Lechmere
The original surface Lechmere Station was in service from about 1912 to 2022 (the early years are a bit hazy because some trains would use the Lechmere Viaduct and then continue as surface streetcar routes) until it was closed to Green Line LRVs on May 23, 2020 to allow the former elevated and incline down to the surface Lechmere station to be demolished so the new modern concrete viaduct of the Green Line extension to Medford and Somerville could be built into the existing Green Line tracks. The surface station continued as a transfer point between Green Line shuttle buses to North Station (that used a variety of non-MBTA buses) and regular connect yellow MBTA bus routes that have always serviced the station. Once the new viaduct station opened on March 21, 2022 the entire surface station site was demolished and when I visited in June 2024 it was a walled off construction site. The current plans are for Lechmere Crossings mixed-use residential project with a public market.
The station was the northern terminus of the green line trolley and at the time of the station’s closure only 'E' Heath Street trains made the northern trip all the way across the Lechmere Viaduct, the last elevated section remaining on the green line, a national historic landmark and one of the last real elevated sections of track in all of Boston. The trolley loop itself was at street level but trains leave the elevated just before the station. Incoming trains entered and discharged their passengers to an exit platform with an old wooden canopy that also covers the bus loop used by the 4 bus connections further into Cambridge. The roof was low enough to warrant No CNG signs at the entrances so these routes can only be served by diesel buses. The exit is directly along the O'Brien Highway and across from it was the stations 347 space parking lot (weekday availability <1%, price as of 2011 $5.50). This parking lot is where the new Lechmere Station has been built.
Trains then turn around using and outside loop, in the area in between there is a second loop plus two more sidings for storing trolleys. Passengers arriving to the system walked (or got dropped off by a terminating bus) at the stations little drop-off loop (MBTA buses only, not a kiss-n-ride) right off of Cambridge Street. Here another old wooden enclosure covered the fare gates and lead out to a very narrow area for boarding the trollies. On this platform is a little concession window with a decaying sign that says 'Trolley Snacks, Hot/Cold Food.' Passengers wishing to get between the respective platforms can use a pedestrian underpass just south of the station; or walk north of the trolley loop and down 2nd Street using local streets.
Photos 1-18 taken on 14 December, 2011; 19: August 2, 2021; 20-69: August 4, 2021; 70 & 71: June 21, 2024
Science Park