Boston Street Railway Association facts for kids
The Boston Street Railway Association (BSRA) is a special group in Boston, Massachusetts. It's a non-profit which means it doesn't make money for itself. Instead, its main goal is to save and share the history of transportation in Boston and all over New England.
The BSRA does many cool things. They have meetings every month for their members. They also print a news magazine about transit every two months. A big project they are working on is fixing up an old Boston "Type 5" streetcar. The group also creates its own books and materials. They even plan fun trips for train and trolley fans on Boston's MBTA system and to places like the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.
The BSRA gets most of its money from donations by members and other people. These donations can often help with taxes. They also get grants and gifts from other groups. You can find out more about the BSRA on their website at thebsra.org. The website shows when the next meetings are, information about the group, and a store where you can buy books.
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History of the BSRA
The BSRA started in 1959. Ten people who loved trains and trolleys created it. Nine of them were in their twenties, and one was a teenager! That same year, they bought an old streetcar for $500. This streetcar, named #5706, was built in 1924. It was one of only four of its kind left. They bought it from a junkyard to use for special trips later.
Since then, the BSRA has become well-known for its publications. These books and magazines share stories about the history of public transportation in New England and the Boston area. The group also organizes special "fan trips" on Boston's MBTA system and other places. Their bimonthly (every two months) magazine is called Rollsign.
Monthly Meetings and Fun Events
For many years, the BSRA held its monthly meetings in a building called the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. This building was on Tremont and Boylston streets in Boston. After that building was updated, the meetings moved to the Midtown Hotel on Huntington Avenue.
Anyone can come to these meetings, not just members. They usually start with a quick business meeting. After that, there's a longer, fun presentation. These presentations often show slides and videos about public transit. They cover both old and new systems from all over the world. If a member or leader wants to show their own pictures or videos, they can! They just need to plan it ahead of time with the person in charge of entertainment.
Saving an Old Streetcar
The BSRA helps pay for and manage the restoration of a historic "Type 5" Boston streetcar. This streetcar is named No. 5706. It was built in 1924 for the Boston Elevated Railway by a company called J.G. Brill Co. The people who started the BSRA bought it in 1959. Since then, the BSRA has been working hard to save and fix up this important piece of history.
Exciting Fan Trips
The BSRA sometimes plans special "fan trips." These are trips on Boston's transportation system or to other places related to trains and trolleys. For example, on June 14, 2009, the BSRA rented a bus for a fan trip. They went to see their own streetcar (#5706). They also visited the Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven, Connecticut. These trips are a great way for fans to explore transportation history up close!
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