Boston’s Strange Blue Subway

[@Danicalip8]

Also mentioning, the oldest train operator in the world operates the blue line. Her name is Helen Antenucci and she is 82 years old. Such a doll! She works mornings. I hear her on the speaker sometimes because I live near wonderland.

[@Thom-TRA]

That’s so cool! I had no idea

[@wildercerrate7295]

Is she the lady who talks about the aquarium lol heard her all my life didn’t know she’s the oldest

[@BostonSpartan]

"Have a wonderful day, and remember, be kind to one another!"

[@raymondmuench3266]

I was a touch confused when you mentioned the Blue was “under construction” as I remember taking it in 1972. Nice to know I’m not losing it completely.

[@scottydude456]

lol, MBTA is just so broken that they just be shutting down entire lines at a time😭

[@marciliomathias4525]

Very interesting system👏🏼

[@Shrek_Holmes]

Its the T, it's always under construction.

[@jamesrea329]

Yeah, that had me scratching my head for a moment also, as I remember taking it in the 80’s and 90’s. Such a fun system. Eventually I figured out that the convenient way to visit Boston was to stay at the Cambridge Marriott, which was built right on top of a T station. Literally a couple of steps from the hotel entrance to the T, I never needed a cab.

[@Rabbitrails315]

​@@Shrek_Holmes For real

[@nostopit179]

I've lived in Boston for years, on the blue line in fact. Not only was it cool to see some coverage of the T that wasn't negative, but that B footage of the third rail sparking at aquarium was a really nice touch. That's one of the only places you can clearly see that and it's always something I show folks when they visit. Edit: another small quirk of the system is that the blue line between maverick and aquarium really likes to interfere with bluetooth connections. If you have headphones or other listening devices, they tend to have strange audio artifacting between those two stations

[@Thom-TRA]

Weird about the Bluetooth thing, I wonder why that is!

[@newenglandskier13]

One more unique thing about the Blue Line that is worth mentioning. Did you notice the door opening buttons on the train? That is because entire trains do not fit on the inbound platform at Bowdoin. Therefore, it is the only station in Boston, and probably the only heavy rail rapid transit station in the US, where you have to press a button to open the train doors like what is commonplace in Europe.

[@Thom-TRA]

Ah, you’re right, I missed that! Bowdoin station honestly deserves its own video in the future

[@bnywtrains9482]

I just took my gf to Bowdoin last weekend to show this to her lol

[@newenglandskier13]

@@Thom-TRA Yes, it's such a quirky and unique station

[@newenglandskier13]

@@bnywtrains9482 I can relate to that. After arriving at North Station via Amtrak, I've been known to walk to Bowdoin to get on the T, instead of just boarding at North Station, purely to use the push button doors.

[@bnywtrains9482]

@@newenglandskier13 I went to Tufts and when I went home to Maine for breaks, I’d take the red line from Davis to Charles and just walk to Bowdoin and then transfer to OL at State to get to North Station.

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

A Dunkin' fun fact: It was founded in Quincy, MA by William Rosenberg in 1950. In 1955, Bill worked with his brother-in-law Harry Winokur. After Winokur broke his partnership with Rosenberg, Harry went on to create Mister Donut with his son-in-law David Slater that same year. Yes, Mister Donut was founded in the US by the brother-in-law of the founder of Dunkin'! After International Multifoods Corporation bought Mister Donut in 1970, they opened locations outside North America like in Japan, so that's how they made it over to Japan! Mister Donut used to be all over the US, but after Dunkin's then parent company Allied-Lyons acquired Mister Donut in 1990, Dunkin' gave those North America stores the opportunity to convert to Dunkin's, which many did while the Godfrey, IL Mister Donut has remained the exception. So while this happened in North America, Mister Donuts elsewhere started operating on their own, which is why Mister Donut is still around in Asia. In 2020, Dunkin', Baskin-Robbins, and Mister Donut became part of Inspire Brands. If you're wondering why Wonderland is called such, Wonderland was originally to be named Bath House after the former station, but instead was named Wonderland in 1954 after the now-closed Wonderland Greyhound Park, which operated from 1935 to 2010 after dog racing ended in the state, itself named after Wonderland Amusement Park which operated from 1906 to 1911. Wonderland station was the destination in the 1998 romantic comedy movie Next Stop Wonderland. The CTA Yellow and Purple Lines also used overhead catenary at one point! The Evanston shuttle as it was called before the Purple Line, once had overhead that originally extended all the way to Howard, but in 1963 the wire was replaced with third rail between South Blvd and Howard, so South Boulevard was where the trains switched between overhead and third-rail. The overhead between South Boulevard and Linden was converted to third-rail in 1973, which allowed the CTA to retire the Cincinnati Car Company-manufactured 4000-series cars. By this time, L crews had been reduced to two persons (with only a few exceptions), with the conductor responsible for raising or lowering the poles. However, rush-hour Evanston Express trains at the time were typically four cars long, which would have been a time-consuming (and delay-inducing) job for one person, even though only every other car's poles had to be raised (the 4000-series cars used at the time were semi-permanently paired, with jumpers between the car's traction power systems). So during rush-hour, a platform person was assigned to South Blvd. to help raise and lower poles, typically, the platform person handled the pole on the first car while the conductor handled the pole on the third car. The Yellow Line switched between overhead and third rail the same way New Haven Line trains do, while in motion. That of course changed when the overhead section was converted to third-rail in 2004.

