| The MBTA's 01200-series
Hawker-Siddeley Orange Line rapid transit cars have been
serving the system faithfully ever since their purchase
in the late-1970s. Featuring an angled cross-section that
bulges out in the middle for more interior room, these
65-foot cars are quite similar to their shorter Blue Line
cousins. The Orange Line itself is at present probably the most "modern" of the MBTA's subway lines. The local end of the line is housed in a large channel that runs through several of Boston's neighborhoods - the Southwest Corridor transitway. This deep cut is also home to the northernmost portion of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, which is also used by MBTA commuter rail trains. The stations in this part of the Orange Line route feature a modern design where concrete is abundant. The line submerges just after Back Bay Station, in the South End, and makes several subway stops in Downtown Boston before reemerging after North Station, the terminus for the MBTA's northern commuter rail lines. The Orange Line then passes through Charlestown and Somerville before crossing into Malden and finally ending at Oak Grove station. This portion of the route is primarily elevated on concrete structures or high embankments, and while the stations are also somewhat modern, they are very different from those on the Forest Hills end of the line. Both end terminals feature a stub-end design, with crossovers so that trains can enter and depart from whichever track is available. |
| Click photos to enlarge | Description | Date | Location |
||
 |
A standard six-car train of 01200s departs Forest Hills station for its ultimate destination in Oak Grove. Note the electrical spark from the third rail. |
4/1/02 | Boston, MA | ||
 |
A set of Hawker-Siddeley Orange Line cars arrives at Forest Hills, where it will shortly reverse directions and head out again. |
4/1/02 | Boston, MA |
