Boston's historic Mattapan Line relies on 1940s streetcars and a jet-powered snowblower for survival.

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: While most transit systems modernize, the Mattapan Line keeps its 1940s-era PCC streetcars running through the suburbs of Boston and Milton. This unique route, which winds through a cemetery and along the Neponset River, uses a specialized jet engine to clear tracks that would otherwise short out in winter.

The Mattapan Line, a 2.6-mile light rail route, originated as a commuter rail branch in 1847. By the 1920s, the Boston Elevated Railway sought to integrate the route into a broader rapid transit network. After steam service ended in 1927, the line was converted for streetcars, officially opening in two phases in 1929. Today, it remains an essential, integrated component of the MBTA system, despite its reliance on vintage technology that predates modern heavy rail standards.

The line's most iconic feature is its fleet of ten PCC streetcars, built by Pullman-Standard in 1945–46. These cars have undergone multiple rebuilds, most recently between 1999 and 2005, and again starting in 2017 to extend their operational life. Because the line's infrastructure was built for these specific vehicles, modern Green Line trolleys cannot easily replace them without significant, costly modifications to the tracks and stations. The MBTA currently plans to eventually transition to Type 9 light rail vehicles, but the historic cars remain the primary workhorses.

Operating in the harsh New England climate presents unique challenges. Unlike other transit lines that use standard trains to clear snow, the Mattapan Line requires the 'Snowzilla'—a 26,000-pound, jet-powered blower equipped with a Westinghouse J34 turbojet engine. This machine consumes about 500 gallons of jet fuel per run. The line has faced various operational hurdles over the decades, including flooding in 1968, warehouse fires in 1999, and several collisions. Despite these setbacks and repeated proposals to replace the service with buses, strong community support has consistently favored keeping the rail line intact.

The route itself is notable for its geography, running through the center of the Cedar Grove Cemetery and paralleling the Neponset River. While the line has faced budget-driven closure threats in the past, such as in 1981, it continues to serve commuters with headways as frequent as 6 minutes during peak hours. The ongoing Mattapan Line Transformation project aims to modernize the infrastructure, including bridge repairs and station upgrades, ensuring the line remains a functional piece of Boston's transit history.

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