MBTA T Rolling Stock Query

[davidrockyroad]

I’m currently on holiday in Boston, Massachusetts. This year my New Year’s Resolution was to keep track of every train I take, and to that effect I’ve got a spreadsheet with columns for origin, destination, distance, journey duration, operator and type of train. I can fill in all but the last with ease for my trips in Boston… sources I find online seem to contradict each other, and I can’t find a reliable and exhaustive list of the rolling stock in use on the MBTA network.

Can anyone advise on the different types of trains in use on the Red, Orange, Green and Blue lines of the T? If needed I can provide the specific numbers on each train as I have been recording those in case they come in useful.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

Wikipedia gives details of the rolling stock types with fleet numbers for each type.

Blue Line (only one type operating so no fleet number ranges given)

Green Line

Orange Line (only the new CRRC trains are operating)

Red Line

 

[davidrockyroad]

Wikipedia gives details of the rolling stock types with fleet numbers for each type.

Blue Line (only one type operating so no fleet number ranges given)

Green Line

Orange Line (only the new CRRC trains are operating)

Red Line

Thanks for your reply. What I meant to ask (my fault, I worded my original post oddly), was whether there was an MBTA-wide numbering/naming system, such as Class 73 or Class 745 like we have in Britain. Maybe there isn’t anything so vernacular, but perhaps each type of train has a name, rather than which company manufactured it. I hope that makes sense.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

Each car has a four digit number but sets don't seem to be numbered. The numbering isn't system-wide, because the new series #14 trains on the Orange Line are numbered from 1400 to 1551, overlapping with the series #1 trains on the Red Line (1500 to 1523).

 

[Wandering Pom]

The best source I've found for this is the unofficial but apparently comprehensive list at http://roster.transithistory.org/
I think it's maintained by members of the Boston Street Railway Association, which is the main enthusiast group for Boston's urban railways - see https://thebsra.org/bsra/

There is no MBTA-wide system for vehicle numbering or type numbering, as far as I can tell: each line has its own system, reflecting the network's origin in a series of separate companies. I think there are no clashes between type numbers in the current fleet, but if you look at the history section in the roster they definitely overlap.

 

[davidrockyroad]

Thank you both for your replies, these have been very helpful

 

[FormerBritInMe]

The MBTA nor its predecessors (MTA, Boston Elevated Railway Company) never had a classification system similar to for example the type classifications you use in the UK. For rapid transit equipment each subsequent order of cars is numbered, for example the Red Line was originally served by #1, #2, #3, and #4 cars which ran until 1963 when they were replaced by #5 cars (This was all under predecessor MTA). Under the MBTA and the opening of the South Shore branch, the numbering system changed to #1 Red Line (01500 and 01600 series Pullman), #2 (UTDC versions of similar cars numbered 01700s), and #3 (Bombardier 01800 cars). The new CRRC cars when they are finally in service will be the #4 cars and will replace the entire current fleet which in some cases is well beyond its service life. The NETransit list shows this and is probably the best source of MBTA Vehicle Inventory including commuter rail and buses as well as transit.

each line has its own system, reflecting the network's origin in a series of separate companies.

Actually all of the rapid transit lines (red, green, blue) were initially built by the Boston Elevated Railway Company and later extended/rebuilt by the MTA or MBTA. They are all different in terms of loading gauge and therefore equipment for various historical reasons e.g. the Blue Line was originally built as a streetcar (tram) line to tunnel under Boston harbor to connect downtown with the East Boston neighborhood and is therefore built to the streetcar loading gauge and has smaller cars as a result. I guess with the Orange and Red Lines since they were never intended to interconnect, they didn't worry about keeping the loading gauge the same. Somewhat different to the case in London or New York where different companies built lines to different loading gauges.