Blue Line Information and Photo Tour

ABOUT THE LINE - The Blue Line operates from Bowdoin Station in Downtown Boston east, then northeast to Wonderland in Revere 5.9 miles. The route is in the subway until reaching the Airport station in East Boston. From here it is on the surface all the way, except one short tunnel in east Boston to allow a Boston and Maine spur to cross. Collection of power is from overhead lines on the surface. Now here where it gets interesting. In the subway collcetion is by third rail. The switch is usually made at either the Airport or Maverick. The Blue Line operates short cars, due to close clarences on the line. HISTORY - The Blue Line got it's begining in two areas. The first was a narrow guage railroad called the Boston, Revere Beach, and Lynn. This route operated from East Boston to Lynn with a loop through Winthrop. It was abandoned in the 1930's just before WWII. A streetcar tunnel was built inder Boston Harbor from downtown to Maverick Square in 1904. This tunnel one of the first to be built under such a large body of water, allowed streetcars to get into Boston from the east. The tunnel was extended to Bowdoin in 1914. In 1924 the trolley tunnel was upgraded to Heavy Rail. In the 1950's the MTA decided to bring rapid transit to Revere. They rebuilt the narrow guage route except this time it was a standard guage transit line. Heavy rail cars were built smaller in order to accomodate the tight curves and narrow right of way. No other major changes have occurred outside of the rebuilding of stations. The Blue Line has seen the least amount of change and is the shortest yet one of the most unique of all MBTA lines.

In February 2000 two trains meet at the rebuilt Revere Beach station.

Inbound train slides into Revere Beach   station in Revere Beach. February 2000.

A Blue Line train rolls into Revere Beach station behind us in February 2000.

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