The Blue Line: Boston's Smallest Subway

[@alanthefisher]

The Blue Line is my personal favorite MBTA line. Great video

[@maxtransit]

Thank you Alan!

[@shamusduffey4873]

I live on it and I've been watching your videos for at least a year at this point. BSL🤝 Blue Line

[@noggin6870]

I used to live right by Bowdoin. I loved having my station to myself most of the time haha

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

The CTA Yellow Line used to switch between overhead and third-rail, it became third-rail only in 2004! The line runs between Howard on the North Side of Chicago to Skokie. The Yellow Line is the only L line that does not go to The Loop and was the first L route to become fully ADA-accessible. The line also has grade crossings, and even runs below-grade for a part of a length even though it has no subway section nor runs in a median of a highway. The Yellow Line originally began as the Niles Center Branch of the old Chicago Rapid Transit Company. The rapid transit service began as part of the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad, the high-speed Skokie Valley interurban line on an 8 km-section between Howard and Dempster Street, Niles Center (Niles Center is now called Skokie). It began operations in March 1925. The line once had many stations, Main, Kostner, Crawford-East Prairie, and stations in Evanston at Dodge, Asbury, and Ridge. In March 1948, the Chicago Transit Authority, who had just bought out the Chicago Rapid Transit Company in 1947, ended service over the Niles Center Branch and replaced it with a bus route. The line reopened as the Skokie Swift in 1964 from Howard to Dempster-Skokie as the original line did, though the majority of stations from the original line didn't reopen, however Oakton-Skokie reopened in 2012 because of its downtown Skokie location compared to Dempster-Skokie.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Having to take a ferry after getting off the train to complete the journey to Boston is also similar to how at one point in time, most trains that went towards NYC didn't terminate in NYC, they terminated at different terminals like Hoboken Terminal and Communipaw Terminal on the NJ waterfront, and had passengers take ferries to reach NYC. The PRR building NY Penn Station and the North River Tunnels, now used by the Northeast Corridor, changed that. The original intention of the PATH (formerly called Hudson & Manhattan Railroad) was to connect the terminals to NYC. Besides the facts you mentioned about the tunnel, the East Boston Tunnel is notable for the fact that when they built the tunnel underwater, it was actually the first subway tunnel in the whole of North America that went under a body of water! You can also see trains that change between third-rail and catenary on the Metro-North's New Haven Line. Trains between New Haven and Mount Vernon East follow the Northeast Corridor and uses overhead catenary, while between Pelham and Grand Central Terminal, it uses third-rail. All New Haven Line electric trains change over between third-rail and overhead catenary between Mount Vernon East and Pelham at normal track speed. As they transition, the third-rail shoes stay in the same position both in and out of third rail territory. Both catenary and third rail overlap for a quarter-mile between Mount Vernon East and Pelham to facilitate this changeover. With Penn Station Access further following the Northeast Corridor and its Hell Gate Line, trains will have third-rail shoes capable of using both under-running and over-running third-rail. While the Metro-North uses under-running third-rail, the LIRR uses over-running third-rail. The New Haven Line also stands out because it has three branches, the Waterbury, New Canaan, and Danbury Branches! The Danbury Branch runs from downtown Norwalk to Danbury, it opened in 1852 as the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad. Until the early 1970s, passenger service continued north from Danbury to Canaan, Connecticut, and Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The Berkshire ran on the line from Grand Central to Pittsfield between the 1940s and 1968. The route served as a path to country homes of New Yorkers, as well as to towns such as Canaan and New Milford in an area lacking Interstate highways or major airports. The Waterbury Branch originally opened in 1849 as the Naugatuck Railroad (named for the river that it parallels; the name "Naugatuck" is derived from an Algonquian term meaning "lone tree by the fishing place"), and under the Naugatuck Railroad, it once continued north to Winsted. The part north of Waterbury is now leased from CTDOT by the Railroad Museum of New England, which operates excursion trains between Thomaston, Waterville, and Thomaston Dam with occasional trips to Torrington. The New Haven Line even has game day service to Yankees-East 153rd Street, a stop typically only used by Hudson Line trains, as New Haven Line trains use a wye at Mott Haven interlocking to reach Yankee Stadium on game days. At one point in time, the New Haven Line also had game day service to the Meadowlands for Sunday 1 pm Giants and Jets games. The service was operated using NJ Transit equipment under an operating agreement among NJT, Metro-North, and Amtrak. NJT equipment was required as its electric locomotive power was capable of running under the various catenary systems over three separate railroads using different power supplies. The program was only offered for the early afternoon games so that the NJT equipment could be moved back in place for the Monday morning rush hour. The train didn't go direct to the Meadowlands of course, they still had to change to a shuttle train at Secaucus.

