Category Archives: News

Tuesday, April 15: “Boston’s Orange Line” talk at West End Museum

(Courtesy of the Boston Globe.)

Date and Time: Tuesday, April 15  |  6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Location: West End Museum  |  150 Staniford Street (Suite 7), Boston, MA 02114

Get directions …

Join us for a presentation, sponsored by the West End Museum, about the history of Boston’s Orange Line on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. at the West End Museum, 150 Staniford Street (Suite 7), Boston.

Since 1901, this rail line’s configuration has evolved in response to changes in the city, society, and technology. Hazardous sections have been eliminated, ownership has changed from private to public, and the line has been rerouted to serve growing suburbs and to use land cleared for the failed Inner Belt. Both its northern terminus, which shifted from Everett to Malden, and the southern route, realigned from Washington Street to the Southwest Corridor, have seen dramatic transformations that have in turn changed riders’ lives. Today, the line’s 10 miles of track curve through many Greater Boston communities, serving thousands along the way.

We will give an overview of the history of the Orange Line, but will focus on the Orange Line through Downtown Boston and its relation to Boston’s West End.

This event is sponsored by the West End Museum and is free and open to the public.

Signed copies of Boston’s Orange Line will be available for $21.99. Cash and credit cards are accepted.

Email bostonsorangeline@gmail.com with any questions.

Photo caption: A storm on February 14, 1940, dropped 14 inches of snow on Boston and stranded thousands, including a large number of couples celebrating Valentine’s Day. This image shows crowds at North Station, many having just attended a Sonja Henie ice show at the Boston Garden. By the end of the show, train service throughout New England was cancelled and wouldn’t resume until the next morning. (Courtesy of the Boston Globe.)


orange line bookThe story of the Orange Line is the story of Boston: always in flux but trailed by its long history. Since 1901, this rail line’s configuration has evolved in response to changes in the city, society, and technology. Read more about the book here

If you’d like to schedule a talk, presentation, or signing at your organization, school, library, or historical society, please email us at bostonsorangeline@gmail.com.

Sunday, Jan. 26: “Boston’s Orange Line” talk at Doyle’s Cafe

On the left side of this view looking east toward Forest Hills Station is the Monsignor William J. Casey Overpass, which carries the Arborway from the area of the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain toward Forest Hills Cemetery, Franklin Park, and the Dorchester section of Boston. (Courtesy of the Historic American Engineering Record; photograph by Richard Cheek.)

Date and Time: Sunday, Jan. 26  |  3 – 5 p.m.

Location: Doyle’s Cafe  |  3484 Washington St. , Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

View a map.

Join us for a presentation, sponsored by the Jamaica Plain Historical Society, about the history of Boston’s Orange Line on Sunday, January 26, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. at Doyle’s Cafe, 3484 Washington St., Jamaica Plain.

Since 1901, this rail line’s configuration has evolved in response to changes in the city, society, and technology. Hazardous sections have been eliminated, ownership has changed from private to public, and the line has been rerouted to serve growing suburbs and to use land cleared for the failed Inner Belt. Both its northern terminus, which shifted from Everett to Malden, and the southern route, realigned from Washington Street to the Southwest Corridor, have seen dramatic transformations that have in turn changed riders’ lives. Today, the line’s 10 miles of track curve through many Greater Boston communities, serving thousands along the way.

We will give an overview of the history of the Orange Line, but will focus on the Washington Street Elevated and the Southwest Corridor realignment through Jamaica Plain.

This event is sponsored by the Jamaica Plain Historical Society and is free and open to the public.

Signed copies of Boston’s Orange Line will be available for $21.99. Cash and credit cards are accepted.

Email bostonsorangeline@gmail.com with any questions.

Photo caption: On the left side of the above view looking east toward Forest Hills Station is the Monsignor William J. Casey Overpass, which carries the Arborway from the area of the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain toward Forest Hills Cemetery, Franklin Park, and the Dorchester section of Boston. (Courtesy of the Historic American Engineering Record; photograph by Richard Cheek.)


orange line bookThe story of the Orange Line is the story of Boston: always in flux but trailed by its long history. Since 1901, this rail line’s configuration has evolved in response to changes in the city, society, and technology. Read more about the book here

If you’d like to schedule a talk, presentation, or signing at your organization, school, library, or historical society, please email us at bostonsorangeline@gmail.com.

Monday, Nov. 4: “Boston’s Orange Line” book release party

orange line book

We’re excited to announce that our new book, Boston’s Orange Line, is now available from Arcadia Publishing. 

To celebrate, we’re having a book release party on Monday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. at The Brahmin in Boston’s Back Bay. We will have copies of the book available for $21.99 (cash or credit cards accepted). 

Date and Time: Monday, Nov. 4  |  6 – 8 p.m.

Location: The Brahmin  |  33 Stanhope Street , Boston, MA 02116

View a map.

Come by, celebrate with us, and get a copy (or two or 10) of Boston’s Orange Line signed by the authors.

Email bostonsorangeline@gmail.com with any questions.


A large crowd poses for a photograph beside the Elevated around 1930, at the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Beach Street. The building at left is the Kingston Clothing Company. The event memorialized in the photo is unknown. (Photograph by Leslie Jones, courtesy of the Boston Public Library.)

The story of the Orange Line is the story of Boston: always in flux but trailed by its long history. Since 1901, this rail line’s configuration has evolved in response to changes in the city, society, and technology. Read more about the book here

If you’d like to schedule a talk, presentation, or signing at your organization, school, library, or historical society, please email us at bostonsorangeline@gmail.com.


Photo caption: A large crowd poses for a photograph beside the Elevated around 1930, at the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Beach Street. The building at left is the Kingston Clothing Company. The event memorialized in the photo is unknown. (Photograph by Leslie Jones, courtesy of the Boston Public Library.)