[@Thom-TRA]

Dang, what did America run on up until 1949?

[@Mikey.J]

@@Thom-TRA War

[@MattMcIrvin]

You answered a question I didn't know I had (why is Mister Donut still a thing in Japan?)

[@MattMcIrvin]

@@Thom-TRA Gumption, moxie and Yankee know how

[@Thom-TRA]

@@MattMcIrvin I absolutely love mister donut!

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

A cool fact about Blue Line rolling stock: While the 700-series cars you rode were built by Siemens and first entered revenue service in 2008 (it was first scheduled for delivery in 2004 but was delayed to 2007 due to manufacturing issues), the 600-series that came before them were built by the former Hawker Siddeley Canada, and were a PA3-type, so it's based on the same model for the former PA-3s on PATH in New Jersey! This is the same model as the old MBTA Orange Line rolling stock as well. Blue Line Hawkers were narrower and shorter than the Orange Line rolling stock since as mentioned, what's now the Blue Line was once for streetcars. The PATH PA3s entered service in 1972, while the Blue Line 600-series and Orange Line 1200-series entered service in 1979 and 1980 respectively. The PATH PA3s retired from service between 2009 and 2011. In 2009, a set of 600-series cars were sent to the Seashore Trolley Museum. Most Blue Line 600-series were retired by 2011 due to severe corrosion from the salty ocean air, and in 2012, a set was placed in the former Broadway streetcar tunnel for use during emergency training. The last 1200-series Orange Line cars exited service in August 2022, began to be sent for scrap the next month, all were processed to remove hazardous materials and be recycled, two were offered to the Seashore Trolley Museum who declined them, and the last pair was hauled away in July 2024. Besides working on rolling stock for PATH and MBTA, Hawker Siddeley Canada also built the former H-series subway cars for Toronto, National Railways of Mexico passenger coaches, the former automated Expo-Express for Expo 67 in Montreal (connected Cité du Havre where Habitat 67 is to La Ronde; trains carried 1,000 each and ran every 5 minutes), Tempo coaches built for Canadian National and once used by Via Rail and the Ski Train, and GO Transit bi-level coaches Series I to II. And as others have mentioned, the doors on the Blue Line rolling stock have buttons because of Bowdoin. Only 4 cars of a 6-car train can platform on the originating outbound platform at Bowdoin, and so this stop is the only place where push to open door buttons on the sides of Blue Line trains are ever used to facilitate not opening doors into an empty tunnel. Bowdoin station and Bowdoin Street above it is named after Governor James Bowdoin II, who was the second governor of MA from 1785 to 1787. He authored a big report on the 1770 Boston Massacre, which was extremely influential in shaping public opinion in the colonies. Bowdoin was also a scientist prominent in physics and astronomy. He wrote several papers, including one on electricity with Benjamin Franklin. From 1775 to 1777, he served as president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress's executive council, the de facto head of the Massachusetts government. He first ran for governor in 1780, losing to John Hancock. After Hancock resigned in 1785, James became governor. Due to large debts incurred from the Revolution, Bowdoin ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility. During his two years in office, the combination of poor economic conditions and his harsh fiscal policy laid down by his government led to Shays' Rebellion. Bowdoin personally funded militia forces that were instrumental in putting down the uprising. His treatment of the rebels contributed to his loss of the 1787 election, when populist Hancock returned to office.

[@BenPease-qq2jp]

The switch between modes used to happen at Maverick in the 1970s, and the train would go dark for a couple seconds. Sometime since the '80s or '00s this was moved to Airport Station, and the new trains keep the lights and ventilation going during the process. Visiting my grandfather's boatyard in Winthrop in the 1970s we'd pass the Orient Heights yard, and there were a number of much older dark blue, rusty cars from 1928 or 1940s stored at the outer end. My great aunt in Winthrop had a short segment of the old narrow-guage right of way in her back yard (nothing to see but saplings and fallen leaves).

[@Thom-TRA]

Sometimes the lights on the older DC metro trains will still turn off and I have no idea why

[@BenPease-qq2jp]

​@@Thom-TRA Hmm. Maybe too old for battery backup power to the lights? I remember in the 1970s on the MBTA Orange Line there were 2-3 crossovers and a yard lead, just north of the new Mystic River Bridge, which created a long gap in the third rail. Whatever cabling ran the length of the old trains (traction power, cab signals, door circuitry) apparently did not cover the lights. As northbound trains rumbled through this gap the lights and ventilation in each car would stop for a good 3-5 seconds. Out in the winter darkness the city lights reflected on the inky blackness of the Mystic River, then the lights would turn back on just before the train pulled into the brightness of Wellington Station.

