Boston Elevated Railway 5734




Facts and Figures


Current Number5734
Railway RepresentedBoston Elevated Railway
BuilderJ.G. Brill Company
Built In1924
Builder's order id21776
Currently in (State)Massachusetts
--(Locality)Boston
Totally out of svc date1959
(Initial retirement date)
Car Typestreetcar
-subtypelightweight semi-convertible
-designationType 5A1
Statusstored inoperable
More infohttp://www.trolleymuseum.org/collection/boston/type5.html
Gauge4'8.5"
Constructionsteel
Roof typeAR
EndedDE
Length45'0"
Width8'6"
Height10'8"
Weight31568
#Seats48
#Wheels/Conf.8
Total HP100
TrucksStandard C35P
BrakesSM3
CompressorWABCO DH16
ControlK-71B
MotorsWH 508A (4)
Voltage (if not 600DC)
NotesOwned by Seashore Trolley Museum

Car 5734 on display in the Boylston subway station in Boston circa 2020
Imgur
photo: https://imgur.com/QXsKIic

Car 5734 on display in the Boylston subway station in Boston in 2011
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/76677346@N04/26585976069/

Car History by Jack Naugler


Boston Elevated Railway 5734
The Boston "Type 5" streetcar was originally designed as a light weight car that could operated by a one or two man crew. "Type 5's" operated on BER and successor MTA until 1959. Boston originally had 471 of this type of car, built by four different car builders between 1922 and 1927. Car 5734 was part of the sixth order for Type 5's, officially designated Type 5A1. Cars 5700-5749 were ordered in March 1923 and 5734 went into service in March 1924. Car 5734, one of the last nine Type 5's, was retired when double ended PCC's were bought from Dallas to cover the three lines that had no turning loops. This is a typical "big city" car designed to move large numbers of people quickly, with its wide aisles, ramped floors and double doors. Although this type of car ran with one man crews for many years, they were never equipped with "dead man" controls typical of "safety cars" of this period. In its stead, Massachusetts laws required a passenger-operated Emergency Valve to be located in the passenger area, which performed the same functions (i.e. cutting the power, applying the brakes, and balancing the pressure on the door engines, so the doors could be opened manually). Car 5734 ran on the streets and, after 1950, into the subway. For subway service, the cars had Tomlinson couplers installed, so they could be towed if a breakdown occurred. In 1979, car 5734 was leased back to the MBTA by Seashore as part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Riverside line. 5734 has had its lease extended numerous times, being used periodically for fan trips and special events. Currently, 5734 is still in Boston, stored underground on a side track at the Boylston Street subway station.


Ownership History


OwnerCar NumFromToPreservation?Loan?
Boston Elevated Railway (Massachusetts, Boston)57341924 1947 NO NO
Boston Metropolitan Transit Authority (Massachusetts, Boston)57341947 1959 NO NO
Seashore Trolley Museum (Maine, Kennebunkport)57341959 1979 YES NO
Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (Massachusetts, Boston)57341979 present YES YES