"Boston Public" Trolley query

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Feb 13, 2003 1:52 pm

I can't believe I'm cross-posting this request (I could never get any TrainOrders registration to work, and this is more a TrainOrders-type query), but here it goes, passed on to me by a "Boston Public" fan:

Someone on a bulletin board for the Fox TV show "Boston Public" asked the identity of the MBTA trolley shown in the opening credits (they say "Green Line", but I think MBTA paints all their light-rail vehicles green). Does anyone know offhand? I have no idea whether they're talking a PCC, a Boeing, or a Kawasaki.

The Boston Public forum message (I hope)
lner4472@bcpl.net

Phil Mulligan · **Posted:** Thu Feb 13, 2003 5:01 pm

MBTA (The "T") color codes their rapid transit lines and the "Green Line" includes all the lines that operate in the streetcar subway. Vehicles can be Boeing LRV's or Breda cars. These cars are painted green in one form or another.

Thus, the "Green Line" could refer to any of the 3-truck articulateds on any of the T's streetcar-subway lines.

There is an extension to the Red Line (Heavy Rapid Transit) between Mattapan and Ashmont that uses PCC cars. These were painted green from their tenure on the other lines but are being repainted in Tangerine to represent their heritage.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

Bob Davis · **Posted:** Sat Feb 15, 2003 4:27 am

> MBTA (The "T") color codes their
> rapid transit lines and the "Green
> Line" includes all the lines that
> operate in the streetcar subway. Vehicles
> can be Boeing LRV's or Breda cars. These
> cars are painted green in one form or
> another.

> Thus, the "Green Line" could refer
> to any of the 3-truck articulateds on any of
> the T's streetcar-subway lines.

> There is an extension to the Red Line (Heavy
> Rapid Transit) between Mattapan and Ashmont
> that uses PCC cars. These were painted green
> from their tenure on the other lines but are
> being repainted in Tangerine to represent
> their heritage.
I've seen the intro to "Boston Public" several times, and the green line car appears to be a 3600-class Kinki-Sharyo from 1986-88. It's not a Boeing, and last I heard the Breda units were having trouble staying on the track. It's ironic that the only two systems to use Boeing-Vertol LRV's are retiring them (SF Muni's are all out of service and some are in museums), but will be using PCC's for the forseeable future.

brunettedavis@aol.com