Late on a summer afternoon, MBTA E8 4254 and its outbound rush hour train pause at Auburndale station in Newton, MA, on a Boston-Framingham run. The locomotive is ex-PRR, the coaches ex-NH, and the trackage ex-NYC. New F40s and rebuilt FP10s would soon replace the MBTA's aging E-units in Boston commuter service.
The 70's and 80's were a transition period for the MBTA characterized by an eclectic mix of equipment including Budd RDC's, ex-New Haven stainless steel coaches, and a mix of motive power acquired from various railroads.