Wellesley Farms station

Last updated
Wellesley Farms
Outbound train at Wellesley Farms 2.jpg
Wellesley Farms station in 2023
General information
Location90 Croton Street
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Coordinates 42°19′23.5″N71°16′19″W / 42.323194°N 71.27194°W / 42.323194; -71.27194
Owned byTown of Wellesley
Line(s) Worcester Line
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
Construction
Parking199 spaces ($4.50 daily)
Bicycle facilities16 spaces
Other information
Fare zone3
History
Opened1830s
Rebuilt1890
Previous namesRice's Crossing
Passengers
2018298 (weekday average boardings) [1]
Services
Preceding station MBTA.svg MBTA Following station
Wellesley Hills
toward Worcester
Framingham/​Worcester Line Auburndale
toward South Station
Former services
Preceding station New York Central Railroad Following station
Wellesley Hills
toward Albany
Boston and Albany Railroad
Main Line
 Riverside
toward Boston
Wellesley Farms Railroad Station
Wellesley Farms station
LocationCroton Street Extension, Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA
Area2.1 acres (0.85 ha)
Built1890
Architect H.H. Richardson
Architectural styleRomanesque, Richardsonian Romanesque
NRHP reference No. 86000259 [2]
Added to NRHPFebruary 14, 1986

Wellesley Farms station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in Wellesley, Massachusetts. It serves the Framingham/Worcester Line. It is located in the Wellesley Farms area. The current station building, designed by Henry Hobson Richardson in 1886 and constructed in 1890, has been listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places as Wellesley Farms Railroad Station since 1986. [2]

Contents

History

Wellesley Farms station in 1915 Wellesley Farms station, 1915.jpg
Wellesley Farms station in 1915

The Boston & Worcester Railroad (B&W), extending outwards from Boston, reached through the West Parish of Needham in mid-1834. [3] Rice's Crossing station opened as a flag stop north of Glen Road soon afterward. [4] In 1839, the line was double tracked through the area. [5]

Wellesley Farms station, which was designed by Henry Hobson Richardson prior to his death in 1886, opened south of Glen Road to replace Rice's Crossing in 1890. [4] Like many B&A stations, it had attractive landscaping; Charles Mulford Robinson called it "unique, and to be remembered" in 1904. [6]

The station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. [2] In July 2004, the MBTA closed a paved crossing between the crossings in response to concerns about safety. Similar crossings exist at some other MBTA stations, but the agency's policy is to eliminate grade crossings whenever possible when building or renovating stations. [7]

In June 2021, the MBTA issued a $28 million design contract for a project to add a third track from Weston to Framingham, including reconstruction of the three Wellesley stations and West Natick station. The project was expected to cost around $400 million, of which rebuilding Wellesley Farms station would be $34 million, with completion in 2030. [8] In May 2024, the MBTA listed Wellesley Farms as one of seven stations that would require "complex solutions" to be made accessible. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MBTA Commuter Rail</span> Greater Boston commuter rail system

The MBTA Commuter Rail system serves as the commuter rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA's) transportation coverage of Greater Boston in the United States. Trains run over 394 mi (634 km) of track to 135 stations. It is operated under contract by Keolis, which took over operations on July 1, 2014, from the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston and Albany Railroad</span> American railroad line (1867-1961)

The Boston and Albany Railroad was a railroad connecting Boston, Massachusetts to Albany, New York, later becoming part of the New York Central Railroad system, Conrail, and CSX Transportation. The mainline is currently used by CSX for freight as the Berkshire Subdivision and Boston Subdivision. Passenger service is provided on the line by Amtrak, as part of their Lake Shore Limited service, and by the MBTA Commuter Rail system, which owns the section east of Worcester and operates it as its Framingham/Worcester Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Framingham/Worcester Line</span> MBTA commuter railroad line