[@liamsullivan126]

This is an INCREDIBLE mini-doc. Thank you so much for producing this, moved to Eastie a couple years ago and this taught me SO much new information. Hope to see you around Eastie!

[@waltertomashefsky2682]

Very well done. I rode the Blue Line from Lynn to school and to work for years. As mentioned, an extension to Lynn has been in the plans since the late 1940s. It could have revitalized Lynn and made it better than the sorry city we see today. I finally realized that it would never happen in my lifetime and I left the state. Nice hat by the way😁

[@maxtransit]

Thank you for the compliment. I am sorry this extension never lead to fruition yet, but hopefully someday soon it will happen!

[@TheoRoth-n2r]

The bowdoin buttons are because of the short departing platform. This means that the operator pulls the first two cars past the station and into the tunnel, making it so that he/she/they cannot see the doors and cannot control them.

[@maxtransit]

So it's a sight distance issue is what you are saying?

[@TheoRoth-n2r]

@@maxtransit yes, the platform can only hold 4 cars, so the first two (containing the operator) are actually past the platform and in the tunnel. This is why the operater cannot see the doors and therefore cannot operate them. Also a fun fact: At government center, you can always get a seat by boarding the first 2 cars which are always empty because of this.

[@musicmanfelipe]

The old Blue Line cars didn't have these, if I recall correctly.

[@TheLocalLt]

It’s also a safety issue because if someone stayed on the first two cars after the train departs the inbound platform, their door would then open into the tunnel.

[@SigmaRho2922]

Extending the blue line to Charles will result in an increase in ridership, but what would really make it useful is if it gets extended to Kenmore station and then take over the D branch of the green line to Riverside. This will require the raising of platforms and the elimination of grade crossings.

[@erik_griswold]

Yup, there’s a bunch of stuff that can be done if you go beyond Charles, including serving MIT’s main building and the Allston station

[@DDELE7]

That would be wonderful and it makes logical sense. The Blue Line would then be the “Express” and the Green Line would be the “local” getting to and from the Seaport and Back Bay. But given the money that has been spent to update existing D branch stations I think that would be a task for the next generation of MBTA leadership to confront. One idea I have is to extend the Blue Line to Watertown. After all the state is about to redevelop Allston and the space is there along the Commuter Rail right of way for additional subway tracks. It would relieve congestion on the B branch of the Green Line and reintroduce rail service into Watertown.

[@birdrocket]

Are there any grade crossings other than for pedestrians at stations? The D branch used to be heavy rail before it was converted to the green line IIRC

[@hibraisil]

I grew up right there. Maverick. We used to walk between Maverick and Aquarium when the trains shut down at night. Still had to be careful because if there was training, that's when they did it. Once watched a guy do a handstand on the third rail.

[@ed4409]

Fun fact about the Narrow Gauge Rail is that there is STILL a roughly 400-foot long tunnel (which is still there) that goes through Jeffries Point. Unfortunately, both ends if the tunnel are completely inaccessible (one side is fenced and locked up and the other side is on company property, so there's a very high chance you'll get arrested if you try to go to the entrance on your own accord) and the Narrow Gage Tunnel is privately owned currently and has been since, I THINK, the 70's (I'm not 100% sure if the decade is correct, though).

[@maxtransit]

Thank you for the information! This isn't in reference to the East Boston Greenway, correct? I can't find where this tunnel is.

