Charlestown Elevated
| Company type | Rapid transit line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1901 |
| Defunct | 1975 |
| Fate | Replaced by Haymarket North Extension |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | Boston, Massachusetts, Everett, Massachusetts |
| Products | Rapid transit service (Orange Line) |
The Charlestown Elevated was a portion of the MBTA Orange Line rapid transit system, extending from the Canal Street Incline in downtown Boston, Massachusetts through the neighborhood of Charlestown and terminating in Everett, Massachusetts. This segment commenced operations in June 1901 and was succeeded by the Haymarket North Extension in April 1975.
Route
Beginning at the Canal Street incline, located just north of Haymarket Square within Boston's Bulfinch Triangle, the Charlestown Elevated ran parallel to the Causeway Street Elevated heading northward to North Station, situated just south of the Boston Garden. From there, it veered east along Causeway Street until reaching Tower C, where it diverged from the Atlantic Avenue Elevated, then proceeded north across the Charlestown Bridge.[1]
Along its path, the line featured elevated stops at both City Square and Thompson Square, followed Main Street through Charlestown, and concluded at Sullivan Square. The terminal at Sullivan Square was a substantial brick structure housing multiple streetcar loops and a significant maintenance depot. Beyond Sullivan Square, the route crossed the Mystic River via a high-level bridge before descending to ground level at Everett station.
Construction
Work on the Charlestown Elevated began in 1899, with passenger service officially starting on June 10, 1901.[2] The original stations included North Union Station (later renamed North Station), City Square, and Sullivan Square, supported by a large maintenance facility located at Sullivan Square. When the Atlantic Avenue Elevated opened on August 22, 1901, it connected just east of North Station.[2] The addition of Thompson Square station followed as an infill stop on May 22, 1902.[2]
In 1912, a platform was added at North Station on the Causeway Street Elevated specifically for Atlantic Avenue shuttle trains to prevent interference with mainline tracks.[2] Plans made in 1917 to replace the elevated structure with a subway line running beneath Main Street were abandoned due to the onset of World War I.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Everett extension
During the 1910s and 1920s, the Boston Elevated Railway (BERy) proposed extending the Charlestown Elevated further to reach Malden. Construction of the southern segment, including a drawbridge spanning the Mystic River, was completed in the late 1910s. The Everett station opened on March 15, 1919, located in an industrial zone just north of this river crossing. Initially intended as a provisional terminal until service extended fully to Malden, Everett station was uniquely built with wooden materials rather than permanent construction typical of other Elevated stations. Opposition from Malden residents—who favored a tunnel option to minimize noise and vibration—resulted in cancellation of the Malden extension, leaving Everett as the final stop.
After 1928, the Atlantic Avenue Elevated operated solely as a shuttle between South Station and North Station until its closure on September 30, 1938. Most of this line was dismantled in 1942 for wartime steel salvage during World War II, except for a short section near Tower C that remained for train storage linked to the Charlestown Elevated.
Replacement and Decommissioning
In contrast to the Washington Street Elevated, the Charlestown El was subjected to rapid corrosion caused by the salty air from its close location to Boston Harbor and the Mystic River, which led to higher upkeep expenses. Additionally, it faced local opposition due to noise disturbances and its obstruction of sunlight on Main Street. In 1965, removing the elevated structure became part of a concession by Edward J. Logue aimed at securing community approval for redevelopment plans.
Constructing another elevated line was deemed unfeasible, while building a tunnel along the entire route proved too expensive. The Haymarket North Extension initiative introduced a tunnel starting from , including a new underground station at , then passing beneath the Charles River to emerge near Bunker Hill Community College. From that point, the extension utilized the existing Haverhill Line commuter rail corridor, minimizing difficulties related to land acquisition. The Charlestown Elevated ceased operations after the afternoon peak on April 4, 1975; the Haymarket North Extension began service on April 7.
A demolition contract valued at $387,000 was awarded in June 1975, with dismantling commencing in August at City Square. By the end of that year, only North Station and Sullivan Square remained standing but were taken down in 1976. Thompson Square station had been lowered with plans for conversion into a restaurant but was destroyed by fire before the adaptation occurred. Some elements still exist: footings for the Mystic River bridge west of Route 99 remain intact, supports on the Charlestown Bridge center span persisted until its replacement in 2020, and Tower C was preserved by relocation to the Seashore Trolley Museum.
Station listing
| City/Neighbourhood | Station | Image | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | North Station | Connection on second floor to Boston Garden | |
| Boston/Charlestown | City Square | ||
| Thompson Square | |||
| Sullivan Square | Replaced in 1975 by a modern surface-level station | ||
| Everett | Everett | Terminal station |