⁴ᴷ⁶⁰ Exploring Boston's Orange Line - Featuring both Old and New Trains

The Orange Line is one of the four subway lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. It extends from Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain, Boston in the south to Oak Grove in Malden in the north.
The current fleet is a mix of #12 type cars built between 1979 and 1981 by Hawker Siddeley Canada of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, and brand-new #14 type cars built by CRRC. Enjoy!
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Taken in May 2022.

[@Stezworld]

Those old subway cars looks like from Eastern Europe more specific the USSR era.

[@nancyoffenhiser4916]

They do have a nice Communist ring to them don't they..

[@IlDiavolo2515]

I thought the same thing.

[@erik_griswold]

They are Canadian, using the same design as the PATH trains from the same era.

[@bandvitromania9642]

True like those sardine cans of a subway

[@Benasorus]

They remind me of the old Bucharest cars. Especially with the air assisted doors closing at different speeds lol

[@PaulsDMVRailroadsandAviation]

As a former Boston-area native, I’m disappointed that I moved away a few years before the new cars entered service. Great video!

[@bdpopeye]

Wow! those old Orange line cars have been rode hard and put up wet. I see some bad corrosion on those cars. Happy that MTBA is replacing them. I hope the newer ones get better care.

[@Clavichordist]

The salt eats everything.

[@bdpopeye]

@@Clavichordist So true. I served with the US Navy for 20 years.

[@Rudy57]

I hear noises that indicate flat parts on the wheels, that's poor maintenance.. Salt and Rust ? Trams in The Hague (Netherlands) are literally metres from the seaside and they don't have rust like that.. Pity, these trains look really nice and reliable

[@Clavichordist]

@@Rudy57 Poor maintenance is not unheard of by the MBTA. You may have the salt air as well but are your trams left outdoors? We also have the salted roads and a lot of rain and snow which doesn't help the situation either. Like many automobiles in New England, this wreaks havoc on the metal parts. Autos rot out around the wheel wells and undersides quite often and exhaust systems are found dead all over the roads in the winter months. These units though are quite old I think dating back to the 1980s, so they've been around the route a few times and are being replaced as you saw. It could be that these are on their last legs because they're ready to go to the scrapper anyway.

[@Rudy57]

@@Clavichordist yes of course, you're right. Trams are parked inside in The Hague. Winters here are extremely mild nowadays, but salt is still used when snow or frost is expected. 1980's : yeah that's a long period active period. Usually, equipment here is replaced after 30 years of service (with exceptions..)

[@snackwrap2011]

Fun fact old orange line cars have the r68 hvac 😍 when they start up

[@syeet1234]

I rode these trains on my commute every day, they’re not bad to ride .

[@Clavichordist]

I did as well. They were the newest but are the smallest of the subway cars too and were always crowded.

[@armanimitchell6227]

The Older Cars have a charm to them

[@Pauley_in_GP]

It's been over 50 years since I rode the Orange Line on a regular basis, usually from Egleston or Dudley to downtown. I don't even recognize many of the stations. (Ruggles?) I remember when the old, dark gray, boxy pre-60s cars were replaced. The new ones seemed so futuristic. I know funding for public transportation must be challenging these days, but some of those cars sure are way beyond their expiration date. It's embarrassing that a "'cosmopolitan" city like Boston with millions of visitors a year let them deteriorate so much. So glad they are being replaced. Thanks for the video.

[@duvidl]

I've just been watching videos of the Chicago "L" and am very impressed . I rode on the MTA and then the MBTA and then the "T" and I'm sorry to see those Orange line cars in such an ugly state.

[@interstellarphred]

No one loses elections fucking over transit users.

[@hoonami139]

Ha, great timings. I always wanted to ride these cars and finally did this past Sunday for the first time.

[@coreyblack116]

Those poor old cars! Looks like they put just enough effort into them to keep in service until the new rolling stock is fully operational.

