Orange Line
Forest Hills station
Another Orange Line train pulls out of the station heading to Malden, this one led by car 1440.
Forest Hills station
The poor maintenance here is a bit distressing: station sign and ma completely missing, no tactile edge treatment (just yellow paint).
Forest Hills station
Looking north up the mainline toward Ruggles. In the distance, the flat junction for the Needham Line where northbound trains must cross the southbound mainline to access track 2 at far right.
Forest Hills station
Looking back down the platform toward the station, with both headhouses visible
Forest Hills station
Let's go back to the Orange Line and away from this creepy platform
Forest Hills station
First let's take a look along track 5. The Needham Line only continues another ¾ mile before merging into a single-track line for the remainder of the line, although it was originally constructed as a two-track branch.
Forest Hills station
When these photos were taken in July, 2022, the rusted-out old #12 cars were will in service on the Orange Line.
Ruggles station
At the south end of the platform, the stairs lead to an exit, which is protected by an "iron maiden" turnstile.
Ruggles station
Looking southeast from the end of the platform, toward the mainline tracks
Ruggles station
Looking over at the mainline platforms. Note that the tracks are at the same level here (unlike at Forest Hills where the Orange Line tracks are elevated).
Ruggles station
Northeastern University has expanded substantially east towards Tremont Street since the Orange Line was moved to the Southwest Corridor in 1987. The Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex was completed in 2017. As a part of the project, NU constructed a pedestrian bridge just north of the MBTA busway.
Ruggles station
Looking back down the outbound Orange Line platform as a train departs
Ruggles station
Ruggles does not have as much natural light as Forest Hills but it's open and airy enough to have birds nesting. It has a similar interior layout to Forest Hills, and like Forest Hills has both an upper and a lower busway.
Ruggles station
Ruggles station
Originally, only tracks 1 and 3 could platform at Ruggles, causing operational restrictions for both Amtrak and commuter trains as Amtrak needed track 1 for southbound trains and the MBTA needed track 1 for northbound peak-period commuter trains to allow them to serve Ruggles. This was only just resolved by constructing a new platform for track 2 in 2021.
Ruggles station
Looking south from the south end of the track 1/3 platform. The overpass carries Ruggles Street; the exit stair from the Orange Line platform rises at upper right.
Ruggles station
Now looking north from the south end of the CR platform toward the station
Ruggles station
A very old "spider" map, which must date from the opening of the station (some stations are shown as being planned to become accessible after 1990). You can also tell that it's old by the different termini, old station names, and entire missing lines.
Ruggles station
It's dark underneath the station: that string of fluorescents really doesn't do much.
Ruggles station
Looking across tracks 1 and 2 at the brand-new platform. Note how the platform runs under the busway and pedestrian bridge and continues further up the line!
Ruggles station
It's my understanding that the north end of the tracks 1/3 platform had been "closed for repair" for quite some time, but not why. Other than the missing tactile edge treatment there isn't anything obviously justifying a long-term closure. (No I didn't pass the barrier to investigate for myself!)
Ruggles station
Ruggles station
In the lower busway there's a much more up-to-date version of the "spider" map along with a local bus network map.
Ruggles station
Next to the static maps is the ramp down to the new track 2 platform, with this informative real-time destination and track display. (It's more informative than the ones at South station!)
Ruggles station
Looking south along the track 2 platform from the foot of the ramp from the busway.
Ruggles station
Note benches and trash can on the other side of the busway overpass.
Ruggles station
On the west side of the tracks is Northeastern's Egan Research Center.
Ruggles station
The sign says "Ruggles Street Station" but it's never been anything other than "Ruggles station" in my hearing. Indeed, Ruggles Street itself seems to be rather forgotten.
