is that Washington Street is
relatively narrow, and to "cut and cover" a tunnel, the north and south
"tubes" are at different offset levels (to avoid stacking them on top of
each other). The stations have two separate parts, and originally each
platform had its own name such as Milk/State (now State), and Union/Friend (now Haymarket). Casual dress is just 90 years away!
Old City Square Station
A view of City Square Charlestown looking north on the
Charlestown Bridge. The station is on the upper right with a southbound
train stopped in the station. The steel Charlestown Bridge still
stands at Causeway and North Washington Streets, near the Fleet Center.
It has two "extra" auto lanes, where the "El" used to cross. It is safe to say
that a lot of young children did not like riding the "El" over the bridge, as
passengers could look down to the auto deck, and then even further to the river
below. There was a sharp 90 degree turn (and a rail switching tower) on the Boston side, which caused great screeching
of the cars at the bridge. Most of the old "El" stations were beautifully
designed, clad with copper sheathing, of which City Square was a fine
example.
Old Sullivan Square Terminal
A view of Sullivan
Square Station in Charlestown. The building was a terminal for many
northern surface trolley lines, and later bus lines. Sullivan Square
was a bustling place, as passengers would depart the elevated cars, and then
walk to one of many trolley berths. The building housed the offices of
the Boston Elevated Railway for many years, builder of the Main Line. View
elevated photos.
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