[@nancyoffenhiser4916]

I remember those old cars...ugh.....sexy new cars! ❤️💯❤️

[@scottyerkes1867]

Interesting comparison of old and new orange line subway cars. My rides on the Boston subway were early 1960s. Thanks for DJHammets😀😀💚💚

[@FIatIined]

Whoa! Those trains at the start of this video reminds me of the old PATH back in the 80s.

[@kevinwong6588]

They are based on the 1972 PA3 (also by Hawker Siddeley), in turn based on the 1965 St. Louis PA1.

[@AnotherTruth]

I really loved your video. Thank you so much. I have so many fond memories as a child, riding on the red line especially through Charles Street station. I always liked emerging from that tunnel is the wall diminishes and have a beautiful ride over the Charles and then going back into Cambridge with the wall ascending as you approached the tunnel. Fun times

[@291281]

Awesome video Dj Hammers

[@timosha21]

Great video! Love the train! Choo choo!

[@awesomeconservative]

Love it.

[@alejandromorban-calcorzi3055]

I lived in Boston from 1993 till 1997 when I was a teenager. And they really let the old Orange line trains go. They were only about 10 years old when I first moved there and looked go. But now wow. The new trains look great…

[@railfanlondonwhaley9521]

I enjoyed that video 👍👍

[@pillcosby546]

6:46 Name a creepier subway train I’ll wait

[@YvesAlexandre]

I remember when the Orange Line was elevated. I remember when the old rolling stock was new.

[@Clavichordist]

I do too and rode parts of it over the years until it was removed in the 1970s. I also got a ride up front looking through the front door when I was around 6 years old. My dad took me into work with him and then brought me for the ride. We took the trolley from Prudential to Park Street where we then walked the connector tunnel to Washington Street (it wasn't Downtown Crossing then) and then we rode the Orange line all the way to Forest Hills and back to Sullivan Square. I got to stand up front and look down the line from a motorman's point of view. The Sullivan Square station was the original Sullivan Square station with the glass trainshed and loops. We ended there because we had to get back to North Station for our commuter trip home. We rode on the old Budd Liners back then back to Bradford. Going in that day, there were still engines parked at the Lawrence turntable which is long gone now. I still remember that trip which occurred more than 55 years ago now.

[@erik_griswold]

@@Clavichordist The Elevated through Charlestown was closed in the 1970s. The part through the South End to Roxbury and Forest Hills was in use until 1987.

[@Clavichordist]

@@erik_griswold That's right. I misstated that in my comment. A girlfriend of mine and I visited her grandmother who lived near Dudley Square around 1984. My girlfriend had never taken the Elevated to visit her grandmother and only had ridden in a car with her dad. Being familiar with the T, we parked at Lechmere and made our way through the system.

[@railfanlondonwhaley9521]

I enjoyed the video

[@MiketheNerdRanger]

Man those old cars look old as dirt. Corrosion, squeeling brakes, the works.

[@catherine4635]

I miss them so much 🥺😢 it was my childhood 😭🎉❤

[@Cerby1979]

Still using the old trains because while the system has some of the new trains in service, many of the new sets to arrive from CRRC have been delayed both orange and red lines.

[@armanimitchell6227]

They should have completely Overhauled the Sidney Hawkers Car's, the new Stock Design..... Is On the Fence

[@PositiveRateAv]

Sadly with the MBTA being deep into the deal with CRRC the 1400s and 1900s are here to stay

[@user-hf1fg1pe5o]

I enjoyed video

[@tonymento7460]

The best cars that the MTA & MBTA had was the # 01100 series built by Pullman - Standard of Worcester, Massachusetts these were the last cars to be built there Pullman closed this plant and move it to its main plant in Chicago, IL these cars were replaced by the # 01200 - # 01319 built by Hawker of Canada

[@interstellarphred]

The 01100's were in much better shape when prematurely retired than the '12s as well.

