Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line in Boston, Massachusetts is considered to be part of the MBTA's Red Line, even though it uses different equipment (trolleys) and passengers have to change at Ashmont. It is the only MBTA line to run through a cemetery. It opened on August 26, 1929.
It follows the original right-of-way of the passenger and freight steam railway line that opened in December 1847 as the Dorchester and Milton Branch Railroad. That line later became the Old Colony Railroad and then the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad after 1893. The old steam locomotives were discontinued in 1927 and the line was closed for two years while it was being modified for trolley service. There was a debate at that time whether or not to continue the same subway trains from Boston to Ashmont and on to Mattapan without a need for passengers to switch to trolleys at Ashmont. Apparently, the added cost of full-scale subway service along the remainder of the route was considered to be too high.
It should be pointed out that the portion of the Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line that goes from Ashmont to Cedar Grove and through the cemetery is following the right-of-way of the original Shawmut Branch of the Old Colony Railroad, which opened in 1872. The cemetery is the point where the Shawmut Branch intersects with the original Dorchester and Milton Branch.
In 2005, it was announced that due to the upcoming remodeling of Ashmont station, the line would shut down and be temporarily replaced by bus service, beginning on June 24, 2006.
[edit] Rolling stock
The rolling stock of the Mattapan-Ashmont Line consists of refurbished, historic PCC streetcars that formerly ran on the Green Line.
[edit] Stations
- Mattapan
- Capen Street
- Valley Road
- Central Avenue
- Milton
- Butler
- Cedar Grove
- Ashmont (transfer to Dorchester branch of the Red Line)
