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The uncovered trolley-station entrance that was promptly filled in again
By adamg on Sat, 05/10/2014 - 8:31am
Head over to ArchBoston for a discussion about an entrance to what used to be the Mass. Ave. trolley stop that workers uncovered the other day - then promptly filled right back in. With some photos of when the station was a trolley hub (more photos).
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Comments
Look at those tracks
Here's the intersection of Mass. Ave. and Huntington in the 1920s:
See it larger.
From the BPL. Used under this Creative Commons license.
cool picture. anyone know
cool picture. anyone know how those trolleys were switched? did the driver control it somehow? I can't imagine they had any sort of remotely controlled switching.
There is a location in the
There is a location in the wire just before a power switch that if the streetcar coasts the switch will line up straight, if the streetcar takes power, the switch will throw for the turn. Trackless trolley switches work that way as well. The Green Line used to work that way, but now use a transponder that sends a signal depending on the route.
very cool, thank you, that
very cool, thank you, that had been bugging me for years
Brighton
They use meat switching technology at Comm and Chestnut Hill Ave. I've seen them. Very advanced.
Actually, the way it worked was that
the streetcar would apply normal power (not coasting) to select one route - typically the 'straight' route, but would apply power and brake at the same time to select the other route - typically the 'diverging' route. The relays controling the switch motors would sense the amount of current being drawn - using power and brake naturally draws more current than using just power - and throw the switch in the appropriate direction.
It's not for a "Mass Ave."
It's not for a "Mass Ave." trolley stop, it's just the original stairway down to the existing Symphony station inbound entrance passageway that was replaced by the present staircases in the early 1970s.
Early 1980s
I remember when those two high-rise towers on the south side of Huntington were built -- it was just after 1980.
Specifically 1978.
Specifically 1978.
http://www.emporis.com/building/symphonyplazaeast-boston-ma-usa
Correct
Correct. Adam, the two discussions we had most recently in that thread are not related. The uncovered entrance is to Symphony and the Hynes/Mass Ave trolley station stuff is unrelated to that entrance. The thread is broadly about abandoned T tunnels, so the subjects bounce around.
Closed Entrance To Green Line Auditorium/Hynes/Mass Ave. Station
The thread mentions the closed entrance to on the west side of Massachusetts Avenue to the Green Line Auditorium Station (Hynes). Many people transfer from the bus to the Green Line here. Because this entrance is closed, it's necessary to cross busy Mass Ave to enter the station. It's a nuisance to walk down to the crosswalk at Newbury Street, especially in bad weather! Many passengers are tempted to simply run directly across the street.
I'm sure the Ⓣ had some reason for closing the entrance, perhaps in the '70's or '80's when that neighborhood had a much different character than it does today. The station entrance probably just needs a good cleaning; maybe a coat of paint sprayed on, some new lighting, and a security camera.
Instead of making grandiose new stations with fancy, custom designed structural steel, glass, and other expensive elements that don't add anything to improve the function of transit; I wish the Ⓣ would spend a little money on simple things like these closed station entrances.
View on Google Maps
Whats to become of this ?
Whats to become of this ?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/MBTA_3025_under...