Day 4 continues, some time at the beach

A day at the beach might be nice. However, my reasons for going to Revere Beach were not to swim or sunbathe. First there was the T ride on the Blue Line. This was different. the Red and Orange are third rail electric while the Green is overhead electric. The Blue Line is a hybrid, third rail underground and overhead electric above. The line gets to Logan Airport and there the pantographs go up if going north and come down coming south.

Blue Line at Revere Beach heading north to Wonderland Station, current end of the line.

Blue Line Train at Revere Beach, coming into the station

Blue line is the current manifestation of an older railroad, somewhat realigned. The current Blue line continues on the Wonderland Station. There have been expansion plans in the past to extend The Blue Line all the way to Salem. Revere Beach is billed at the nations first Public Beach. Inside the the T station is the picture, when it was a popular public beach, people coming out of Boston, for the day.

Revere Beach in a different time. Pictures in the Revere Beach T Station

Revere Beach is still an active beach and now a suburb of Boston

The original bandstand and pavilions.

Day 4, Begins, North Station

I begin my last full day in Boston. I had done most of what was on the itinary of this day. I had been to Rowe's Wharf and Long's Wharf the evening before. I went to Ashmont the day before. And I only had one place to go that was on the itinary. I missed North Point Park to see trains coming out of North Station. So what better way to start the day but to take the Green Line to North Station, have breakfast there, and watch some trains.

A Commuter Rail coming into the station, with its control car in the lead.

There is only one Amtrak on schedule for coming in and out of Norht Station, the Downeaster. It is a push pull with powere on both ends.

Downeaster Ready to Depart North Bound. The F40 is on the south end,

There are, of course, numerous commuter rail, ready for service.

Mattapan High Speed Line to Lechmere

I finished with my walking tour so I took the Red Line to Ashmount. At Ashmount, we have what is Known as the Mattapan High Speed Line. Which is more oxymorinic as nothing on this line could be seen as high speed. What is here is the PCC that rode the Green Line in Boston, years ago. When I first visited Boston and when I love in Boston, these PCC's were being used in limited service. The older LRV's had been purchased for the most part. The orange color was a throw back to the older color of the PCC's on the Green Line.

Former Green Line PCC, now on the Mattapan High Speed Line

After a short time at Mattapan I return to Lechmere vis the Red and Green Lines. More pictures, now from the station.

Boston Trip, Commons

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What cliche Boston Trip would exclude a stop by the sight of Cheers. Cheers premiered the year before I moved to Boston. Also, St. Elsewhere premiered as well. I never saw Cheers while living there although I went near it quite often.

Sight of Cheers

On Edge of Commons, to the right

Mass. State House

Park Street Church

Along the Charles River

My route around the Commons. Continued

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My route took me from the Public Gardens to the Charles River. My first destination was the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade.I spent one fourth of July listening to the Boston Pops perform.

 the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade

The Prudential Center tower from the Charles River at the Esplenade, next to Hatch Shell

The Red Line, crossing the River. Could be a Chamber of Commerce ad photo.

There are many other scenes along the Charles. Many were taken of the Red line from across the Charles River. The following picture almost looks like a Chamber of Commerce ad photo. However, I don't know the people nor was that intentional

More Red Line pictures

Red Line crossing the Charles River, taken from the Prudential Tower.

More Tourist Stuff

Route around the Charles River, Public Gardens, and the Commons.

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My route skirted the Commons, coming past the bandstand and out again to the Public Gardens.

I walked through the Gardens, past the Swan Boats.

I did take a picture of one of the performers. Of course I paid him for his services. I feel bad for them. They have such a hard job in such heat.

Day 3, Some Typical Tourist Traps

I original Itinerary included a long walk to the Boston Commons. I was to go via Copley Square but since I had done that the previous evening, changed the itinerary. This part of my visit was to do typical tourist things but without all the tourist baggage. I started at Boyston T station. I took the Green Line. I had been through this station many times and wanted to stop for pictures of some displays in the station.

Old work car for the subway. In Boyston Station

Old  car for the subway. In Boyston Station

Sign explaining the next picture. In Boyston Station

Old  car for the subway. In Boyston Station

OK! Not really typical tourist fare. As a train lover and loving all kinds of railed transport, this was fascinating.

Day 3 begins

Day three is a combined rail watching and other. First objective is to get better pictures of the Orange Line at Mass. Ave. At Mass. Ave. Station, the Commuter Rail parallels the Orange line. However, from all vantage points there is no good line of sight to the commuter rail for taking pictures. I did get some pictures of the Orange line.

Orange Line at Mass. Ave. Train Station

Tuesday Evening, Copley Square

The mention of North Point Park in the last post, opened me to a discussion to cameras and other toys we take on vacation. I have three cameras. The first is a DSLR and used for all my real photography. This is taken always. The second is my camcorder. I have a mini DVD recorder to replace my older 8ml. The third is simply my cell phone camera. I decided at the last minute not to take the camcorder. For static, they are not a good recorder of vacations. They are better for moving objects. As railfan, I am using them for passing trains. However, I have taken still photographs of trains longer and still do.

With a camcorder, it is best to set it on a tripod so as not getting camera shake. If you are good, and you edit right, you can do it without a tripod. However, I like to take still picture of trains as the camcorder takes motion. The tripod become better. However, I did not want to carry the tripod for the few times I wanted to use it. North Point Park would have been good for the camcorder and having the car made it easy to have. Other that that, the points where I would watch trains and the amount carrying, was more than I wanted. Leaving out the tripod was a good idea. But leaving the camcorder behind would limit what I took with me.

Tuesday evening (the second day), change again, the itinerary. I walk around the area near the hotel. I made it done to Copley Square and got picture of the church and the library. Strick that from the list of things to do on the third day. My first leg, instead of hoofing it, would be by subway, to Arlington. I walk past the Copley Hotel. Years ago, before I moved to Boston, I attended a seminar and stayed at the Copley. Even then, it was majestic.

The Copley Square Hotel

The seminar was in the Library, which has been enlarged since then

Facade of the Public Library, a I first saw it.

I love that old church on Copley Square.

Facade of the Public Library, a I first saw it.

Trinity Church on Copley Square

At this point, a reflection of what seen to this point. The Harbor was beautiful and worth the effort to photograph in day one and 2 even more reflection will come, of course.

Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf

If going back would I try to picture it again. Probably not. What about my visit to South Station?

South Station

I am a railfan. I will visit and picture trains in and out of the station. This would be especially true if new equiptment is brought in. What about the North Shore trip? Here I would try something new such as Saugus Iron Works, Lynn Reservation, or Salem. There are more train watching activity on the North side of Boston.