[@ciffs84pintura6]

Me encanta 👏 saludos

[@alpapillon4642]

I noticed at 5:50 and again at 11:55 there are two platforms on either side of the single track. At 5:59 it looks like the platform on the right may not be in use (no yellow safety makers in the platform edge) But at Sullivan Square (11:55) doors on both side of the train were open. What's going on?

[@patleung4176]

Those doors are a little frightening when they close. Not gonna lie.

[@hollywoodhiggins1576]

I probably taken the orange like 3 times!

[@Northeast_Railfanner]

The New cars sound like the M7 and a little bit like the R211 when they pull in, and they sound like the R179 and a little bit like the R160B Siemens when they pull out

[@yamtenorio]

The old trains sound like an R68!

[@banksrail]

They have the same hvac system.

[@anonymous3738]

The northbound platform at stations between Wellington and Community College could be demolished since they’re unnecessary.

[@youtubestreetspodcast]

Been riding this my whole life. RonnieBlueeyes

[@davidpanton3192]

Do thry trally need to abbreviate Forest? It looks like First!

[@eddie_alabama7997]

Hey you made it out of Mattapan alive!

[@jordanplays-transitandgame1690]

LOL

[@luislaplume8261]

The PCC L trains of 1957 in Boston did not have screeching when they breaked.

[@nickhiscock8948]

those older trains really need a major overhaul. some of them were rusting out. not a good look for the metro. The new trains are much nicer despite very similar external design to the older trains. Are the new trains going to replace all of the old trains?

[@citylover94]

Yes they replacing the entire old fleet and actually increasing the overall fleet so they can provide more service

[@user-qh7lg5ky4j]

6:48 I have been to that station blackbaby

[@user-hf1fg1pe5o]

I love Old and New Trains

[@armanimitchell6227]

Old Cars Ran 40+ Ran Smoothly. The newer car's had Several Issues

[@erik_griswold]

How delayed are the CRRC cars again?

[@casmatt99]

By several years now

[@rongodfrey3044]

I like the orange line but the old cars gotta go

[@Mordicai372]

It’s kinda of sad they retired

[@VibeWithMine]

the new CRRC trains have so many problems same with the new Hong Kong train (Q-Train, C-Train, S-Train

[@conxeptnyc_]

Damn these cars are old

[@eddingtonrailroading]

What station is that at 3:48

[@kenmills4739]

@Eddington Railroading Jackson Square because Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts Avenue, and Ruggles Street were already shown, also Green Street and Stony Brook are straightaway tracks where one can see only one of the two stations (Green Street) from Amtrak/MBTA commuter rail: this is along the infamous controversial Southwest Corridor that started out as a railroad line running on a raised embankment, then it was reconstructed into an open cut throughout preparing to become a highway extension for I•95/695- -but the surrounding communities protested against it, funds were transferred to finish this infrastructure for railroad usage again: there are 3 tracks for Amtrak/MBTA commuter rail (note overhead wires) and 2 tracks for the current Orange Line rapid transit route that operated on elevated tracks just crosstown, yet, the last stop is still Forest Hills; just like North Station is still a super station- - -back then, trains ran on elevated tracks through to nearby Charlestown and Everett until The 1970s; prior, elevated trains ran along Atlantic Avenue + waterfront to South Station until The 1930s- - -as everyone can still transfer to fellow Green Line rapid transit route which also ran on elevated tracks until the early 2000s and just recently opened up an extension beyond longtime Lechmere Terminal to Union Square enroute to future Medford (to be announced later).

[@ghostengineer]

I was never a fan of the Hawkey Siddley cars , looks etc. I do like the new CRRC cars. Hopefully MBTA can fix the reliability issues with them.

[@TommyTom21]

The CRRC cars are only as good as the tracks allow them to be sadly.

[@wsx2000lol]

why boston trains run with red lights at the front

[@blakemcnamara9105]

Too bad this wasn't the El as they tore that down in 1987.

