That's a Rapid Transit Inc. bus. They started up service to Winthrop after the Narrow Gauge called it quits in January 1940. RTI continued into the MBTA era (at one point the T even leased them some AM Generals with altered rollsigns). Service was cutback from Maverick to Orient Heights once the Blue Line was extended in 1952. RTI went out of business around 1990 and Paul Revere swooped in and has had the operating contract since.
And, yes, that is in fact a second- (third?) hand bus from the early 1920s still running in the early 1940s!
By Boston City Archives on Mon, 07/10/2017 - 4:22pm.
Thanks for playing, folks! This is indeed Maverick Sq. The date is January 20, 1940. The back of the photo has a notation saying "old M and B bus on loan to rapid transit bus line. Extra service due to closure of railroad"
Comments
Has To Be Maverick Square
Before the 1960's brutalist bunker, excuse me station entrance, was built that was there until a few years ago.
Right On The Money
That's a Rapid Transit Inc. bus. They started up service to Winthrop after the Narrow Gauge called it quits in January 1940. RTI continued into the MBTA era (at one point the T even leased them some AM Generals with altered rollsigns). Service was cutback from Maverick to Orient Heights once the Blue Line was extended in 1952. RTI went out of business around 1990 and Paul Revere swooped in and has had the operating contract since.
And, yes, that is in fact a second- (third?) hand bus from the early 1920s still running in the early 1940s!
Ashmont Station
It looked like it could be Ashmont Station the beginning entrance at Dorchester Ave and Ashmont Street
The Answer
Thanks for playing, folks! This is indeed Maverick Sq. The date is January 20, 1940. The back of the photo has a notation saying "old M and B bus on loan to rapid transit bus line. Extra service due to closure of railroad"