The Framingham/Worcester Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system runs west from Boston, Massachusetts, to Worcester, Massachusetts, through the MetroWest region, serving 18 station stops in Boston, Newton, Wellesley, Natick, Framingham, Ashland, Southborough, Westborough, Grafton, and Worcester. It is the third-longest and third-busiest line in the MBTA Commuter Rail system. Service on the line is a mix of local and express trains serving Worcester plus short-turn Framingham locals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Station (Walpole, Massachusetts)</span> Railway station in Walpole, Massachusetts, US

Union Station, also known as Walpole station, is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in Walpole, Massachusetts. It is located at the crossing of the Franklin Branch and Framingham Secondary just west of downtown Walpole. The station has one side platform on the Franklin Branch serving the Franklin/Foxboro Line service. Unlike most MBTA stations, Walpole station is not accessible; an accessible platform is under construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natick Center station</span> Train station in Natick, Massachusetts, US

Natick Center station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in Natick, Massachusetts served by the Framingham/Worcester Line. The station, located below grade in a wide cut adjacent to North Main Street, has two side platforms serving the line's two tracks. The second-busiest non-accessible station on the system, it is undergoing a major accessibility renovation and modernization from 2020 to 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newton Centre station</span> Light rail station in Newton, Massachusetts, US

Newton Centre station is a light rail station on the MBTA Green Line D branch, located in the Newton Centre village of Newton, Massachusetts. A former commuter rail station, it was converted for light rail use and reopened on July 4, 1959, along with the rest of the line. The 1891-built station and express office are part of the Newton Railroad Stations Historic District, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lansdowne station (MBTA)</span> Railway station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

Lansdowne station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in Boston, Massachusetts. It serves the Framingham/Worcester Line. Lansdowne is located next to the Massachusetts Turnpike in the Fenway–Kenmore neighborhood near Kenmore Square, below grade between Beacon Street and Brookline Avenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockport station</span>

Rockport station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in Rockport, Massachusetts. It is the terminus of the Rockport branch of the Newburyport/Rockport Line. The station complex consists of a single side platform with one revenue track plus 4 layover tracks for parked trains and a short stretch of auxiliary track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newtonville station</span> Railway station in Newton, Massachusetts

Newtonville station is a commuter rail station on the MBTA Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester Line, located between the Massachusetts Turnpike and Washington Street at Newtonville Square in the village of Newtonville in Newton, Massachusetts. Stairway entrances are located on the bridges over the Turnpike at Walnut Street and Harvard Street. Newtonville station is not accessible; renovations for accessibility are planned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Newton station</span>

West Newton station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in Newton, Massachusetts. It serves the Framingham/Worcester Line, and is located inside the Massachusetts Turnpike Exit 16 rotary in the village of West Newton. West Newton has had continuous rail service since 1834. The station consists of a single low side platform serving one of the line's two tracks, with small crossings to access trains on the far track. West Newton is not accessible; a renovation for accessibility is planned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auburndale station (MBTA)</span> Commuter rail station in Newton, Massachusetts

Auburndale station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in Auburndale, Massachusetts. It serves the Framingham/Worcester Line. It is located next to the Massachusetts Turnpike near Lasell College. The modern station platform, built around 1961, replaced a highly acclaimed 1881 depot building designed by H. H. Richardson. A full renovation of the station for accessibility is planned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wellesley Hills station</span> Rail station in Wellesley, Massachusetts, US

Wellesley Hills station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States. It serves the Framingham/Worcester Line. It is located off Washington Street (MA-16) in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Wellesley Hills has two low platforms serving the line's two tracks; it is not accessible. Designed in 1885 and completed in 1886, the station was the last of nine stations that H.H. Richardson designed for the Boston and Albany Railroad. It replaced a previous station, built in 1834 with the completion of the Boston and Worcester Railroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wellesley Square station</span> Railroad station in Wellesley, Massachusetts, US

Wellesley Square station is a commuter rail station on the MBTA Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester Line, located just north of the MA 16-MA 135 intersection in downtown Wellesley, Massachusetts. It serves both walk-up and park-and-ride commuters, with a 224-space parking lot for the latter group. The station has low-level platforms and is not accessible; accessible mini-high platforms are under construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Natick station</span> Railroad station in Natick, Massachusetts, US

