suffolkcounty

wonderful photograph!

Wonderfully composed image as well as being of historical interest.

It's one of my all-time favorite photos. Glad you enjoy it! --Helena

"As one approached Boston Terminal (South Station) from the South on the former Old Colony Mainline, all inbound and outbound trains had to cross one of the 3 Rolling Lift Bridges that spanned the South Bay Channel. These bridges, which took 2 years to build carried untold amount of passengers & trains during their 87 year lifetime.

"The driving force to build Boston Terminal (South Station's Real Name) back in 1894 required the co-operation & consolidation of 4 Railroads: The New England Railroad (NY&NE), The Boston & Providence Railroad (B&P), the Old Colony Railroad (OCRR), and the Boston & Albany Railroad (B&A) to all share 1 common railroad terminal instead of being spread out all over Boston. In order to do this, the planners needed to accommodate the approach tracks for these 4 railroads & funnel them all into the South Station yards & platforms."

Read more about this bridge in this fascinating blog, The Rolling Lift Bridge by John Sheridan.

The Library of Congress has a collection of 47 amazing photographs of the Fort Point Channel Rolling Lift Bridge in their collection, including several detail views that no ordinary person would ever have the chance to see in person.

Tower bridges – Then and Now (100+ Years Later)

"Tower bridges" 1904 by Detroit Publishing Company



"Old Colony Railroad Bridge" 2010 by Penny Camberville

"When the bridges were torn-down in the 1980s, plans were created to preserve the memory of the bridges that kept traffic moving for over 85 years. If you are coming to South Station on any of the Old Colony tracks, look to the right as the train is crossing the remains of Fort Point Channel. There you will see, painted bright red is a piece of the original bridge - still watching passengers cross the channel." – John Sheridan, "The Rolling Lift Bridge"

www.flickr.com/photos/pixelwrangler/: Thank you for this historical context! From railroad bridge to public art--100 years of change.

This trolley would most likely have run down Washington Street from Ashmont Station, across Gallivan Boulevard, and further down Washington Street to the Lower Mills neighborhood of Boston. This neighborhood borders Milton, and is still the location of a commuter rail station where nearby Milton commuters catch the train into Boston. Lower Mills was also home to the Baker Chocolate Company-- the buildings still stand but it has been made into condos. Further, the triple (?)-decker seen in the background may still stand-- multifamily houses are still the predominant form of housing stock in Dorchester. Ashmont is still a terminus for one section of the current subway system.

Washington Street does not go near Ashmont Station, so it is perhaps more likely that the trolley would have run down Dorchester Avenue. If the trolley also passed through Edward Everett Square, it would make sense that the trolley traveled along Dorchester Avenue rather than Washington Street. The Milton Station car barn was located in Dorchester's Lower Mills near the bridge that crosses the Neponset River to Milton. Earl Taylor, Dorchester Historical Society, Dorchester, MA

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Police History, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

Thanks for adding this to the Police History Group -- Seen in Police History (?)

umm.. 1912 is between 1910 and 1915

Same photo as this one with different annotations: