A ride on a PCC car may prove to be one of the highlights of this entire Fest. The Mattapan trolley line is just 2.2 miles, running from the rapid transit station at Ashmont to its namesake station. Keep in mind that all intermediate stations are treated as "flag stops", that is the operator won't stop if nobody is getting off and nobody is visible on the platform.
The outbound fare on the Mattapan trolley is free. It is assumed that most passengers, like us, transferred from the heavy rail Red Line, where we already paid a fare. We won't have to pay anything (or show our passes) until we re-enter the heavy rail line back here at Ashmont.
We start out by leaving the station building and running over a bridge over the nonrevenue portion of the rapid transit Red Line. This bridge is shared with buses that also serve the Ashmont station complex. We then curve to the right and join the inbound track on the right-of-way. To our right will be Codman Yard, where subway cars are stored and turned. You can see the wooden walkways where the motorman changes ends.
Just past the end of the subway yard is the first station, Cedar Grove. Right after this station, the right-of-way passes in a cut right through a cemetary by the same name.
Near the end of the cemetary, the tracks will go up a bit to pass over an abandoned freight line. From this bridge you get a good view of marshes and the cemetary. We then enter the Butler Street station. This has a rare island platform, necessitating passengers cross the tracks at grade on walkways. A former overhead walkway was removed about 20 years ago.
Next is another bridge, this one over the Neponset River. On both sides you will be able to see abandoned railroad bridges. We are also leaving Boston here, entering the town of Milton.
Milton is probably one of the most important intermediate stations on this short trolley line. The town has a large business district and town square, Pierce Square, and a shopping area called Milton Village.
Inbound trolleys at Milton have to make a safety stop before entering the station because of a stairway at close proximity to the track.
Beyond Milton we go up and over a hill, and then come down to the Central Avenue station. Central Avenue itself has no crossing protection, so trolleys in both directions have to make a safety stop. Outbound cars have to stop again because their station is west of the crossing.
We then curve to the left and head for the Valley Road stop on a straightaway that is alongside the Neponset River.
Capen Street is next, the last stop in Milton. Here, the stations are "properly" placed so that in both directions the platform is before the grade crossing, necessitating just one stop for the trolley.
The Neponset River is crossed once more as we leave Milton and enter Mattapan. The station here is an open area. You will see yard storage and maintenance tracks for the trolley cars, and even some old Green Line cars that were moved here after being replaced by more modern equipment.
The Mattapan station has bus stops on both sides of the trolley tracks. Although there is an indoor shed similar to those at Ashmont and Fields Corner, the trolleys make their stop outdoors. Usually the doors open on both sides of the car. Everyone must exit here, as nobody is allowed to ride around the loop.