Streetcar Service Change from Old Colony to Boston Elevated-This Day in Norwood History-July 3, 1903

THE BOSTON ELEVATED

Took Charge of Of Dedham Line Last Wednesday

An important change in Norwood’s streetcar service, which may or may not work for the good of the town, and which will probably not bring in at present the much heralded and expected ten cent fare to Boston, but which will undoubtedly give much closer connection with Boston when in full working order, went into effect on Wednesday, July 1. The Boston Elevated has leased the Old Colony’s West Roxbury & Roslindale division to the Boston and Dedham line and will run its cars and crews over it. It looked a little strange Wednesday morning to see the imposing sign, “Boston Elevated” on cars waiting in the quiet little village of East Walpole, but East Walpole and Norwood people will soon find no novelty in such a spectacle.

The change will probably throw some old conductors and motormen out of employment, but there is doubt about its making so much of a change as was at first expected. The most notable effect in this respect will be a great reduction in the number of cars employed. All the cars leaving East Walpole hereafter will go clear through to the Boston Elevated terminal, and patrons of the road will be able to take a car at the Elevated station at Dudley Street and come through to East Walpole without change. This arrangement ought to be of great advantage to Norwood and East Walpole patrons of the road in gaining a quicker and more direct line to Boston.

The crews of the Old Colony street railway will take the cars from East Walpole to the dividing line between Boston and Dedham, where they will change with the Elevated crews. All cars inside the city limits will be run by the Boston Elevated men.

It is understood that the fare from Norwood or East Walpole to any part of Boston will be 15 cents, as it was before the change, the chief difference and advantage to the traveler being a through car to the Dudley Street terminal without change. This will undoubtedly make the accommodations for residents of this district much better than formerly, as the Elevated company has laid a double track to the Dedham line. The long waits on turnouts between East Walpole and Boston should be lessened by from twenty to thirty minutes. The Elevated company has also taken charge of the car house at Roslindale, it being in the limits of the city of Boston. The Old Colony has re-opened the car house at Islington, which was abandoned about two years ago. Additions will soon be built to the present structure about twice the size of the present building. Some of the conductors and motormen of the Old Colony have, it is said, already been discharged while others will find their work and routes considerably changed.

(The Norwood Advertiser)

This Day in Norwood History-May 21, 1972-Norwood Was Once The Hub Of Three Trolley Lines