[@roxxma]

I remember the switch happening at Maverick into the 1990s, but I also remember that sometimes it happened at Maverick, sometimes at Airport. I first learned that pantographs were called pantographs by the signs at the old Airport station that read "raise pantograph" on the outbound side and "lower pantograph" on the inbound side.

[@People_of_the_Mouse]

The buses in cambridge used to also be powered by overhead electricity. And harvard Sq still has an underground bus terminal. Worth a visit on your next trip to my hometown. My beach travel growing up was Sullivan Sq to State to Revere Beach. State had fantastic wooden escalators. Fastest airport to dtown in the US.

[@toothgnash]

Didn't the silver line used to be part overhead and part gas? I swear I remember the busses stopping and switching motors soon after coming out of the tunnel near seaport.

[@exerosis5758]

​@@toothgnashisn't that still true lol?

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

"Banana bread" - Bear 2024...such a moving quote 😂 And a man of culture for that Borat joke at the end! The Starbucks and Dunkin' right next to each other at 11:24 is Krusty Krab and Chum Bucket energy. The Blue Line was assigned that color because of that East Boston Tunnel you mentioned, since it's the only line that goes underwater! 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, New Haven Line trains following the Hell Gate Line and Hudson Line trains following the Empire Connection will have third-rail shoes capable of using both under-running and over-running third-rail (the M8s on the New Haven Line already have contact shoes capable of operating on both). While the Metro-North uses under-running third-rail, the tracks with third-rail in Penn Station use over-running third-rail because of the LIRR. The Boston cream doughnut was designated the official doughnut of Massachusetts in 2003 (the Boston cream pie itself had already been chosen as the state dessert in 1996). It is one of two official state donuts in the US, with the other being Louisiana's state doughnut, the beignet. The Boston cream pie that the doughnut is based off of was created in 1856 by Armenian-French chef Mossburg Sanzian at the Parker House Hotel. The Parker House Hotel was once home to the Saturday club, which was an informal monthly gathering of writers, scientists, philosophers, historians, and other notable thinkers of the mid-19th century. People like John Greenleaf Whittier (a poet who advocated for the end of slavery) to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow participated. Charles Dickens resided in the Parker House for five months in 1867 to 1868, he first recited and performed "A Christmas Carol" for the Saturday Club at the Parker House. John Wilkes Booth stayed at the hotel between April 5 and 6 in 1865, eight days before assassinating Lincoln. He was in Boston to see his brother, actor Edwin Booth, who was performing there, and John was seen practicing at a firing range near the hotel. Boston Common was once the land of William Blaxton, who was the first European to settle the Shawmut Peninsula of what's now Boston in 1625. He lived there by himself for five years, as he joined a failed Ferdinand Gorges expedition in 1623 and the rest of his fellow travelers returned to Britain. The Anglican Blaxton did not get along with the Puritan leaders of the Boston church and so in 1635, he moved about 35 miles to what's now Cumberland, Rhode Island, also becoming the first European to settle Rhode Island, one year before Roger Williams established Providence Plantations.

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m not weird, I’m just an Official donut of Massachusetts connoisseur!

[@counterfit5]

Cumberland is also the namesake for Cumberland Farms

[@tazareal]

The Yellow Line in Chicago used to have both third rail & pantograph, there were signs north of Howard telling the motorman where to raise & lower the pan. The Evanston line had overhead and trolley poles, up until 1973. I think the ground level sections of the Lake Street & the old Garfield Park line had overhead as well.

[@MaximillianG.C]

You came at the right time. There has been a massive undertaking of repairs in the last year to finally eliminate the “slow zones” that have plagued the Red and orange lines for some time now. Please revisit us later next year for even faster service. Also you got a great attitude and passion for what you like. Keep it up. You’re always welcome in Boston, lad. :)

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you!!

[@NickBurman]

On the Boston Revere Beach & Lynn, the road was built as a steam line. It distinguished itself by having a fleet composed entirely of Mason Bogie-type steam locomotives, by being almost entirely double-tracked (an absolute rarity for US narrow gauge) and by using automatic block signals and interlocking towers (the same). When the railroad was electrified in 1928 it did so on the cheap, by just putting trolley poles, controls, and traction motors onto the existing wooden coaches. Some of these passed to the East Broad Top RR in Pennsylvania, where they can be seen and ridden today.

[@Hori_Miya-1]

Watching this and knowing damn near every inch and every stop really amazes me when i get to see people this exited for a train ive ridden on for years and only really stopped when i started highschool so this is really a way to learn things i never noticed, ever about the blue line.

[@TheoRoth-n2r]

YAY! blue line finally! My favorite mbta line!

[@tommarino1056]

Enjoyed the video. Trains switch from third rail to overhead on Metro North going from New York to Connecticut.

[@ninyaninjabrifsanovichthes45]

Yep, at Pelham I believe

[@harveywachtel1091]

​@@ninyaninjabrifsanovichthes45it's at Woodlawn, where the former New Haven RR line diverges from the former NYCRR Harlem Line. Two especially interesting aspects of this switch: First, the switch is made while running at speed, unlike on Boston's Blue Line. Second, the third rail involved is New York Central's unique underrunning version, where the shoe runs beneath the third rail and contacts it from below.

[@davidmadrid6126]

@@harveywachtel1091during service however the switch takes place between mount vernon east and Pelham on the New Haven Lines. I believe for safety reasons.

[@harveywachtel1091]

@@davidmadrid6126 I didn't realize the third rail ran that far.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Yup, and they do the changeover on the move, rather than stopped in a station. Amtrak and Metro North also do the mode changes on their P32DMs while on the move as well. Metro North starts the diesel as soon as they emerge from the Park Ave tunnel and Amtrak starts the diesel as soon as they're out of Penn station and into the exit tunnel to the Empire corridor.

[@maxpowr90]

I sincerely hope the Blue Line is extended to Charles/MGH and eventually up to Lynn. Peter Eng has been a massive savior of the MBTA.

[@kengrayatgmaildotcom]

The Metro-North New Haven line does a switch between third rail and pantograph. The switch occurs between the Mount Vernon East and Pelham stations (Amtrak's all overhead NEC switches one station up at New Rochelle before the third rail). It is done at speed. There's some history with Connecticut banning third rail electrification in the 1900s, so it couldn't be used on New Haven Line track, but the New York Central already used it, so that's why they have the rail going in to GCT.

[@Thom-TRA]

But it’s not a metro line is it? And you can’t see it happen can you?

[@kengrayatgmaildotcom]

@@Thom-TRA Metro-North is a commuter railroad given the length, but the schedule resembles a proper metro line. The New Haven line is about 70 miles long and takes 2 hours to go GCT to New Haven. Peak trains run every 10 minutes or less and they offer near 24/7 service. NYC transit is just different that way. You can see them make the change from the Pelham station platform. The at speed changes would be the express trains to New Haven (no stop at Pelham), the local trains to Stamford stop at Pelham. Video of the changeover: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nn7YqaiZmbeDps0feature=shared Similarly to the MBTA Blue Line, the reason for the changeover is because historically the NY portion was owned by the New York Central and used third rail the same as on the Hudson and Harlem lines. The CT portion was the New Haven Railroad and had to use overhead.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@kengrayatgmaildotcom the metro north is more similar to a European regional/intercity railway than a rapid transit line.

[@Legonatic]

I used to live off of airport station. I loved the blue line and the neighborhood in Eastie.

[@j3ojos]

I hadn’t realised how used to the change in electrification I was, as a regular user of the UK’s Thameslink network! It had truly been an invaluable step here, linking areas north of London (overhead catenary) and areas south of London (third rail), which would have previously only been possible with diesel trains. It’s positive to see it in other parts of the world.

[@sarah.s.flanagan]

I pretty much only take the blue line to get to the airport, and very occasionally to meet up with a friend who wants to be touristy at the Aquarium stop

[@Luke_Starkenburg]

Nice video! I lived in East Boston for a year (in 2007) and I was a 10 minute walk from the airport station! It was so convenient because I worked at the BOS airport! My employer gave me an unlimited T pass which was awesome. I loved exploring the trains and city on my days off!

[@Thom-TRA]

Wow, you’ve lived all over!

[@Luke_Starkenburg]

@@Thom-TRA Washington DC (Greenbelt MD) for a year, Boston (East Boston) for a year, and Chicago for the rest of my adult life. You have lived in some pretty cool areas as well! I would have loved to live abroad!

[@guyfaux3978]

As I mentioned in the thread for your "coming attraction," the Rockaway line of the A train (NYC's "Blue Line"!) also goes by a horse track (Aqueduct and formerly at Suffolk Downs), an airport (JFK and Logan), and a beach (Rockaway Beach and Revere Beach). No dog track (formerly at Wonderland) in NYC, though...

[@everettharris967]

I've taken the blue line my fair share of times to get to the airport. 90% of the time in bound service stopped at Govt. Center and I always wondered why Bowdoin wasn't accessible. So I was glad to see what it looked like finally.

[@bethbudner51]

Very cool intro video to help give newcomers a quick visual recap of the T Blue line's early history. Beth 😊

[@nixcails]

The Class 717 on the Great Northern City Line between London and Hertfordshire are dual electric. A former London underground line converted for National rail (BR as was) in the 1970's. They use 750 dc third rail in tunnel from Moorgate to Finsbury Park then raise a pantograph to 25KV AC on the lines north.

