Boston Street Railway Association in Boston area, Massachusetts
Rail preservation groupNo public museum building; monthly meetings on Zoom are open to members and guests
The Boston Street Railway Association is a nonprofit that has spent more than 60 years preserving the history of Boston's streetcars, subways and buses, and it shares that history through monthly talks open to anyone with an internet connection.
- Preserving transit history 60-plus years
- Monthly Zoom talks, guests welcome
- Restoring a Boston Type 5 streetcar
- Bimonthly transit news magazine
Boston Street Railway Association at a glance
- Hours
- No public hours; monthly meetings on Zoom, usually the first weekend of the month
- Admission
- Meetings are open to members and guests; ask about membership by email
- Best for
- Boston transit buffs and history researchers
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Boston Street Railway Association? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Boston area.
Rally Takes the Train
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Six decades of keeping Boston's streetcar story
The Boston Street Railway Association, known to members as the BSRA, is a nonprofit whose central goal is preserving transportation history in Boston and across New England. The group says it has been at that work for more than 60 years.
Its members document the region's transit past in several ways. They publish a bimonthly transit news magazine, produce their own books and materials, and hold a meeting every month that pairs MBTA news with a presentation from someone who rode, photographed or studied the system. The group is also restoring an ex-Boston Type 5 streetcar.
The association does not post a public museum building or visiting hours, so the best way to meet it is through its meetings. Anyone curious about seeing the streetcar project should email the BSRA to ask.
What you can see and hear from the BSRA
The monthly program is the BSRA's public face. Recent and upcoming talks include Donald Nevin's photographs of PCC streetcars on the Commonwealth Avenue and Huntington Avenue lines in the 1960s, Eric Oszustowicz's tour of nearly every Boston PCC from the 3000s to the 3300s, Paul Shackford's Kodachrome encore of Boston transit from the 1960s through the 1980s, and a look at the three storms of the winter of 1978.
Don’t miss
- The ex-Boston Type 5 streetcarThe association's restoration project, a car from Boston's own streetcar fleet.
- Monthly meeting presentationsPhoto and video talks on Boston transit history, open to guests as well as members.
- The bimonthly magazineThe BSRA's transit news publication, one of the ways it records history as it happens.
Better for older transit fans
There is no museum floor to explore, so this is not a typical outing for young children. Older kids and teens who love the Green Line, PCC cars or subway maps may enjoy watching a monthly Zoom presentation with a parent, and the photo-heavy talks are easy to follow.
Plan your visit: tips for Boston Street Railway Association
- Join the monthly meeting link from the association's meetings page; guests are welcome.
- Holiday weekends can shift the usual first-weekend meeting date.
- Email info@thebsra.org to ask about the Type 5 streetcar or membership.
Members who keep the record
The BSRA is a nonprofit run by its members, who vote on reports at meetings, write for the magazine and present programs. The group welcomes new presenters, and anyone who wants to support its streetcar restoration or publications can email info@thebsra.org to ask about joining.
Trolley and rail history to visit in person
To see streetcar history in person, try the Lowell National Historical Park trolley exhibits, about 22 miles away, or the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society, also about 22 miles. Families can head roughly 39 miles south to Edaville in Carver. See every train museum in Massachusetts.
- Boston & Maine Railroad Historical SocietyMassachusetts, MA · about 22 mi
- Lowell National Historical Park trolley exhibitsLowell, MA · about 22 mi
- Woonsocket Depot historic railway siteWoonsocket, RI · about 33 mi
- Heritage Rail Trail / historic railroad exhibitsNashua, NH · about 34 mi
- Slater Mill / Blackstone Valley railway-history exhibitsPawtucket, RI · about 36 mi
- Edaville Family Theme Park historic railroad collectionCarver, MA · about 39 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
These members keep old streetcar photographs the way a family keeps a scrapbook, and it reminds me of Rally packing for his trip. Into his suitcase go the things he can't leave behind: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball. Mom and Dad check the bag, and off they go. We all carry our favorite things along. Little packers can color that scene on our coloring pages.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
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- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Boston Street Railway Association?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Boston Street Railway Association: 20 common questions
What is the Boston Street Railway Association?
The Boston Street Railway Association, or BSRA, is a nonprofit whose central goal is preserving transportation history in Boston and throughout New England. It holds monthly meetings, publishes a bimonthly transit news magazine and its own books, and is restoring an ex-Boston Type 5 streetcar. The group says it has been doing this work for more than 60 years.
Does the Boston Street Railway Association have a museum I can visit?
The association does not list a public museum building or regular visiting hours online. Its public activity centers on monthly meetings held on Zoom, along with its magazine and publications. If you hope to see its collection or streetcar project in person, email info@thebsra.org to ask whether that is possible.
