The BSRA funds and manages the restoration of Type Five car 5706, which was built for the Boston Elevated Railway by the J.G. Brill Co. in 1924.

Upon its delivery early in 1924, car 5706 was assigned to the Clarendon Hill Carhouse in West Somerville. In 1935, it was transferred to Watertown, and then to the Bennett Street facility in Cambridge. In 1938, the car was sent to the Arborway, where it remained in service until its retirement in 1959.

Car 5706 was rescued that year from a scrap dealer, by a group of ten transit enthusiasts who later formed the Boston Street Railway Association. In 1960, the BSRA was incorporated in Massachusetts. From 1961 to 2002, car 5706 was at the Branford Trolley Museum in East Haven, Connecticut. Restoration in recent years has focused on major reconstruction, including the replacement of an entire side.

In 1999, our fortieth year, the BSRA embarked on a major fund raising campaign to fully restore this historic streetcar to its original condition.

We are actively seeking public, corporate, and member support for this long-standing project. Your tax-deductible donations to the 5706 Fund are greatly appreciated, and they will help us reach our ultimate goal of an operating streetcar.

Summer 2008 Progress Report:
Click the button below to view the 2008 5706 Progress Report Slideshow!

Summer 2006 Progress Report:
This summer, Rail Technical Services has been completing the underfloor structural steel cross beams and installing a new sill, the lowest component on the side of the car. Work will soon begin on the installation of the vertical steel support framing on the side and riveting the side sheeting to the framing. Once this work is done, we will install a new sill on the side of the car that was previously rebuilt, with the exception of the sill. When this work is complete, the steelwork for the main part of the car between the vestibules will be finished.