Part 11/14:
The 1950s and 1960s marked the final phase of Boston’s streetcar era. As newer subway lines opened and city planning shifted focus to automobiles, many tunnels, platforms, and portals were sealed and abandoned. The North End incline, which once connected the elevated lines to streetcars, was dismantled, and the Harvard Square lower level, once a bustling trolley yard, was walled off, leaving only remnants that occasionally flicker into view as trains pass through.
Hidden Underground Treasures
Today, most of Boston’s early streetcar tunnels are hidden from public view—sealed beneath parks, streets, or new construction. However, a few remnants remain accessible or at least observable in rare tours and investigations. Notable examples include: