55 replies to this topic

[DoctorGonzo]

The Boeing feet was permanently withdrawn from service on March 16th.

On that day, LRV 3485 made a farewell trip from Riverside to GC and back again with a bunch of railfans on board (myself included). We rode through the Government Center loop and all the way into the Riverside yard where the train was promptly decommissioned on arrival and joined the rest of the Boeing fleet which sat there in the snow waiting to be scrapped.

I was the last passenger off of the last run of the last train.

You can view some of the photos I took here. I still have some more sitting around undeveloped (yes, I still use film - not by choice, though).

[Lowerdeck]

Sounds great, improvements to the D really needed to happen.  That is one slow and rough ride in from Riverside.

Edited by Lowerdeck, 13 June 2007 - 11:23 AM.

[atlrvr]

Great pics DoctorGonzo.....I really enjoyed seeing the A-branch roll-down sign with Waterton as the destination....it really dates those trainsets.

[DoctorGonzo]

atlrvr, on Jun 14 2007, 11:04 AM, said:

Great pics DoctorGonzo.....I really enjoyed seeing the A-branch roll-down sign with Waterton as the destination....it really dates those trainsets.

The funny thing is that they never ran on the A-Line. The first Boeing cars were delivered about six years after the "11 week temporary shutdown" in 1969. If I recall correctly, only two ever had the trolley poles installed (as opposed to the standard pantographs) that were needed to travel down the A line trackage to the Watertown car house.

The MBTA killed that line the same way they killed the Arborway, and even removed the small pocket track left intact at Packard's Corner that went a few hundred feet down the old A line ROW because businesses objected to the trolley wires. As a result, there is nowhere to stash a disabled train between Chestnut Hill Ave and Blanford St. and the entire B-Line gets shut down when one breaks down.

[atlrvr]

In an astounding turn-of-events, the D Branch of the Green Line will be re-opening a couple of days ahead of schedule.  It was originally projected to re-open next Tues. Sept. 4th, but it will be up and running this Saturday Sept. 1st.  I believe with the track repairs, they will be able to use the new Breda LRT vehicles on the D Branch as well as maintaining speeds in excess of 40mph all the way to Riverside.

[Lowerdeck]

Sounds good.  Probably will give the D Branch a ride on Tuesday, see how it now is.

[Lowerdeck]

I was riding the D Branch yesterday.  Coming in during the morning it took 40 minutes from Riverside to Park Street, so I'm not sure if that's faster than before.  Seems some of the wobble problems the cars had along the route has gone away, but not completely... there's certain places it still does it.

Coming out, I went from Fenway station out after the Sox game... a fresh car to get everyone there back to Riverside.      Beats having to deal with ultra crowded cars coming out from the rest of the route ... after it's stopped at Kenmore.


EDIT: I just remembered now.  They really have built up the area around Woodland station in the past couple of years.  Fairly new looking development complex and a parking garage over there to rival Riverside for commuter travel.

Edited by Lowerdeck, 04 September 2007 - 10:31 AM.

[DoctorGonzo]

A bit of shameless self promotion, but it's been a hell of a month on the T.

[atlrvr]

The new blue line cars have been delayed another couple of weeks, but T officials are optimistic   that they will have the first 4-car set operating by the end of January.

[DoctorGonzo]

atlrvr, on Jan 2 2008, 10:12 AM, said:

The new blue line cars have been delayed another couple of weeks, but T officials are optimistic   that they will have the first 4-car set operating by the end of January.

The Blue Line program has been going well lately, some small delays are nothing to worry about.

Edited by DoctorGonzo, 12 January 2008 - 05:06 PM.

[northernbizzkit1]

Does anyone know when the Breda cars will be on the D line?

[Lowerdeck]

News:

Two trains collided on the D branch Green Line about an hour and a half ago from now.  One slammed right into the back of another near Woodland station.  There are a few injuries, and D branch is currently a shuttle west of Reservoir.

Too soon to tell anything, like what exactly happened.

[JDC]

Wow, the last post on here was from the day of the D branch accident? Yikes.

Speaking of the D branch, I was a little put off yesterday when they decided to go from Newton Center station express to Riverside when I was already running late. I take it they do this because one train is running a little behind and the one behind them is ahead of schedule? They pull this stunt at Harvard Station sometimes, running express to Alewife. How much time can you actually save by not stopping at Porter and Davis if you have to go through the stations at about 5 MPH anyway?

[Lowerdeck]

JDC, on Jun 26 2008, 01:20 PM, said:

Wow, the last post on here was from the day of the D branch accident? Yikes.

Speaking of the D branch, I was a little put off yesterday when they decided to go from Newton Center station express to Riverside when I was already running late. I take it they do this because one train is running a little behind and the one behind them is ahead of schedule? They pull this stunt at Harvard Station sometimes, running express to Alewife. How much time can you actually save by not stopping at Porter and Davis if you have to go through the stations at about 5 MPH anyway?

I once was on an express train from Harvard Ave. to Blandford St. (Green B branch for those unaware).  While I feel there are far too many stops on the B branch, just how much of a difference does an express train make when it has to stop for red lights, traffic, and people who are standing in the tracks at stations being skipped.

[Lowerdeck]

News: the state is threatening major change of service to close a 8 billion dollar budget issue.  Among ideas being thrown around, a T fare hike of 25 percent and a 30 percent reduction in bus and subway service, along with some bus routes being eliminated altogether.  I've also heard that six cents of the proposed 19 cent gas tax hike would be dedicated to the MBTA.  Or perhaps both, considering this is Massachusetts after all.

[PBoyce79]

The MBTA has finally been added to Google Transit http://www.google.com/transit/.
So you can now easily plan trips on the T via Google maps on the web, Iphone, android, and other Google map Supported Phones.