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Our 50th Anniversary Year

by Michael R. Prescott, 50th Anniversary Committee Chairman
(Originally published in Rollsign, November/December 2009 Issue)
 

On May 2, the Assoiciation held a "final farewell" fan trip celebrating the last ride of the 1976 Flyer Trackless Trolleys. The weather cooperated, and a large group of local transit enthusiasts turned out to say one last goodbye to the historic fleet, represented by coach 4037, which was destined for the Branford Electric Railway Association. The Flyer fleet operated for thirty years on the streets of Cambridge, Watertown and Belmont, and after this trip, were finally completely replaced by modern Neoplan Trolley Buses. It was a great event to kick off the spring, and an event that represents the BSRA's continued commitment to give life to local transit history.

Soon after the fan trip, publication of a special edition of the Association's bi-monthly transit news magazine, Rollsign, celebrated the accomplishments of the BSRA in its first fifty years. The special issue featured histories of the Publications Department, fan trips and special events, and even of Rollsign itself. The highlight, however, was a feature article by four of our founders detailing the events and circumstances that led to the founding of the BSRA in 1959. Dave Harling, Paul Harling, Charlie Reynolds, and Paul Miglierina offered their own recollections and anecdotes about that fateful year, and told the story of how they rescued Type 5 No. 5706 after realizing its potential and its historical significance. The purpose behind this issue, aside from celebrating our fiftieth year, was to create a historic reference documenting the history of the Association itself, and give the next generations of local trolley and transit fans inspiration to continue the work started by our ten founders.

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