Wanted: photos of old wooden escalators

I am looking for pictures of the old wooden escalators that the MBTA used to have. I believe that there were a total of five of these, the last of which was dismantled almost 10 years ago. The most interesting of these was at South Station, where two parallel escalators shared a common central handrail. For some reason it had the moniker "Escalator of Death". Other locations included Harvard Square and Downtown Crossing.

These escalators, as some may recall, did not have typical "steps", but actually consisted of a series of inclined wooden pallets. This was one of Otis's early designs, based on the original patent by a man named Reno. As the T had what were probably the last existing models in the world (one may still exist in Philly) the Smithsonian expressed an interest in one. But the money could not be found to preserve and transport the escalator, since Smithsonian only accepts donations. So consequently, the units were all but scrapped. True, a New England trolley museum (Seashore?) managed to salvage parts of one, though obviously not enough to operate. Are they on display in the museum? Or are they all stuffed in a can somewhere as I once read? I hail from the Washington, DC area, so travelling to Maine can be a bit of a haul.

BTW, let's go Sox!

I remember the two at Downtown Crossing. They were on opposite platforms of the Red Line tracks. One went to Arch Street, the other to Chauncey Street. Both were up-only. They were the last ones in the system, I think.

I remember one from the southbound platform directly to the street at
South Station back in the 1960's. I have no idea just when this one was
removed.
Noel Weaver

It is true that parts of the last one at downtown x-ing was saved. I am guessing some of the parts are being stored in a container at the seashore trolley museum. I know the several steps are stored outside though in an area that is off limits to the public.

I remember those wooden escalatours at Downtown Crossing, I got to ride on one of those in 1987/88, when they last had them. But regrettably, they were uncomfortable when riding up, they were too slopy for me, so I'm kind glad they replaced them with the modern ones, but I certainly do recall those wooden escalatours.

I remember one from the southbound platform directly to the street at South Station back in the 1960's. I have no idea just when this one was removed.

It was removed during the general modernization and renovation of the subway station in the late 1980s. The escalator was still in service as late as 1987 or 1988, but I'm pretty sure it was gone by 1990. I lived in Maine at the time and rarely got down to Boston, so I can't be more specific about the dates.

They are "cleat type" escalators. I think there were way more than 5 at one time.

Did Aquarium (Atlantic) ever have these?

Noel Weaver wrote:I remember one from the southbound platform directly to the street at
South Station back in the 1960's. I have no idea just when this one was
removed.
Noel Weaver

I remember riding that one in the earlu 80's. They were petty cool, although the used to scare the hell out me as a little kid.

I can't remember for sure, but for some reason I think that Forest Hills had this type.........anyone re-call?

Does anyone have a definitive date for when these escalators were taken out of service at Downtown Crossing? I remember using them when I was a child, but I'd like to figure out how young I was.

I don't know the answer, but I do remember that one of them was out of service for several years before they finally took it out and replaced it with a more modern variety.

I do have some pictures of the 'cleat' escalators, which is the type being discussed in this thread, including a video of a ride on the last one (southbound at Downtown crossing). There were many of them, I have a roster somewhere but haven't seen it for years. There was another old type called a step escalator,equally old but much preferred by the passengers. I'm moving but, should be able to look up the pictures in a few days. Escalators were never a big 'fan'' item but, the company took pictures of them from time to time. Almost all the pictures of escalators were taken by the BERY or later agencies.
Contact me by E-mail, maybe I can send some over the net,
Leo S.

These escalators had a very distinctive sound - sort of like a drum beat, but with a wooden-type sound also. I remember them well.

JD

They did not break down as often as newer escalators.

RailBus63 wrote:These escalators had a very distinctive sound - sort of like a drum beat, but with a wooden-type sound also. I remember them well.

JD

Wow, now that you say that I can distinctly remember the noise that accompanied those escalators. From what I can tell, I was somewhere between the ages of 4 and 6 when they were decomissioned at Downtown Crossing, so I always think it's cool when childhood memories like that come back.