West Natick station is a commuter rail station on the MBTA Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester Line, located off West Central Street (MA-135) in Natick, Massachusetts. It was opened in 1982 as a park and ride station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westborough station</span> Train station in Westborough, Massachusetts, US

Westborough station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in Westborough, Massachusetts. It serves the Framingham/Worcester Line. It is located off Smith Parkway, west of the Westborough town center. The station consists of two side platforms serving the line's two tracks. Each side has a small mini-high platform for accessibility; an overhead ramp structure connects the two platforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grafton station</span> Railway station in Grafton, Massachusetts, US

Grafton station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in the North Grafton village of Grafton, Massachusetts, served by the Framingham/Worcester Line. The station is fully accessible, with mini-high platforms serving both of the line's two tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chestnut Hill station (MBTA)</span> Light rail station in Newton, Massachusetts, US

Chestnut Hill station is a light rail station on the MBTA Green Line D branch, located off Hammond Street north of Massachusetts Route 9 in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Newton, Massachusetts. The station has two side platforms serving the line's two tracks. Chestnut Hill station was made accessible in October 2024; additional reconstruction is planned to begin in 2026.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Framingham station</span> MBTA and Amtrak railroad station in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Framingham station is a historic Boston and Albany Railroad station located in downtown Framingham, Massachusetts. Designed by noted American architect H. H. Richardson, it was one of the last of the railroad stations he designed in the northeastern United States to be built. The station, built in 1884–85, served as a major stop on the B&A Main Line as well as a hub for branch lines to Milford, Mansfield, Fitchburg, and Lowell. After years of deterioration, the station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 as the Framingham Railroad Station, and restored a decade later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Station (Worcester, Massachusetts)</span> Railway station in Worcester, Massachusetts, US

Union Station is a railway station located at Washington Square in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts. It is the western terminus of the MBTA Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester Line and a stop for the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited service. A bus terminal adjacent to the station is the hub for Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) local bus service; it is also used by PVTA, MART, Peter Pan, and Greyhound intercity buses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Landing station</span> Railway station in Brighton, Massachusetts, US

Boston Landing station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is served by the Framingham/Worcester Line. It is located in the Brighton neighborhood just west of the Everett Street bridge, next to the Massachusetts Turnpike. It serves the Allston-Brighton area as well as the Boston Landing development including Warrior Ice Arena. The station is fully accessible, with a single full-length high-level island platform. Elevators and stairs lead to Arthur Street and to the Everett Street bridge.

References

  1. ↑ Central Transportation Planning Staff (2019). "2018 Commuter Rail Counts". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
  2. 1 2 3 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  3. ↑ Humphrey, Thomas J. & Clark, Norton D. (1985). Boston's Commuter Rail: The First 150 Years. Boston Street Railway Association. pp. 21–25. ISBN   9780685412947.
  4. 1 2 Fiske, Joseph E.; Ellen W. Fiske (1917). History of the Town of Wellesley, Massachusetts. Boston, Chicago: The Pilgrim Press. p. 26. OCLC   6541911 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ↑ Karr, Ronald Dale (1995). The Rail Lines of Southern New England. Branch Line Press. pp. 278–283. ISBN   0942147022.
  6. ↑ Robinson, Charles M. (1904). Boston & Albany Railroad: Suburban Station Grounds. H. T. Coates. OCLC   25110729 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ↑ Shartin, Emily (25 July 2004). "Convenience loses out to safety at rail station". Boston Globe. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  8. ↑ Kelly, Maribel (June 21, 2021). "MBTA Contract No. C72PS01: Worcester Line Track and Stations Accessibility Improvements (P0261) Design and Engineering Services" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
  9. ↑ "Accelerating Accessibility within the Commuter Rail: Freestanding Mini-high Platform Initiative" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. May 23, 2024.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Wellesley Farms station at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.