[@ed4409]

@@maxtransit Absolutely not as The East Boston Greenway used to be part of The Grand Junction Railroad while the Narrow Gauge Tunnel used to be part of The East Boston, Revere Beach, and Lynn Railroad. The reason why people can't find it is because firstly, I don't like naming the company that blocked off the entrance since I don't want people actually going on their premises and secondly, I can definitely tell you that the gated and locked up entrance of the tunnel has SO much foliage that it's almost impossible to see on Everett Street most of the year. Maybe it's easier in the winter time, but I am NEVER looking for a tunnel entrance in the brick cold of Eastie's winter lol. I heard about the tunnel years ago, but I never really looked for it until recently and I will definitely tell you that it's definitely not worth it at all.

[@Anon21486]

Narrow Gauge Tunnel.... Jefferies Point... Oh, I know exactly which tunnel you are talking about... If you want to know where the tunnel was, you just need to look at satellite images. Due to the tunnel still being intact, as in not being filled in, no structures are permitted to be built on top of it due to possible tunnel collapse. Due to this, you can clearly see a path where the tunnel is from above. One end is just south of Logan's Rental Car Center.

[@hibraisil]

It didn't used to be locked up. Although I was too chicken to go in when I was a kid. I did explore all along what is now the greenway back in the 80s. Lot of good times and a few really bad. You could meet some bad characters if you went there at the right times.

[@ANotSoHappyGonk]

BL/RL are getting connected finally and i love it. the proposed pictures look nice too

[@maxtransit]

YES! One of the missing links in Boston, so excited!

[@Srinathji_Das]

Thanks for this wicked awesome video! 👍💛

[@maxtransit]

You're very welcome!

[@cannyp3]

Best history of the Blue Line I've seen. Excellent work.

[@maxtransit]

Thank you so much!

[@efigina]

Love your channel!!! I'm a fellow Bostonian and transportation enthusiast. Great maps and history.

[@maxtransit]

Thank you! You're welcome to check out the sources for more information as you need!

[@KDill29]

That Down Under came out of nowhere 😂😂😂. Made me lol literally. Got me to sub.

[@maxtransit]

Thank you so much!

[@moondogsh]

Your video popped on my feed today, presumably because I'm interested in planes, trains, and infrastructure, and I am really glad that I took the time to view it; well done! I also shared it with my dad, who lives in Chelsea.

[@maxtransit]

Thank you so much! I am glad you liked it!

[@MrTReinold]

Very interesting. Great job!

[@EdwardM-t8p]

Excellent history of the Blue Line! I really like how you included the photo of the old Pullmans which were replaced by the Hawker Siddelys and later on the current generation of Siemens, only to soom out at Orient Heights for a train of Suemens come in and stop there. Nice touch! 👍☺️

[@maxtransit]

Thank you very much and for mentioning this detail!

[@Angelasrandomcorner]

"Its a bit to much" 😂 Great video,

[@maxtransit]

@@Angelasrandomcorner Hahaha, thank you!

[@ninyaninjabrifsanovichthes45]

I think it's cool that it uses both overhead wires and third rail. The Blue Line trains are the only ones in North America that do this aside from the Metro North M8s.

[@maxtransit]

Yes, it's one of the few places in the world that does this change. Amsterdam also use to have this feature for their light-rail line that merges with the metro. Unfortunately for railfans, they split the route into two separate pieces.

[@1anmagnus]

Thameslink in London operate third rail and overhead on the same route

[@ChrisCicc]

Loved this. Subbed and hoping for more!

[@maxtransit]

Thank you so much! Looking forward to making more!

[@WHALEPSHIZZ]

The goat is back 🔥🗣️

[@maxtransit]

Hehehe glad to be back!

[@mantaszmenskis5619]

the trolley went to central sq in cambridge over the longfellow bridge roadway.

[@NickDaltonYT]

OH FUCK YEAH!!! I’m going to be seasick!!! Thanks for the shoutout! Another banger as usual lol

[@maxtransit]

Thank you so much friend! Your video is incredible!

