The Seashore Trolley Museum has gathered films from several photographers in order to provide a view back to the 1930s and 1940s when the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway provided streetcar service in several cities throughout Eastern Massachusetts.

The tape starts off with views of the Haverhill Division. Here Birney cars provided regular service supplemented with 4100 series semi-convertible cars in rush hours. Cars are shown in the downtown area and in the rural outlying areas of Haverhill in 1936. All footage is from 16-mm black and white films.

Next we visit the Lynn Division. At the time these films were taken by Gerry Cunningham, streetcars were still operating over several routes between Lynn's Central Square and the neighboring communities of Saugus and Swampscott. Heavy service was provided by the deluxe lightweight cars of the 7000 series.

There are some views of the service provided from the Boston Elevated Railway Sullivan Square terminal to Stoneham. This scenic line passed through the Middlesex Fells on private right-of-way. Part of the route was owned by the Boston Elevated Railway with the remainder of the line to Stoneham owned by the Eastern Mass. St. Ry. Semi-convertible cars of the 4300 class provided service. One of the cars was saved by the Seashore Trolley Museum after service ended in 1946.

Next we visit the Quincy Division of the Eastern Mass. St. Ry. We begin at the Fields Corner Station of the Boston Elevated Railway and proceed to Neponset Station, the crew change point for the Eastern Mass. We continue along Hancock Street to Quincy Center. Our trip continues on to the Shipyard loop near the Fore River.

We visit the Hough's Neck line from Quincy Center to Hough's Neck. We see the operations on the single-track line with cars stopping at the passing sidings. This line served a cluster of converted summer cottages and many riders were friendly with the trolley motormen. You'll see a boy raise the trolley pole for the motorman on more than one occasion.

We also visit the Brockton Division. Just two lines were left when Gerry Cunningham traveled with his 16-mm camera to this industrial city. Scenes are shot downtown on Main Street and on the single track Ames Street - Perkins Avenue line. Here cars of the 6000 class served just prior to being exported to Brazil for further service.

There is a short segment on Boston Elevated Railway operations in the 1930s including the Main Line Elevated and some streetcar operations. Watch for the "Queen Mary" PCC car 3001 running on a training trip in the summer of 1937.

As an added bonus the tape also shows the ferry boats of the Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad crossing Boston Harbor and the Union Freight Railroad operations under the Atlantic Avenue Elevated line.

The scenes shown here are actual screen shots captured from the videotape.

The tape runs for 54 minutes and includes black and white and color film footage. There is narration with background music. The tape sells for $24.95. Please contact the Seashore Trolley Museum Store for current shipping information.

Seashore Trolley Museum
P. O. Box A
Kennebunkport, Maine 04046-1690

(207) 967-2712 (Office and Museum Store)

E-mail: store@trolleymuseum.org