Elevated Orange Line vs Silver Line

I came across this video of the old El a few days ago and keep coming back to it. In addition to enjoying the video because of the point of view that no longer exists, it's also interesting to hear about the El accident (starts around 0:50) and to see how much Washington St. in the South End has changed. Older folks often say that it was really run down in the 1970s and 1980s; they weren't kidding! 

Still, despite the wooden platforms in the stations and the clickety-clack of the trains overhead, most people I know speak nostalgically about the El. I tried to find a similar video taken from the Silver Line on Washington Street, but couldn't find anything remotely close. Instead I found one of my neighbors being interviewed by WCVB opposing Phase 3 of the Silver Line. If the Silver Line were removed from Washington St tomorrow, I wonder if anyone would speak nostalgically about it.

Comments

[Can-Can]

There's not doubt that Boston is a lovelier place with far fewer abandoned lots, etc. The new Orange Line looks better and has no hairpin turns like the old Orange Line. But in moving the Orange Line, an entire community of people were left with replacement transportation that is not as good as what they had.

While new businesses and housing were built, old businesses and housing were lost.
Though not a native Bostonian, I miss the old downtown. Jordan Marsh & Filene's were much better than what has replaced them.

It's sort of like the new Filene's Basement on Boylston Street - it just doesn't touch the old Filene's Basement and I'll bet when Filene's Basement returns to downtown it won't be as good.

that's the price of change - some things are gained, some things are loss, some things are prettified. Spirit can't be replicated I don't think.

[Jonas Louis]

Thanks for the Orange Line video. I fondly remember riding it. It was much faster from Dudley to get to Chinatown or Washington Street Station than from Roxbury Crossing on the current Orange Line alignment. And the downhill ride from Egleston or from Dover late at night was fast and fun.