713 (MBTA bus)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | May 23, 1874 |
| Defunct | January 27, 1940 |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
Area served | East Boston to Lynn, Massachusetts |
| Products | Passenger rail service |
The Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad was a narrow-gauge shortline railroad that provided passenger service between East Boston and Lynn from 1875 until 1940. Portions of its former route now serve as the outer segment of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Blue Line rapid transit system.
History
Incorporated on May 23, 1874, and commencing operations on July 29, 1875, this railroad linked East Boston to Lynn, passing through the coastal resort area of Revere Beach. A branch line at Orient Heights formed a loop that served Winthrop. From East Boston, a ferry connection provided access to downtown Boston's Rowes Wharf, where passengers could transfer to the Atlantic Avenue Elevated line (operating from 1901 to 1938).
Originally constructed with lightweight 30-pound rail, the track was upgraded to 50 pounds per yard in 1885 and further reinforced to 60 pounds per yard by 1904. The railroad employed narrow gauge rolling stock mounted on standard gauge ties. Its locomotives were predominantly Mason Bogies built by Mason Machine Works, with additional units acquired following the line’s closure. Passenger coaches featured seating arranged four abreast.
Between 1896 and 1900, the segment running from Revere Beach to Point of Pines was realigned inland alongside the former Eastern Railroad’s Chelsea Beach Branch. This relocation involved moving existing stations and adding new stops such as Bath House. Eventually, Revere Beach Boulevard replaced the original coastal alignment.
Revere Beach emerged as a prominent resort destination, prompting the entire railroad to be double-tracked by 1903. Significant incidents included the fire at the Narrow Gauge Hotel in 1902 and numerous large public festivities attracting thousands of visitors. The Pines Hotel hosted Theodore Roosevelt during his 1912 presidential campaign but ceased operations in 1913 following a liquor license crackdown. In 1916, six passenger cars were sold to the East Broad Top Railroad; notably, three of these cars remain operational today.
The BRB&L achieved considerable success, transporting over seven million passengers annually by 1914—ranking it among the busiest rail corridors in North America. This high ridership justified electrification efforts completed by 1928, which replaced steam locomotives with electric multiple units equipped with trolley poles and control stands. Nevertheless, passenger numbers declined during the Great Depression and further decreased after the opening of the Sumner Tunnel in 1934, which facilitated automobile access to downtown Boston.
After unsuccessful attempts to sell the railroad, bankruptcy was declared in 1937. The devastation caused by a hurricane in September 1938 damaged overhead wires and terminals, exacerbating ridership losses. Following a final excursion for rail enthusiasts on October 15, 1939, abandonment received approval; all operations terminated on January 27, 1940.
Winthrop sections
On July 1, 1891, the BRB&L merged with the Boston, Winthrop and Shore Railroad (BW&S), another narrow gauge line. The BW&S had been established on December 12, 1883 through the consolidation of two companies: the Boston, Winthrop and Point Shirley Railroad and the Eastern Junction, Broad Sound Pier and Point Shirley Railroad.
Boston, Winthrop and Point Shirley Railroad
Formed on July 3, 1876, the BW&PS inaugurated a narrow gauge route on June 7, 1877. This line branched off from the BRB&L at Winthrop Junction and extended approximately 1.8 miles to Winthrop Center before continuing to Ocean Spray and Short Beach. The southern portion was closed in 1881 and replaced by newly constructed lines heading east and south.
Eastern Junction, Broad Sound Pier and Point Shirley Railroad
Established by charter in 1880, the EJBSP&PS constructed a standard gauge railway extending from the Eastern Railroad near Crescent Beach through Beachmont to Point Shirley. This line shared much of its corridor with the BW&PS by utilizing dual-gauge tracks. Additionally, a branch line extended northward to Point of Pines in Revere. The company was integrated into BW&S by 1884 but operated for only two summer seasons before storm damage forced its abandonment.
Post-merger
In late 1883, the Boston, Winthrop & Shore RR was formed through the merger of BW&PS, EJBSP&PS, and the never-built Boston & Winthrop. Following storm-related destruction in 1885, management from BRB&L took over operations. By 1888, a loop line was constructed combining segments of the former BW&PS route with newly laid track serving Winthrop Highlands, Center, and Beach. This loop was double-tracked in 1903 and remained operational until BRB&L ceased operations in 1940.
Point Shirley Street Railway
The Point Shirley Street Railway was built starting in August 1910, running a 1.2-mile single-track route from Winthrop Beach station along Shirley Street and Tafts Avenue to Point Shirley. Legislative approval allowed BRB&L to acquire this line in October 1912. By 1914, it recorded 30,594 car miles, averaging 35 round trips daily, carrying 165,037 passengers annually with a workforce of seven employees.
Distinctively, this railway did not employ traditional overhead electric power. Initially, it operated gasoline-powered streetcars followed by battery-electric cars owned by BRB&L; however, these proved unreliable. Public demand led to the replacement of streetcars with buses in early 1919. Instead of overhead electric cars, lighter battery-powered streetcars were reintroduced in May 1919.