[@SFICA9]

When the Red Line extension to the south shore was first proposed, overhead wires were planned and the 1400 Red Line Cars were supposed to be outfitted with pantographs but that idea was scrapped in favor of 3rd rail operation however, I did see an old artist rendition for the South Shore Line with the 1400's running under wire via pantographs. When the Seashore Trolley Museum was going to acquire two 1400s, the guy in charge of their subway car collection said retrofitting them with trolley poles for museum operation would be easier since they had been originally built to hold pantographs. If history had been different, two of Boston's subway lines could have had overhead wires.

[@maxtransit]

Make that 3, as the Orange Line would have also had pantographs had it been extended up to Reading.

[@SFICA9]

@@maxtransit Did not know that. It's amazing the lack of documentation to back this up but I held that artist rendition in my hands as the MBTA was throwing all these documents in a dumpster.

[@Bassotronics]

I thought it was gonna be a cute small train for small people... but it's actually a short run.

[@erik_griswold]

Fun fact, when the ferries shut down, that meant it was difficult to move horse-drawn carriages and pushcarts from East Boston, where many of these vehicles and animals resided, into downtown Boston.

[@maxtransit]

I did not know that, thank you for the insight!

[@brianj4963]

Boston needs a metro like DC

[@erik_griswold]

We also need a 90% match like Washington DC had. Unfortunately Ronald Reagan happened.

[@ferris-fam]

amazing quality video, bro

[@maxtransit]

Thank you so much!

[@jeffreyd2477]

Even though I am an Orange Line guy (Wellington), this was an amazing video

[@maxtransit]

Thank you so much!

[@erik_griswold]

It used to be that the change from Pantograph to Third-Rail was done at Maverick, but it was changed to Airport, perhaps because the stop there is now longer thanks to airline passengers boarding and alighting.

[@maxtransit]

I think it makes maintaining the catenary easier without the need to go down to Maverick.

[@erik_griswold]

@@maxtransit Agreed but isn’t it still in place all the way to Maverick?

[@strobelightbrian]

Great video! Love the details you add to it. If you could limit your hand movements it would help but otherwise great video!

[@maxtransit]

Thank you so much! And, sorry for the hand movements. We were by the ocean so they were acting wavy!

[@gagemorin3862]

Awesome video man! Did you go to school at Umass Lowell? Swear I had a class with you lol.

[@LiminalTub]

New Max Transit video before GTA 6 is crazy 💀

[@baystated]

Cool. Lots of changes for a small line. The extension to Red is finally happening thought right? Only rode the Blue Line once going from Wentworth in backbay to the airport.

[@maxtransit]

There are plans to connect with the Red Line by 2030, but it hasn't been confirmed that it will be built. But fingers crossed it will!

[@thecarwashelevatorfanatic7433]

Literally the only line on the T that runs properly 😂

[@maxtransit]

Wait until the ocean level rises...

[@jetg2059]

The blue line has the oldest train operator in the world she is in the genius world record book they just put up a plaque at aquarium station for her

[@BALHAM69]

This did good in views.😮

[@Mhmd_F]

I like the Blue Line if only because the trains on it actually go fast unlike the Red and Green line trains

[@maxtransit]

It is quite speedy, it has always been seen as the MBTA's most reliable line.

[@nafisali2434]

It has been a whole year since you posted

[@maxtransit]

Yeah it's been a bit difficult on my part but glad I have finally got this out!

[@TheDylanJoyce]

“The Doors will open on the right side of the Train”

[@Carlyknarly]

BLUE LINE BEST LINE

[@maxtransit]

Not going to argue with that!

[@DavidKornechuk]

Keep your hands still

[@maxtransit]

I am sorry, I was just going with the flow of the ocean.

[@maxpowr90]

If only the Airport stop was actually connected to Logan. Just another failed element of the Big Dig mitigation.

[@erik_griswold]

Logan needs a PeopleMover

[@maxtransit]

I would argue of having a rail link between South Station and the airport which would continue north. And/or also have a ring route that would connect the airport with the Seaport district and South Station.

[@erik_griswold]

@@maxtransit That should have been done as part of the Teddy but it’s probably too late now.

[@DishonestThomasYT]

There are shuttles at Airport station that stop at every terminal + rental car center. There is also a walking path directly to the airport from Wood Island.

