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I live by the following rule of thumb: When in doubt, take the first train as far as you can, or at least as far as Park Street. So, for example, if the first train goes to Heath Street, take it to Copley. At Copley, if the next train is a C train, take it to Kenmore. Today, that's good advice for e...

Looks like they want to close Haymarket again for some garage demolition work. Is there still a 10 MPH speed restriction over the Lechmere viaduct? Could someone explain why there is such a speed restriction to begin with. I figured with brand new track, the LRVs would just zip-zip from Science Par...

Sitting in the middle of the tracks at Arlington Street Station (westbound) are about a dozen of these Kleenex-sized boxes spaced about 10m (30 ft) apart. Anyone know what they are?

When the Government Center Garage collapsed earlier this year, Haymarket was closed and they ran trains between North Station and Union Square. With this event, why did they run busses between North Station and Lechmere? What did they do for the Lechmere-to-Union-Square folks?

"Green Line extension to Union Square will open Monday, March 21st with revenue service starting that afternoon, says MBTA GM Poftak." In the good ol' days, the MTA would schedule opening day on a Saturday so that commuters wouldn't be squeezed by rail fans on opening day or give Monday-F...

That would make sense, but . . . What's the point of the 800m overlap where there is both third rail and catenary? Also, there is no doubt in my mind that there is hardware/software on the train that prevents cross-feed should the operator accidentally raise/lower the pantograph too early/late. Ther...

I was watching a YouTube video taken from Pelham station during evening rush hour. The video inspired me to ask the same question as the OP. That led me to this 2015 thread, which answered why the changeover moved. After reading about the crash in 1988, I wonder if the crash affected the decision to...

What about the 3rd rail shoes? Will the 3rd rail shoes foul the LIRR 3rd rail? Are the shoes retractable? Will they have dedicated shoeless cars that can not go to GCT? I see that East Side Access is scheduled for December (13th?). Will MN start running to Penn that day? I apologize if these have be...

I had always assumed that having two short blocks would speed service in areas (like stations) where speed is slow. There is no need for the outgoing train to completely vacate the station before the subsequent train starts to enter. There will always be a red signal between the two trains. When the...

T's alerts web page says that effective Sunday, 24-Oct-2021, B&C will terminate at GovCen, and D will terminate at North Station.

For consists that vary in size, I would think DMUs are the way to go. The WIkipedia article for RDC has, in part: "RDC trains were an early example of self-contained diesel multiple unit trains, an arrangement now in common use by railways all over the world. " if DMUs are common all over ...

I don't know how much Covid19 is hindering the extension. The gap between the old viaduct and the new elevated is finally being filled (photo). They've started to construct Lechmere Station. The entrances at ground level are starting to take shape. The two photos taken 78 days apart show the buildin...

I'm guessing the first four photos were taken on the same day. The first photo was taken about 140m (450 ft) SE of the current Newton Corner bridge over the turnpike. It is looking south on Park Street. The tracks on the right are coming from the current turnpike bridge whereas the train is headed f...

The gap between the old and new still exists. I wonder why it's only 15 feet or so. The rest of the spans appear to be about 120 feet. Here are two photos of Union Square terminal taken five weeks apart. I have no idea why the rails were installed as the place is far from completion. 000US1018.jpg

In this particular question, who is the person who pushes the button or throws the lever that makes the switch(es) move to the desired position? Forty years ago, there was a button on Green Line trains that the operator would push if (s)he wanted to go to the right at a switch. I believe that now th...