Despite these upgrades, high operating expenses persisted due to low ridership on the route. Consequently, buses permanently replaced streetcars in 1928.
After closure
Following electrification, the railroad's value was estimated at $2 million but was sold for $118,756 to a scrap dealer. Tracks and overhead catenary systems were dismantled for salvage. Passenger cars failed to attract buyers at auction and were subsequently burned in 1940 to recover metal components. Motorized trucks were sold to Eastern Mass. Most stations were demolished shortly after service ended or during rapid transit system conversion; however, Thornton station was converted into a residence during the 1903 double-tracking project and still stands today. Harbor View station, which had closed earlier and been relocated slightly, survives as a private home.
Bus service
Following the shutdown of BRB&L, passengers traveling between Lynn and Boston utilized buses operated by Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway (Eastern Mass) alongside Boston and Maine Railroad trains. Travelers between Revere and Boston relied on Boston Elevated Railway (BERy) streetcars connecting to the East Boston Tunnel; BERy also briefly provided bus service between Revere Beach and Point of Pines. Bus routes from Winthrop to Boston were managed by Saugus Transit (later known as Rapid Transit Inc.), which initially ran Winthrop–Lynn services under temporary permits. In April 1940, this service was divided at Point of Pines: Service Bus Lines took over Winthrop–Point of Pines operations while Eastern Mass handled Lynn–Point of Pines as part of a new Lynn–Boston route.
In January 1941, Eastern Mass purchased the Lynn terminal along with adjacent right-of-way for use as a busway. After relocating its terminal to Central Square, the former terminal land was subdivided for commercial development.
Blue Line
In 1941, the Boston Elevated Railway (BERy) acquired the BRB&L right-of-way stretching from Day Square to Revere Beach with the goal of establishing a high-speed trolley service akin to the Ashmont–Mattapan High-Speed Line; however, World War II caused delays in these plans. Earlier assessments from 1926 and later from 1945 to 1947 suggested extending the East Boston Tunnel rapid transit line to Lynn by utilizing the BRB&L corridor.
Construction of this rapid transit extension was initiated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (M.T.A.) in 1947. The initial segment, opening in January 1952, served Orient Heights and included stops at Airport and Day Square. By April of that year, the line reached Suffolk Downs. The subsequent phase extended the route to Wonderland in January 1954, adding stations at Beachmont and Revere Beach, all situated at former BRB&L station sites. In 1965, this line was officially designated as the Blue Line.
Despite numerous proposals advocating further expansion toward Lynn, no advancement has been made. The corridor from Revere Street to Point of Pines is currently owned by Massachusetts Electric Company (a National Grid subsidiary) and functions primarily as a utility pathway. This section is largely overgrown and partially encroached upon by residential developments and parking lots. A 2011 Alternatives Analysis explored potential extension routes for the Blue Line using either the Narrow Gauge right-of-way through Point of Pines or the Newburyport/Rockport Line corridor.
Winthrop
The Winthrop Loop was not preserved for transit purposes, with many stations demolished shortly after service ended. The town now owns much of this right-of-way, which includes portions converted into Veterans Road (Massachusetts Route 145), Walden Street, a baseball field near Fort Banks, and the Crystal Cove embankment. Other segments have been redeveloped for residential and commercial projects, while a brief stretch near Argyle Street has been transformed into a pedestrian path. In the 1990s, a commemorative track section was installed in Winthrop Center, with remnants of the Crystal Cove embankment still visible today.
Unlike the main line, the Winthrop Loop did not have adjacent mainline railroads or Boston Elevated Railway (BERy) streetcar routes. The town rejected BERy’s proposals for bus service. Instead, Saugus Transit initiated bus operations between Winthrop Beach and surrounding areas immediately following BRB&L’s closure; this service later became formalized under Rapid Transit Inc in March. The two bus routes diverged at Winthrop Beach, each serving one half of the Loop, with an additional connecting route running through Point Shirley.
After World War II, Veterans Road was paved over what had been the right-of-way. The inbound terminus moved to a newly opened station in May 1956. When the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) was established in 1964 to support suburban commuter rail services, it began subsidizing Winthrop bus routes starting in 1968.
In July 1991, Paul Revere Transportation assumed responsibility for operating Winthrop bus services. By September 1999, the two loop routes were officially labeled as 712 Winthrop - Orient Heights via Highlands and 713 Winthrop - Orient Heights via Center, appearing on MBTA maps and signage. Outbound trips on route 712 connect with inbound trips on route 713 and vice versa; some service extends further to Point Shirley.
Additional segments
Before being consumed by fire on March 15, 2019, the Orient Heights carhouse had been repurposed into a coffin manufacturing facility. The Massachusetts Port Authority obtained the right of way stretching from Byron Street to Tomahawk Drive to facilitate Logan Airport's expansion. The portion passing through Jeffries Point remains under private ownership; although the tunnels still exist, they are partly buried.
In the 1950s, a segment of the right-of-way situated between Logan Airport and the Blue Line corridor was utilized for a U.S. Navy oil pipeline.
During the Second World War, General Electric took control of most of the right of way through Lynn to enlarge its River Works facility, likely as a means to settle debts related to the electrification initiative. Subsequently, GE divested parts of this land: one parcel went to a private developer in 1989; another near Commercial Street was sold to the MBTA in 1991 (with a portion later resold to that same developer); and the western section was transferred to a different developer in 2014. The New England Power Company, a National Grid subsidiary, retains an easement across the western area for electrical transmission infrastructure.
Winthrop Loop
The loop’s tracks diverged from the main line just north of Orient Heights, curving eastward with one branch turning south. After track removal, much of the railbed was transformed into roadways, though some remnants persist near Crystal Cove at Winthrop Beach Station and around Belle Isle Marsh adjacent to Orient Heights. Presently, Veteran's Road traces much of the former rail corridor, reflecting the commuter rail’s route running parallel to Shirley Street. These station locations played a crucial role in shaping Winthrop’s suburban growth, fostering commercial activity and residential neighborhoods nearby.
| Station | Details |
|---|---|
| Pleasant Street | Situated at Pleasant Street’s northern end near Belle Isle Terrace; currently used as a boat storage area. |
| Battery | Initially known as Cherry Street Station, located at Banks Street and Wilshire Street; now serves as a gravel parking lot for a warehouse. |
| Highlands | Corresponds with Crest Avenue Playground; original depot stood close to today’s jungle gym. |
| Ocean Spray | Found at Shirley Street and present-day Veteran's Road, approximately where a used car dealership is now located. |
| Playstead | Located off Shirley Street opposite Pearl Street. |
| Winthrop Beach | At the intersection of Shirley and Washington Streets, near where DiParma's restaurant currently operates. |
| Thornton | Positioned at Winthrop Street’s southern extremity by Pleasant Beach; sections of the former railbed remain visible near Crystal Cove. |
| Winthrop Centre | Close to today’s Winthrop Center circle; in the 1990s, a 12-foot segment of track was installed on Hagman Road as a commemorative piece beside an existing steel electric support and an adjacent historical plaque. |
| Ingalls | Located at Walden Street and Short Street intersection; track ran along Walden’s west side. |
Steam locomotives
... (remaining entries omitted for brevity) ...| Number | Name | Manufacturer | Type | Year | Works Number | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st # 1 | Orion | Mason Machine Works | 0-4-4T | 1873 | 508 | Originally built for North and South of Georgia; transferred to Nantucket Railroad as #1 Sconset in 1888 |
| 2nd # 1 | Hinkley Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1879 | Acquired by Nantucket Railroad as #1 in 1901 | ||
| 3rd # 1 | ALCO Manchester | 2-4-4T | 1903 | 27801 | Dismantled in 1929 | |
| 1st # 2 | Pegasus | Mason Machine Works | 0-4-6T | 1875 | 549 | Destroyed by fire at Winthrop Junction (Orient Heights); scrapped in 1896 |
| 2nd # 2 | Manchester Locomotive Works | 2-4-4T | 1899 | 1707 | Decommissioned and scrapped in 1929 | |
| 1st # 3 | Jupiter | Mason Machine Works | 0-4-4T | 1875 | 550 | Leased to Boston, Winthrop & Point Shirley Railroad in 1883; burned at Winthrop Junction and scrapped in 1896 |
| 2nd # 3 | Manchester Locomotive Works | 2-4-4T | 1899 | 1708 | Scrapped in 1929 | |
| 1st # 4 | Mercury | Porter Bell & Company | 2-4-0 | 1876 | Leased to Boston, Winthrop & Shirley Railroad in 1878; destroyed by fire at Winthrop Junction and scrapped in 1896 | |
| 2nd # 4 | Mason Machine Works | 2-4-6T | 1882 | 683 | Burned at Winthrop Junction (Orient Heights) in 1896; dismantled in 1904 | |
| 3rd # 4 | ALCO Manchester | 2-4-4+T | 1904 | 30125 | Scrapped in 1929 |
Ferryboats
| Vessel Name | Year Built or Acquired | Source or Builder | Final Status or Disposition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'Union' | '1875' | 'Acquired from New Bedford-Taunton Railroad' | 'Scrapped in 1889' |
| 'Oriole' | '1876' | 'Purchased from Providence, Warren & Fall River Railroad' | 'Sold to Washington Railroad of Lunder, North Carolina, in 1878' |
| 'City of Lynn' | '1878' | 'Constructed by Bath Iron Works' | 'Converted into a sand barge in 1918' |
| 'Swampscott' | '1882' | 'Built by D. D. Kelly & Son, Boston' | 'Transferred for Portland to Peaks Island ferry service, Casco Bay, in 1908' |
| 'Dartmouth' | '1889' | 'Constructed in East Boston' | 'Retired from service in 1939' |
| 'Ashburnham' | '1905' | 'Built in Boston' | 'Sold in 1940' |
| 'Brewster' | '1906' | 'Built locally in Boston' | 'Sold off in 1940' |
| 'Newtown' | '1908' | 'Boston-built' | 'Towed to Portland, Maine, in 1940' |