Universal Hub - Orient Heights

Blue Line a mess after train derails

adamg — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:13:53 +0000

UPDATE, 4:30 p.m. The T reports regular service has resumed.

The T is warning Blue Line passengers to expect "significant delays" this afternoon following a train slipping off the rails at Orient Heights.

MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo reports the train was moving from the Orient Heights train yard onto the main tracks around 2:40 p.m., so it wasn't carrying any passengers. The T has swapped in buses for trains between Suffolk Downs and Airport.

On track for Christmas on the Blue Line

adamg — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:47:35 +0000

The MBTA forwards this photo from the Blue Line repair facility in Orient Heights, where workers have made a Christmas tree out of a "bolster rack" of trucks used to hold the axles of Blue Line cars.

Fire rips through East Boston building

adamg — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:34:36 +0000

Firefighters gearing up to go in. Photo by Steven Klise. A fire reported shortly after 10 p.m. at 358 Meridian St., went to two alarms as it spread from the second to the third floor and roof. The Boston Fire Department reports nine adults and four children were displaced by the fire, but that no residents were injured. The department estimates damage at $250,000. The cause is under investigation.

11/29/12 - 10:10 pm

Shooting at Orient Heights T stop

adamg — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 00:14:33 +0000

10/27/12 - 6:50 pm

Rob McDougall reports somebody was shot in the arm shortly before 7 p.m. The suspect was described as a black Hispanic male who fled in an older Civic last spotted headed toward Revere.

Andy Dost reports cops were in no mood to explain what was going on to bystanders:

Armed police have set up a tape perimeter at the Orient Heights stop. An officer told me when I asked, "Escaped zombies."

Three rob East Boston store at knifepoint; one arrested

adamg — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:06:45 +0000

10/15/12 - 6:47 am

Boston Police report East Boston Variety, 3 Gladstone St., was held up around 6:45 this morning by a pack of knife-wielding robbers - one of whom gave the clerk a dollar, then pulled out a knife and yelled "Gimme the money!"

A second suspect was described as black male in his late teens early twenties, wearing a black hoodie with red lettering "Lazy But Talented" with the hood pulled up, black hat with 3 stickers visible on the brim, black pants, and black and white sneakers.

So, when did Orange Line trains start serving East Boston?

roadman — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:11:39 +0000

Got this interesting T alert earlier today:

Orange Line experiencing 10-15 min delays due to a signal problem at Orient Heights Station.Â 6/5/2012 5:52 AM.

note - I presumed the alert was for the Orange Line, as I'm not signed up to get Blue Line alerts

Disoriented in East Boston

adamg — Sat, 19 May 2012 20:31:38 +0000

Where's the station?

Lisa S. photographed the remains of the Orient Heights stop on the Blue Line today. The T is bustituting this weekend as it renovates the station.

Nice day for a walk

adamg — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 22:27:01 +0000

Joel Barciauskas photographed Blue Line passengers being evacuated at Orient Heights late this afternoon. The T blames "wire problems."

A nutty update to Charlie on the MTA

adamg — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:30:07 +0000

One passenger on the Blue Line in Orient Heights seemed a bit squirrelly this afternoon. In fact, the Animal Rescue League of Boston had to be called in.

ARL volunteer Margaret Wirth reports T workers found a baby squirrel running around a Blue Line car around noon. Boston Animal Control worked with the league to corral the critter, whom they promptly named Charlie, of course.

Wirth says Charlie is headed to a wildlife rehabilitation center in Weymouth, where he will be prepared for a life in the wild. She adds that kindhearted T inspectors did not charge him with fare evasion.

Charlie off the MTA:
Photo by the Animal Rescue League.