Where is the Boston Street Railway Association located?
The BSRA is based in the Boston area of Massachusetts, but it does not post a street address for visitors on its website. Because its meetings are online, members and guests can join from anywhere. Reach the group through info@thebsra.org or the contact link on thebsra.org.
When are Boston Street Railway Association meetings?
The BSRA meets once a month on Zoom, usually on the first weekend of the month unless it is a holiday weekend. As of October 2026, the next meetings are November 7 at 7:30 pm Eastern, December 5, January 9 and February 6. Check the meetings page on thebsra.org for links and times.
Can non-members attend Boston Street Railway Association meetings?
Yes. The monthly Zoom meetings are open to members and guests alike. The join link is posted on the meetings page of thebsra.org, and there is also an audio-only dial-in option. Regular members review and vote on reports during a short business portion, which guests can simply sit through.
What happens at a BSRA monthly meeting?
Each meeting opens with a brief business portion that includes current MBTA news, followed by an entertainment presentation on a transit topic. Recent programs have featured photographs of PCC streetcars on Boston's Green Line branches in the 1960s and Kodachrome views of Boston transit from the 1960s through the 1980s.
What streetcar is the Boston Street Railway Association restoring?
The BSRA is restoring an ex-Boston Type 5 streetcar, a car from Boston's own historic fleet. The association does not post restoration updates or viewing details on its home page, so email info@thebsra.org if you would like to learn more about the project or how to support it.
Does the Boston Street Railway Association publish a magazine?
Yes. The BSRA publishes a bimonthly transit news magazine for its members, and it also regularly publishes its own books and other materials about transit history. Ask about current titles and subscriptions by emailing info@thebsra.org.
How do I join the Boston Street Railway Association?
The association does not spell out membership dues on its home page. Email info@thebsra.org or use the contact link on thebsra.org to ask about joining. Members receive the bimonthly magazine and take part in the monthly business meetings, where regular members vote on reports.
Can I give a presentation at a Boston Street Railway Association meeting?
Yes, the BSRA invites people interested in presenting to get in touch. Its programs are usually photo or video talks on transit topics, often Boston subjects such as PCC cars, the elevated lines or historic storms. Email info@thebsra.org with your idea.
Is the Boston Street Railway Association good for kids?
It is better suited to older children and teens with a strong interest in Boston transit than to toddlers. There is no museum floor to explore, but a photo-filled Zoom talk about PCC streetcars or the Green Line can be a fun evening for a young transit fan watching with a parent.
What does the Boston Street Railway Association cover?
The BSRA focuses on transit in Boston and throughout New England: streetcars, subways and elevated lines, buses and commuter rail. Its programs have ranged from Boston PCC cars to the Elevated Railway, the old Lechmere viaduct and the end of Budd RDC service after the winter of 1978.
How old is the Boston Street Railway Association?
The BSRA says it has been preserving New England transit history for more than 60 years. It does not list an exact founding date on its home page, so email info@thebsra.org if you need the year for research.
Is there a fee to watch Boston Street Railway Association Zoom talks?
The association's meetings page says the monthly Zoom meetings are open to members and guests and posts the join link publicly. It does not mention a fee for guests. If you have questions about access, email info@thebsra.org before the meeting.
Can I join a BSRA meeting by phone?
Yes. Besides the Zoom video link, the BSRA offers an audio-only dial-in through Zoom's phone service, and it posts the meeting ID and passcode on its meetings page shortly before each meeting. Callers outside the US can find a local number through the link on that page.
Does the Boston Street Railway Association offer trolley rides?
No. The BSRA does not run rides for the public. For a trolley ride in Massachusetts, the Lowell National Historical Park trolleys offer free seasonal rides, and the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum runs an 1896 trolley on summer and fall weekends.
How do I contact the Boston Street Railway Association?
Email info@thebsra.org, which is the address the association lists for questions and concerns on its website. The phone number on its meetings page is a Zoom dial-in, not an office line, so email is the reliable way to reach a person.
Can I donate transit memorabilia to the Boston Street Railway Association?
The BSRA does not post a donation policy online. Because it preserves and publishes transit history, it may be interested in photographs, documents or artifacts. Email info@thebsra.org with a description of what you have before sending anything.
Are past BSRA presentations available to watch?
The association does not list a video archive on its home page. It sometimes repeats popular shows, such as an encore of Paul Shackford's Kodachrome slides of Boston transit for Zoom-only members. Ask at info@thebsra.org about recordings.
What train museums are near Boston to visit in person?
The Lowell National Historical Park trolley exhibits and the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society are each about 22 miles away. Edaville in Carver is about 39 miles, and Rhode Island's Woonsocket Depot is about 33. All of these can be reached as day trips from the Boston area.
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