[@hartstukken]

the baby pantographs and short cars remind me of TMB barcelona metro lines. They take advantage of their features to take tighter curves

[@ereynolds77025]

The Skokie Swift was the last CTA rapid transit line to use overhead power, and the only one to use overhead catenary. The conversion to third-rail electrification was made to: Increase reliability, reduce maintenance costs, and make the Skokie Swift compatible with other CTA rapid-transit lines. The Skokie Swift lost its overhead power cable and was converted to third-rail electrification in 2004.

[@peterfrey6062]

great photography on Boston and the blue line (which I rode some years ago, but only underground. Bear is a cool addition to your vids. His enthusiasm seems overwhelming

[@Thom-TRA]

He’s fun to have along!

[@OssWiX]

Meer Bear!

[@alk61695]

The Metro-North New Haven Line also switches from overhead to third rail power at Pelham. And Boston cream is the best donut at Dunkin Donuts. Good choice.

[@robsterkmc]

If you come back, one of the headhouses of State Station is under the Old State House. There is also an entrance to Orangle Line at State that gets off right at City Hall Plaza.

[@CrowFlips]

I take the amtrak solo to go to my dads im a minor and I asked one of the conductors and they heard that the new acelas are going to be in service next year

[@Greybone62]

I do think that the Subway in Oslo, Norway, has some similar operations. Check with Your Connections..

[@brianhubert8418]

Excellent overview on the Blue Line and its fascinating history. I remember at one time there were plans to bring it to Lynn and some advocates have called for it be extended over in the vincinity of Boston University. But even the extension to Charles/MGH will be a good step bringing in a triangular transfer. I've also ridden the Green, Red and Orange Lines but have yet to try the Blue Line. I'll have to change that next time I'm in Boston.

[@CrabMan2539]

6:24 Another US location where you can see it is at the Pelham station on Metro North's New Haven line in New York. It doesn't happen at the station but you should see it happen from there. It does the switch while moving. 11:50 the nyc mta 6 train does this too at its southern terminus. If you stay on it while it does its turnaround, you will see the very first ever nyc subway station, City Hall. Opened in 1904 and closed in 1945.

[@The09creeper]

6:37 Metro North New Haven line has a change over near Pelham station. They also do the change over while moving

[@Thom-TRA]

I didn’t realize metro north was a subway line.

[@raymondhummel3808]

You also have the change on the Metro North New Haven Line. Grand Central to between Mount Vernon East and Pelham, the train runs on third rail then converts to overhead catenary through the rest of Westchester County into Connecticut.

[@Thom-TRA]

This video is proving to be a good test to see who reads the other comments under a video

[@bobsykes]

What a story. Boston always has been a city ahead of its time. Looking forward to more videos from there.

[@king_br0k]

The CTA Yellow line used to have mixed power, but was converted to all third rail to simplify logistics

[@HawkeyeFLA]

I so frequently ride the Blue Line and even the first time I rode it, I remember noticing the pantographs lowering, but never thought much of it. You and a few other creators have really helped explain how unique this is. Also very cool that you and Bear got to meet up and hang out

[@3DprintedLife]

I never knew the blue and red lines used to technically connect. Hopefully some day they'll intersect again, it's such a pain to transfer

[@michaelleegillis]

Well done. You’ve got a lot of good content, information and details about the transit systems and vehicles. I worked for many years on the west coast for the leading vehicle manufacturer (still number 1 or 2 today, I believe) helping to bring light rail to the US in San Diego, Sac, LA MTA, LF LRV’s in Portland, St. Louis, etc. I know my way around the pantograph, the bogies, coupler, articulation, etc. If you ever have any questions, I’m happy to help contribute.

[@Thom-TRA]

From what I can tell, said company has been having some pretty good years!

[@SeanMcKinnon-p3z]

The switch used to happen at the maverick square station until 2008 maybe? Not sure if it still does this but you could tell that the HVAC and lights would turn off for 15-30 seconds or more while the swich over occurred.

[@29downtheline]

The T is such an interesting system! Thanks for covering the Blue Line!

[@Noah-r5b]

I have taken the orange and blue this summer and it’s very interesting that the blue line uses the overhead and 3rd rail, love the vids keep up the good work 😁

[@raakone]

So awesome. Fun fact: Blue was chosen, because it went under water, originally to connect East Boston and Boston, Boston was once an island after all.

[@Thom-TRA]

True!

[@ck4426]

This Blue line maybe be shorter and smaller, but it’s an awesome line!!! Thanks for exploring and showing this awesome train!!!

[@PneumaChronos]

I lived near Boston all my life and never realized the story behind the Charlie Card. That's really interesting, thanks.

[@Thom-TRA]

The song is worth a listen!

[@cecagna]

Watching this video while on the Blue Line. Shout-out to Maverick, my home stop!

[@paulmoreno6279]

Awesome 💯 Happy Saturday from Palm Beach Florida! Metro-North MTA New Haven Line makes this third rail to overhead power in between stations around the north Bronx, south Westchester in NY 👌

[@Thom-TRA]

Happy Saturday to you too!

[@paulmoreno6279]

@@Thom-TRA awesome guy!

[@MC-810]

12:26 There are proposals being evaluated to extend the Blue Line as you noted. One aspect they are evaluating is called the “Red Blue Connector” and would extend the Blue from Bowdoin to Charles/MGH on the Red. There are also studies being done to extend the Blue as far as Lynn once again. KZbin does not allow you to put links in, but a quick Google search, and you can find all this information. The state has committed money to it so it is very likely to move forward.

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for this fascinating video ! Nice trains, and your explanation about the change from 3rd rail to overhead was very clear. Initially I was surprised that the overhead catenary only carries 600 volts, but that was essential to avoid dual voltage trains. The tale about Charlie is wonderful, and I did like the connecting buses from Logan Airport !

[@paulhurst7748]

The North Shore Line used to switch from 3rd rail to overhead trolley on the fly near Caldwell Ave. as they proceeded up the Skokie Valley branch from Howard. The CRT/CTA did too until they cut service in 1948.

[@Thom-TRA]

Every day I have a moment of silence for the north shore line

[@michaelb9629]

That’s interesting how the blue line subway in Boston has both a third rail and overhead electrification. I think I only knew about the overhead electrification since I’ve heard of that train. I like how all the subway trains are different there the way they operate, just like some of them in Philadelphia and even New York.

[@scottd317]

I live in Boston on the Green B, and used to live in Lynn - took the blue line all the time. Good job!

[@frankbernotimm3031]

Don't forget: The Green Line still uses electric wire, and the Silver Line did it also (in the tunnel). The trackless trolleys in Cambridge are gone 😞

[@Alpha8713]

Hope you had a good visit to Boston. As the MBTA goes, the Blue Line is shockingly reliable and efficient.

[@theosw6961]

Great video! You got some really great shots of the city and trains

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks so much!

[@scottydude456]

Shoutout to the Metro-North New Haven Line, which also switches between third rail and overhead wires

[@Thom-TRA]

Yep

[@davehammer1278]

well done video! Nice meeting you and Lindsey last Monday! I did make it home safe! Come visit me at the museum next time you are in the area if I am there!

[@Thom-TRA]

Nice to meet you too!

[@michaelvanhoesen7157]

Great video! Reminds me of the Metro North New Haven line which also switches between overhead and third rail

[@Geno2733]

The class 390 on the UK National Rail Services has a pantograph and 3rd rail shoes as well.

[@nixcails]

No it's just an overhead. You mean the Desiro 350 (along with some 377's and 700 and 717's)

[@pdawg69]

0:37 I can see my house from here!

[@Thom-TRA]

Good looking house!

[@waltertomashefsky2682]

All MBTA subway lines are different but they all have one thing in common: none of them go to Lynn. Even though the Blue Line should have gone there like the old narrow gauge railway did.

[@Thom-TRA]

I guess the also have in common that none of them go to Springfield or Seattle or Tokyo lol

[@waltertomashefsky2682]

@@Thom-TRA But the Blue Line could go to Lynn. It was supposed to go to Lynn. There’s a RoW and everything. I’m from Lynn originally and rode the Blue Line into Boston for many years from Wonderland (because the Blue Line doesn’t go to Lynn). It’s a pet peeve of mine that the MBTA has ignored Lynn for over 70 years. Good video btw, but you should have seen the Blue line when they had wooden cars (in the 1970s) and the snow would blow in and accumulate in small drifts on the floor.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@waltertomashefsky2682 an extension to Lynn does seem like an obvious missing piece in the system

[@noconsent2454]

It should go to Beverly Depot, IMHO...​@@Thom-TRA

[@willstrainsplanes]

I was just in Boston this week and I rode most of their transit lines including the Blue! Boston is my new favorite US city

[@Thom-TRA]

That’s awesome!

[@Tzvi092]

Interesting.The blue line used to switch between overhead wire and third rail at Maverick, the next station after Airport heading toward downtown Boston.

[@shigemorif1066]

It’s always fun when Bear is a guest!

[@Thom-TRA]

There’s more of him coming!

[@gkelly]

The "Sumner tunnel is closed" poster is extremely on brand.

[@mattl_]

Good video Thom! I live not far outside of Boston and regularly commute downtown. I was recently inspired by your coach trip from Chicago to LA on Amtrak and did it both ways.

[@Thom-TRA]

Wow, both ways! That’s impressive

[@thunthuntanno]

These videos are so educational and entertaining👍

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you!

[@codfish1113]

Great video on the Blue Line! (my favorite line!) One notable fun (or not so, depending on how you look at it) fact about the line is that it has the only non-accessible heavy rail station on the subway at Bowdoin

[@Thom-TRA]

That’s impressive that there’s only one!

[@97nelsn]

I had a Boston Cream Donut on my way to the Path train to NY Comic Con. It was worth it and it was on a train, which is awesome.

[@Thom-TRA]

That is awesome!

[@Super-Suchi]

The Yellow and Purple Lines on the "L" used to have dual mode electrification too. The purple line converted to third rail in the 1970s but the Yellow Line kept its dual setup until 2004. Overhead wires were used from Dempster to Crawford (aka Pulaski) where it transitioned to third rail for the rest of the route to Howard. I know you mentioned this in your yellow line video but you can still see a ton of abandoned structures that used to carry the overhead wires. Cool to see the T does this too and still does it to this day!

[@jazrobean1]

wrong city

[@paulhurst7748]

That was before the Linden Ave. branch was called the Purple Line. Until 1955, the North Shore Line used to connect with the Elevated at Linden Ave. in Wilmette. The Purple Line was the Skokie Valley Branch of the North Shore Line until abandonment in 1963. The CTA purchased the tracks to maintain access to their Skokie shops. Rapid transit service resumed from Dempster as the Skokie Swift in 1964.

[@Super-Suchi]

@@paulhurst7748 the Purple/Evanston line didn't use the Skokie valley route. There was no L service on that branch between 1948 and 1964.

[@WinglessBatTransit]

What a great overview of the Blue Line! I live in Revere and use it fairly often, so I'm glad to see a TRA report on my main line :) definitely hoping to see the extension to Charles/MGH and to Lynn, especially since the Lynn station is already built to accommodate Blue Line trains.

[@Thom-TRA]

Sorry we didn’t make it all the way out to your stop!

[@FrogeYT]

Nice well done as always. Thanks for visiting boston!

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you for watching!

[@yodingdongyo]

Very well done

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks!

[@SleepTrain456]

I found this quite an informative video! Now, I know more about the MBTA Blue Line and why it has third rail on some sections (overhead wire cannot fit in the tunnels) and not others. Thanks for the video!

[@Thom-TRA]

Glad it was helpful!

[@CoachAJ609]

Recently moved from Lynn,MA caught the blue line everyday lol I miss it

[@agingmillennialmainer]

You would LOVE the Kennebunkport Trolley museum. So much old rolling stock from boston!

[@mikecarrington4297]

Great video Thom. I would like visiting Boston and trying out the transit.

[@Thom-TRA]

Boston is one of my favorite towns in the US!

[@rikkichunn8856]

Great video as always, Thom and Bear! In times past, Chicago's L had a few lines where they ran under trolley wires. The purple line in Evanston and Wilmette ran under trolley wire all the way from Howard to Linden. This might have been because much of it ran at ground level with grade crossings. I thought the Brown and Pink lines ran under trolley wire also, in the outer reaches where they ran at ground level, but at Thom's suggestion, I looked at old photos and they didn't--they ran on third rail all the way. But it is true for the Green line, which ran at ground level through Austin, Oak Park, and River Forest. On it, the trolley pole was raised at the last elevated station before the tracks went down to ground level. Also running third rail was the Blue Line Forest Park branch. It ran with third rail all the way to the end of the line, Des Plaines Avenue Forest Park or earlier to Westchester. There is a definite pattern here, because the Pink Line and the Forest Park branch were built by the same company, the Metropolitan West Side Elevated. This may have influenced the connecting Chicago Aurora and Elgin interurban, which ran on third rail on the main line all the way to the edge of Aurora, where it ran down the street, so trolley wire was a necessity. The interurban's branches to Elgin and St. Charles never got converted to third rail, so they used trolley wire all the way from where they left the main line. The other exception is the Yellow Line, from Howard to Dempster St. Skokie. It ran on third rail through the cut and elevated sections westward from Howard until (I believe) Gross Point Road in Skokie. There, the overhead catenary took over. In the days of the old North Shore Line interurban, the conductor had to lean out the back window and raise the trolley pole as the train roared along at 70 miles per hour! Coming back to Chicago, he had to lower the pole and hook it at the same place. When the CTA took over, running mostly single cars with one-person crews, on their new cars they replaced the trolley poles with what they called "pan-trolleys" which looked like double trolley poles with a sliding pantograph-style shoe at the top. These could be raised or lowered by a pushbutton on the operator's console. Having three different power collection systems on different lines severely limited the portability of cars from one line to another. That is why the overhead wires have been removed completely. You can still see some of the old frames they hung from on the Yellow Line because many of the frames anchored to electric transmission towers at one end. Remember that at one time, the Chicago Rapid Transit, the North Shore Line, and the electric company had all been owned by the same monopoly.

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m not sure about pink and brown either, would be interesting to look up!

[@rikkichunn8856]

@@Thom-TRA I looked up the pink and brown lines. They did not appear to have trolley poles and wires, in spite of their having significant portions of their lines at ground level. Perhaps the decision on whether to use overhead wire on ground-level lines was a political one based on the demands of the suburbs that granted the franchises? I don't know.

[@jasoncox7244]

You are the only person who has ever uttered the phrase "I'm excited to ride the Blue Line"

[@Thom-TRA]

Must suck to be so cynical all the time

[@haj8579]

4:50 In South Korea, traditional heavy rail rapid transits are built only with overhead electtification. The third rail is only for rubber tire railways or an AGT system. So some South Koreans tend to have a wrong stereotype that "If you see a third rail, then that is not a heavy rail rapid transit system".

[@Thom-TRA]

South Korea, now that’s a country I want to go back to to ride the train!

[@hmm_how_it_works]

Welcome to Boston

[@mbaron50]

Have you hit the Mattapan Line? It is generally grouped in with the red line, but it's a separate gauge and fleet of train cars.

[@Thom-TRA]

Yes, see my video from 2 years ago

[@melodypond4457]

Your footage looks like it's straight out of Rick Steves, very nostalgic. Really weird to see a place I live viewed through that (literal) lens.

[@patmeaden]

I’m gonna need to go out to the blue line again

[@JasonVilorio-xh5hp]

And in one of the parks in Boston. Text to airport. There's actually a train. You go down the tunnel. Downtown airport park. And at the end of the park there's. A very, very old train. Now turn into ice cream shop Converted to

[@sirremusrobinson1070]

Excellent.. you convinced me to visit that line next spring..

[@Thom-TRA]

Wow, that’s awesome! Hope you enjoy!

[@chromebomb]

Boston is on some crazy shit NGL

[@SaladBowlz]

Blue line best line. Also, There's a sign at airport reminding the drivers to put the catenaries up. Strikes me as funny whenever I notice it.

[@Thom-TRA]

Don’t forget to make sure your train keeps working properly haha

[@MattMcIrvin]

A friend who was an expert on transit policy explained to me that the Blue Line trains used both a third rail and an overhead catenary and the first time he said it, I thought he was joking. (Even though I'd ridden it at that point.) Recently the MBTA has started taking various kinds of tap payment with wireless chip cards and services like Apple Pay/Google Pay and such, so if you've got one of those you actually don't need a Charlie Card. That Red/Blue connection at Charles/MGH is one of the great perpetual unrealized dreams of Boston transit, the others being some kind of circumferential ring or arc line (part of the Silver Line is the living remnant of an old plan to do it with BRT), and the mainline/commuter rail connection between North and South Station.

[@rivergewehr4817]

I’ve literally never got a KZbin recommendation related to trains before yet I get the video at the top of my feed less than 24 hours after I rode the Boston blue line for the first time ever

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s like they knew… welcome to train KZbin! Hope you stay

[@roberthuron9160]

Thom,you forgot Cleveland,as their Airport line,is also overhead equipped,but no third rail! Also note,the CTS,ran PCC cars,as did Boston,as original equipment on the opening of the lines! On the Blue line history,Bulletin 23 of the BSRA has much data on the lines West of Boston,and Maverick was a double deck station at one time! Thank you for the updated information! Thank you 😇 😊!

[@Thom-TRA]

I didn’t forget Cleveland!

[@johndwilson6111]

Didn't the Kingston Trio write a song about Charlie back in the 50s. It was a big hit on the US top 100 about 1957. 😊

[@Thom-TRA]

They covered it, it was a song before then

[@kacamac]

Been to Boston a few times and I love the city. Funny enough the blue line is the only one I haven't been on either, hopefully I'll find an excuse to ride one next time.

[@dat581]

If I was the Boston Government the first project I would run is a double track tunnel from North Station to South Station. After that I would electrify the whole regional network.

[@Thom-TRA]

Both very necessary

[@izzieb]

Nice little line with an interesting history. It's almost like Boston's version of the Thameslink core 😅.

[@Thom-TRA]

Truly impressive what you can do when you dig underwater

[@Qboro66]

Hi Thom... As you may or may not remember, I'm an NYCT Train Operator and I wish I could work that Blue Line just so I could deploy the pantograghs on the overhead wires... And besides I like their equipment but I only wish you could've gotten a cab shot just to see the configuration of the controls... Thank you once again for another fun video...

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks for watching!

[@MannySilva]

Blue line trains are similar to the Metro North trains on the New Haven line in CT and NY. They are overhead in CT as a commuter line and have reached the third rail in NY like a Metro train. This is most likely because the overhead allows for higher speed trains and the 3rd rail is better in subterranean applications.

[@lodolemon39H]

It could be that the third rail is the live and the overhead is neutral. Or it could be that the overhead is the additional live power source, and the running rails are the neutral.

[@Thom-TRA]

Or, and this is gonna sound crazy, you could try watching the video and find out why it’s like this without having to guess.

[@lodolemon39H]

@@Thom-TRA i like guessing ¦|