History of Boston's Back Bay Station

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Getting off at Back Bay from AMTK 162 two months ago, I noticed that that station (3 blocks from my hotel) was thoroughly renovated in the late 1980’s, complete with a tribute to A. Philip Randolph, unionizer for the porters.

Where on the net is there a history of BBY? Google couldn’t help me.

motor

2

You could try the NHRHTA’s web forum… it started out a New Haven RR station.

3

Try www.ask.com or www.yahoo.com that might help.

4

After frequenting “answer” sites like Yahoo’s I’d be leary of getting any true factual info from them. There aren’t too many people who answer with factual and pertanent info.

5

The existing station was never used by the New Haven and only was used by Amtrak and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authoroity, and still is. About 22-24 year ago, the elevated rapid transit line from downtown Boston to Forest Hills was relocated in the same cut as the New Haven main line, which if I remember correctly, was reduced from four to three tracks, but sitll the cut required widening. In places it has been covered over. This massive rebuilding required shutting down of the line, with trains rerouted over the Dorchester Branch, which is an alternative route to the east, rejoining the main line at Reaville, about 25 miles from South Station. During the rebuilding, the quite handsom Back Bay Station was demolished and a completely new station constructed.

The old station had two low-level “island” platforms, so New Haven trains could load passengers on any of the four tracks. A third western-side platform served trains on the Boston and Albany (New York Central) line after Massachusetts Turnpike construction required the demolition of the old Huntington Avenue (inbound trains) and Trinity Place (outbound) B&A stations.

6

Hmm… a very gentle and mild disagreement: Dave, quite right that the existing station tracks are quite recent – but a good bit of the old head house is incorporated in the ‘new’ structure.

7

jchnhtfd

I have to disagree. I watched as the grand old station was torn down and the new track arangement and station was built. The old foundation and new track were not compatable. The only part of the old station remaining at the site is an ornate NYNH&H keystone in one of the new walls.

David

8

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/ma/ma1200/ma1213/photos/076675pv.jpg

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/ma/ma1200/ma1213/photos/076678pv.jpg

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/ma/ma1200/ma1213/photos/076679pv.jpg

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/ma/ma1200/ma1213/photos/076687pv.jpg

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/ma/ma1200/ma1213/photos/076689pv.jpg

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/MA1213/

9

Re: Back Bay Station and Surroundings.#### 1) Back in the early 1950s, when the station was used by both the New Haven and Boston & Albany railroads, the New Haven side was Back Bay, the B&A side was called “Trinity Place,” no doubt after Henry Hobson Richardson’s nearly masterpiece, Trinity Church. This was long before MBTA arrived on the scene.#### 2) A hundred yards (plus or minus) west of the station (away from downtown Boston and South Station, and towards Fenway Park) lay an enormous (or so it seemed to a young kid) coach yard in which New York Central business-suit-grey B&A commuter cars were stored and serviced during the off-peak. The tracks were depressed below ground level. One could watch through cyclone fence switch moves in the yard from Boylston Street. No penalty for watching or, one supposes, taking pictures. Today, the yard is long gone, Boston’s Prudential Center having arisen on the property.#### 3) At rush hour, Back Bay/Trinity Place became a bustling locale, with numerous commuter trains, punctuated by an occasional long distance train. Providing great viewing perches for this show were the Clarendon and Dartmouth Street bridges, which conveniently intersected the tracks…