Umair Gaines
Boston has a long history of electrification, with the city first installing an indoor arc lighting system in 1878 and becoming the first city to build electric traction for a large-scale rapid transit system in 1889. The Central Power Station (CPS), built from 1889 to 1891, was a massive engineering success, providing direct current (DC) electricity for Boston's growing streetcar system and becoming the largest electrical power station in the world at the time. However, the specific timeline regarding when downtown Boston, or specific areas within it, stopped using DC electricity is unclear. The Northeast Corridor (NEC), an electrified railroad line that runs from Boston to Washington, D.C., has a complex history of electrification, with various sections being electrified at different times and some plans, such as those before World War I, being interrupted by historical events. Boston's electric companies and their infrastructure have undergone numerous changes, mergers, and advancements over the years, indicating a dynamic landscape of electricity provision.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Downtown Boston DC electric | The Central Power Station (CPS) was built from 1889 to 1891 to provide direct current electricity for Boston's growing streetcar system |
| In 1894, the Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners was authorized to review and approve stock and debt issues of gas and electric companies | |
| Boston's rapid transit system | The West End Street Railway Company began providing electric power for Boston's rapid transit system in 1889 |
| Boston was the first city to build electric traction for a large-scale rapid transit system | |
| In 1911, the NH began electric service on its Harlem River Branch, which became a main line with the completion of the New York Connecting Railroad and its Hell Gate Bridge | |
| The Northeast Corridor (NEC) is an electrified railroad line running from Boston in the north to Washington, D.C., with major stops in Providence, New Haven, and Stamford | |
| Boston's early electric power | In 1878, the Brush Electric Lighting Company installed an indoor arc lighting system in a clothing store in Boston, and in 1880 they installed an experimental lighting system in Scollay Square |
| In 1883, the world's first three-phase central electric generating station, designed by Thomas A. Edison, began operations in Brockton, Massachusetts |
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What You'll Learn
Boston's Central Power Station
The CPS was a huge engineering success and an important impetus to the adoption of mass transit systems across the United States. The company had to overcome various challenges with equipment that was too small, weak, prone to failure, or too expensive to run on a full-time basis. For example, in April 1889, Joseph Moore, the traffic superintendent, wrote to President Whitney about issues with armatures, motors, fields, bearings, resistance, and switch boxes, all necessary for the power system of Boston's electric streetcars.
The CPS was designed to be permanent and aesthetically pleasing, with a 250-foot-high chimney that was the tallest structure in Boston at the time. This chimney was necessary to carry away smoke and fumes and was visible at all times during the day. The CPS went online in 1891, allowing the West End to launch the largest commercial electrical traction system in the world.
In addition to the CPS, Boston also had other power stations that contributed to its early electrification efforts. For example, the Boston Edison Power Station, built in 1904, provided power to both area buildings and the local streetcar network.
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The West End Street Railway Company
Before the West End Street Railway Company, several horse-drawn streetcar companies operated in Boston. These were consolidated into a single enterprise, the West End Street Railway Company, in 1888. By the time consolidation was completed, the company had over 7,800 horses and 1,480 cars. However, the use of horses as a mode of transportation was becoming outdated, and the company needed to find a better form of motive power.
After detailed investigations, the company decided to switch to electric traction, making Boston the first major city in the world to employ electric streetcars. The West End Street Railway Company constructed its own power stations, including the Central Power Station (CPS), which was the largest electrical power station in the world at the time. CPS provided direct current electricity for the growing streetcar system in Boston and went online in 1891.
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Boston's streetcar system
In 1889, the company decided to switch to electric traction for its large-scale rapid transit system, making Boston the first city to do so. The Central Power Station (CPS), built between 1889 and 1891 in downtown Boston, provided direct current electricity for the growing streetcar system. CPS was the largest electrical power station in the world at the time, and its flagship location in the West End allowed for the launch of the largest commercial electrical traction system globally.
The transition to electric power was not without challenges. In April 1889, Joseph Moore, the traffic superintendent, wrote to President Whitney about issues with equipment necessary for the power system of Boston's Rapid Transit electric streetcars. He also raised concerns about passenger safety, noting that "the overhead system is not entirely free from mishaps."
Despite these challenges, the West End Street Railway Company persevered, conducting extensive research and development while building their system. Their pioneering efforts had a significant impact, providing momentum for the adoption of mass transit systems across the nation.
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Boston's rapid transit system
Boston was the first city to build electric traction for a large-scale rapid transit system. The West End Street Railway Company, which began in 1887, was responsible for this pioneering effort. The company constructed the Central Power Station (CPS), which was completed in 1891. CPS was the largest electrical power station in the world at the time and provided direct current electricity for Boston's growing streetcar system.
The transportation system in Boston, now referred to as the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority), is locally known as the "T". It offers subway, bus, trolley car, and ferry services, connecting Eastern Massachusetts to the outlying Boston suburbs. The "T" has colour-coded subway stops: the Red Line, Green Line, Blue Line, Orange Line, and Silver Line. The Tremont Street subway, opened in 1897, was the first rapid transit tunnel in the United States and operated 24/7.
The first elevated railway and the first rapid transit line in Boston were built three years before New York City's first underground line. Boston's rapid transit network has seen additions in most decades since the 1900s, with recent expansions including the Silver Line bus rapid transit and the Green Line Extension. The network consists of 153 stations, with the five most recent stations opening in December 2022 as part of the Medford/Tufts branch of the Green Line Extension project in Somerville.
Boston's public transportation system also includes commuter rail, Amtrak services, and a bike-sharing system called BLUEbikes, which provides over 100 stations and 1,000 bikes in the Boston area.
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Boston Edison Company
The Boston Edison Company, also known as the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston, was established in 1886. The company was founded by pioneers of the electric industry, Edward H. Johnson and Henry Villard, with investment from financier J. P. Morgan. Boston Edison's first customer was the Bijou Theater, which became the first electrically lighted theater in the United States.
In the 1890s, Boston Edison competed with Boston Electric Light Co. for dominance in the Greater Boston area. This rivalry ended in 1901 when Boston Edison purchased a third competitor, Suburban Light and Power Company. Boston Electric Light Co. was merged into Boston Edison in 1902, making it the sole provider of electric power in the region. Boston Edison continued to expand through acquisitions, purchasing six neighbouring power companies in 1903, including the Milton Light and Power Company and Somerville Electric Light Company.
The company played a significant role in encouraging the use of electricity among consumers. In the early 20th century, Boston Edison launched marketing campaigns and demonstrations of electrical appliances, such as the "Farm of Edison Light and Power" exhibit. They also ventured into the development of electric vehicles in 1911. As demand for electricity grew, particularly during the manufacturing boom of the 1920s, Boston Edison expanded its generating capacity and established radio stations, including WTAT in 1923, which was the first station operated by an electric utility company.
Today, the Boston Edison Company is part of Eversource Energy, a subsidiary of Northeast Utilities. Eversource Boston Edison maintains power lines and provides electricity to homes and businesses within its service area. The company encourages the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar power, to reduce energy bills and carbon emissions.
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