59 (MBTA bus)
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1891 |
| Fate | Merged into Middlesex and Boston Street Railway |
| Successor | Middlesex and Boston Street Railway |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | Boston, Massachusetts region |
| Products | Streetcar services |
The Newton and Boston Street Railway operated as a streetcar provider within the Boston, Massachusetts region and was eventually absorbed by the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway. The original corridor it served is currently operated as the 59 Needham Junction – Watertown Square via Newtonville bus line.
History
Founded in 1891, the Newton and Boston Street Railway commenced electric trolley operations between Newton Upper Falls and Newtonville on August 31, 1892.
Cartographic records from 1897 and 1899 reveal a branch extending to Newton Centre, with the 1899 map also depicting a parallel route operated by the Commonwealth Avenue Street Railway. In that same year, the company proposed—but never constructed—a line connecting Reservoir to Newton Center via Beacon Street.
On October 1, 1897, it took over operation of the Newtonville and Watertown Street Railway, thereby extending service northeastward to Watertown. A further southwest expansion reached Needham center in 1906. The Newton and Boston Street Railway was merged into the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway on October 9, 1909.
Trolley service was replaced by buses in 1926. Starting in September 1964, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority began subsidizing this route, initially designating it as 32 Needham–Watertown. Following MBTA’s acquisition of M&B on June 30, 1972, the route number changed to 532, then was updated once more in September 1982 to its present title: 59 Needham Junction – Watertown Square via Newtonville.
Route
Since its establishment, alterations to the route have been limited, primarily occurring near Newton Upper Falls. Originally, the line took a winding path north of Eliot Street to avoid steep inclines; during the mid-1970s, a one-way pair system was introduced south of Eliot Street for northbound buses. Currently, both travel directions utilize what was formerly the northbound alignment along Oak and Chestnut Streets.
Prior to April 20, 1981, northbound service ended at Needham Center station, after which it was extended to Needham Junction. In December 1984, a supplementary service named 59A Needham Street–Watertown Square was launched, running from Watertown through Newton Highlands station before diverging toward Needham Industrial Park. This variant was integrated into route 59 in December 1989; on weekdays, alternate trips follow the former 59A path to Newton Junction.
The branch serving Newton Centre diverged eastward from Walnut Street onto Homer Street, then proceeded south along Centre, Willow, Sumner, and Beacon Streets before terminating at Centre Street.
External links
- MBTA – Route 59
- Kenneth W. Newcomb – The Makers of the Mold
- Railroad History Database
- Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district (PDF)