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The PCC (Presidents' Conference Committee)
street car has been a common sight in Boston for over sixty years. The first PCC on the
scene for revenue service was #3001 in 1937 under the Boston Elevated Railway colors.
After the successful acceptance of #3001, hundred's more were ordered over the next
dozen years under the direction of both the Boston Elevated and, after August 1947,
the Metropoliton Transit Authority (MTA). PCCs still serve Boston on the MBTA's
Mattapan-Ashmont High Speed Line. Recently there has been talk of replacing the PCCs,
due to their age and the scarcity of some parts. Speculative talk has been that
trackless trolleys would take over the line, (The current LRVs, Type 7s and 8s are
too heavy for the bridges on the line.) but until a final, official announcement is
made, the PCCs will remain in service for the seeable future. Before that happens,
make sure you get that ride and photo or video opportunity before they disappear for
good. The following photos are some of Boston's PCCs, as seen over the years.
A brand new Boston Elevated Railway PCC car, #3210, is seen arriving on a flatcar. No. 3210 was brought to Boston by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. Date unknown. (Photographer unknown. Walker Transportation Collection)
The only cosmetic changes for the PCC after the MTA take-over in 1947, was the deletion of the Boston Elevated Railway herald, which was replaced with the MTA logo. Some equipment had a second style MTA herald showing the system map. The numbers and colors stayed the same all the way through to the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, which came into existence in 1964). Some PCCs were painted a dull gray in the 1960's into what became known as "Gray Ghost." Others were painted green during the same period and into the early 1980's to match the color of the line they ran on. Here is MTA PCC #3336 at Mattapan Station. Circa 1950's. (Photographer unknown. Walker Transportation Collection) The following three images were from a
fan-trip on September 3, 1967. As you can see, the trip covered just about every corner
of the Green Line. MBTA Green Line PCC #3211, with PCC
#3205 taking up the rear, briefly stops on the Lechmere Viaduct in the West End of
Boston for a photo opportunity before approaching North Station. You can see the
Museum of Science in the left hand side, background. (Photographer unknown.
Walker Transportation Collection) MBTA PCC #3211 on Chestnut Hill Avenue,
heading towards Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton, Massachusetts. (Photographer unknown.
Walker Transportation Collection) MBTA PCC #3211 making a stop in the
Subway at Arlington Street Station. (Photographer unknown. Walker Transportation
Collection) FEATURED VEHICLESAirplanes | Boston's PCC | N.E. Buses | N.E. Diners | N.E. Fire Engines | N.E. Police Cars | N.E. Rails | Ships and Boats | Steam Rollers | White Trucks | Cars |
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