[@kenmills4739]

@Blake McNamara There were three sets of elevateds: Atlantic Avenue was removed in the 1930s, Charlestown was removed in the 1970s, and the 'then' current one along Washington Street was removed in the 1980s. . .the latter [two] were seen on various movies and television shows: Spencer for hire, Saint Elsewhere, The Brinks Job, Fuzz. . . notice how everything was centered around the elevated? The Orange Line was a rapid transit movie star, The Red Line gets credit in Fuzz: the opening scene at Kendall Square departing for the Longfellow Bridge and a still• shot scene of Back Bay where you can see the train crossing the bridge; I haven't been to Boston since 1990 (2X), 1993, 1998, and 2005, and the results: "No El, No El"- - - also a Christmas song for a transit club I used to attend until Facebook came along, but I did enjoy Columbia Road which is renamed ignorantly to JFK•UMASS; despite sceneries, both reroutings are poorly planned regardless.

[@aasim8]

🚇🚃🍊🟠

[@numberIII-hz1nt]

China's production specialty really is train cars.

[@patmeaden]

thank god those rust buckets are going away

[@genekelly8467]

Why do the new cars keep breaking down? Its been 5 years and they have had brake falures, A/C failures, door failures. Looks like bad quality.

[@kenmills4739]

@Gene Kelly Probably/most likely because the new cars used cheap material despite sleek appearances to appease everyone, while the old cars (1200 series), dating back to the early 1980s, lasted THIS long because of the real deal/skill of pain, effort, and labor. . .you can't beat the original; just like CDs which are still around, but people want to hear the real deal about the songs being played, so 'where located', the vinyl records reappeared so music fans can hear parts that were airplayed less than a few times; these days everything is choppy and/or cut to the chase, no time for organization.

[@casmatt99]

I wouldn't call them failures, it's usually limited to one vehicle and they pull them all from service just to be safe. Hard to say this early how the quality is compared to others.

[@paniniman6524]

Well the faulty old trains were all removed so all of them are good

[@limjiatingwdlss7752]

Probably of inferior quality despite sleek exterior. Our C151As were also built by CRRC and had a bunch of problems.

[@tornadochasing2883]

probably bc they decided to let CRRC won the contract. i'm actually pretty surprised that this can even happen, especially considering how Trump cracked down hard on Chinese companies

[@jpthompson09]

Old cars look almost soviet

[@dissontan7301]

Vincent - KZbin

[@thomasstudioanimate4646]

The New Update On Itty Bitty After Nacotrack Rail New UMK Boston Subway Trains Update Sliver A Metro Sliver Coming Out With This Rolling Stock Or Use By SRT ROLLING STOCK IT Color Sliver And Gray And Black One Top With Stations Plot Up Black Color 6-8 Cars It Like This 2 The New United Man inland Gonna Replace London Train It Has Front Red Gray Black Livery I Will Work Out It Soon

[@iwouldliketoorderanumber1b79]

Those trains look horrible with all that rust.

[@a.j.santiago303]

Those old cars are a menace to society.

[@atm97ify]

You mean the new cars, right?

[@a.j.santiago303]

@@atm97ify 😆😂

[@user-qh7lg5ky4j]

Bro, don’t talk stupid about my favorite train

[@SpinaciLegali]

creepy ! 🤮🤮

[@jordanplays-transitandgame1690]

MBTA is just a worse CTA prove me wrong

[@syeet1234]

Cta is way worse

[@banksrail]

@@syeet1234 no no. MBTA is definitely worse. They have a derailment every couple of weeks lol 😂

[@alexthemtaandr211weatherfa2]

Has the first set of 7000 series production cars starting burn in testing

[@PositiveRateAv]

@@banksrail Not every week, more like every year, except from the red line derails and the orange line derails with the new cars and also the green line collision, never mind

[@kangarojack3814]

@@banksrailno they don’t wtf u talking about