[@jeffreyandrews6700]

What's with all the hand gestures?

[@jamescerone]

He’s a Bostonian…

[@maxtransit]

I am just excited to have talked about the Blue Line!

[@EpicThe112]

Being on that line back in December 2023 from what I know between Maverick and the airport they would simply accelerate to speed and then Coast to the airport station where Pantographs is raised. On the westbound back to downtown Boston what they do is stop at the airport change voltage. I wonder why they couldn't do it at speed between airport and Maverick stations like a Metro-North M8. Otherwise the line is operated like the Thameslink Germany Hvv Hamburg S-Bahnvotlage change Logan Airport Blue Line🇺🇲 Faringdon West London Lines 🇬🇧 🇩🇪Neugraben. However the United Kingdom and Germany versions are main line rolling stock would you use a different signal system than the subway in Boston Thameslink West London Line AWS TPWS CBTC overlaid on ETCS the German example uses Punktförmige Zugbeeinflussung. If the Boston Blue Line management went to Hamburg Germany in the 1950s by taking it's PZB System Blue Line trains in Boston will need to know that they must go 25 mph with signal room instruction to proceed past a red light with two white dots

[@maxtransit]

The main reason they wouldn't, and probably shouldn't, change at speed is because it goes into a tunnel before reaching Maverick. The Pantographs would hit the tunnel, which has happened in the past. It's safer to change it at the station then needing to risk doing it in motion, especially with the tunnel.

[@EpicThe112]

@maxtransit3526 thank you for telling me about that on the westbound put on the eastbound side they simply coast to the station or once outside of the tunnel activate the Pantagraph like a Metro-North M8 🇺🇲 🇬🇧Class 700 377/2/5/7 395 387s 🇩🇪 DB Baureihe 490 474.4. For the German version in Hamburg they need to be aware of PZB speeds

[@commercialcritic4676]

Sweet!

[@heli-crewhgs5285]

You’re really lazy! So much effort has gone into the production of this video, and all you have to say is….”SWEET”!!!

[@dominictherailfan]

The blue line repair shop or maintenance shop is like getting swallowed by the habat around, i think...

[@maxtransit]

It is, surrounded by a salt marsh.

[@TupolevTU144]

Shortest? No love for the Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed?

[@maxtransit]

I suppose shortest subway makes more sense hahaha

[@PostalWorker14]

I’m guessing they call it the Blue Line because it goes under the harbor

[@BrubandJfowl]

Red line!!

[@blue9multimediagroup]

LAND DOWN UNDER!!! (WTf......!!) 😂

[@heli-crewhgs5285]

The video is well made and very informative. The presenter really needs to discipline himself, and keep his hands still. His hand movements seem to travel upwards, causing his head to swivel left and right. For me, it’s like watching an oscillating fan that has the ability to talk!

[@tombeegeeeye5765]

It made it into Fallout 4.

[@walteropanasets9178]

Used well built Siemens subway cars Better that the Chinese crap the T stupidly bought

[@01283]

DERLAND

[@winstonstone]

No one in New England pronounces anything ending Shire as shire it's sheer. You don't say New Hamp SHIRE it's sheer. It's not Worcester SHIRE Sause its sheer. Don't get me started o Scolly square either. ;)

[@maxtransit]

Hahaha I realized that mistake when I was editing and decided to leave it in to see who would pick it up. But I thought I was pronouncing Scollay correctly, but wouldn't be surprised if I got that wrong too.

[@winstonstone]

@@maxtransit Well if you are a Yankee Brahmin sure, but most Bostonians and Boston Accent people say Skully Square. And remember any Rs in a word are replaced with AH, There was another fellow from out state did video on Lexington and Concord the the battles there of. Kept call it Con CORD not Concard. :)

[@winstonstone]

Oh and thank for telling about The Revere Beach and Lynn!! My dad roade that numerous times in the 1930s to visit family friends who lived in Winthrop.

[@37llawffej]

Fascinating! I love learning about transit. (But you have got to stop moving your hands when you speak. Very distracting.)

[@SteveReggie]

Why curse in the middle of a transit video?