The four major northside railroads originally built separate terminal stations in Boston.
The Boston and Lowell Railroad (B&L) was the first to open, with service beginning on June 24, 1835.
The first station was built later in 1835 along Lowell Street (now Lomasney Way) and was several blocks north of Causeway Street.
A new station was built at Causeway Street east of Nashua Street in 1857, with the original depot converted to a freight house.
An even larger third station on the Causeway Street site, constructed of brick with towers at the front corners, was opened on November 24, 1873.

The Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) opened in July 1845, with a temporary station at Canal and Traverse streets.
The permanent station, opened on October 20, was between Canal and Haverhill streets and fronted on Haymarket Square.
Trains had to cross busy Causeway Street to reach the station; at first, a city ordinance caused the railroad to pull cars across the street with oxen rather than locomotives.
In 1867, the station was extended northwards from Market Street to Traverse Street.

The 1843-opened Fitchburg Railroad originally terminated in Charlestown, near the north end of the Warren Bridge.
On August 9, 1848, the railroad opened a new station with large Norman style towers at Causeway Street, just east of the B&M tracks.
The second floor was the largest auditorium in New England at the time; it was the site of two performances by Jenny Lind in October 1850 during her tour of the United States.

The Eastern Railroad opened in 1838 with an East Boston terminal; ferries carried passengers between there and Lewis Wharf in Boston.
On April 10, 1854, the railroad opened its Boston terminal on Causeway Street opposite Friend Street - west of the B&M tracks and east of the soon-to-be-built B&L station.
This "temporary" station was destroyed by fire on June 21, 1862.
The brick replacement station, completed the next year, "had a reputation of being dirty, unattractive, and uninviting."
The four major northside railroads originally built separate terminal stations in Boston. The Boston and Lowell Railroad (B&L) was the first to open, with service beginning on June 24, 1835. The first station was built later in 1835 along Lowell Street (now Lomasney Way) and was several blocks north of Causeway Street. A new station was built at Causeway Street east of Nashua Street in 1857, with the original depot converted to a freight house. An even larger third station on the Causeway Street site, constructed of brick with towers at the front corners, was opened on November 24, 1873.
The Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) opened in July 1845, with a temporary station at Canal and Traverse streets. The permanent station, opened on October 20, was between Canal and Haverhill streets and fronted on Haymarket Square. Trains had to cross busy Causeway Street to reach the station; at first, a city ordinance caused the railroad to pull cars across the street with oxen rather than locomotives. In 1867, the station was extended northwards from Market Street to Traverse Street.
The 1843-opened Fitchburg Railroad originally terminated in Charlestown, near the north end of the Warren Bridge. On August 9, 1848, the railroad opened a new station with large Norman style towers at Causeway Street, just east of the B&M tracks. The second floor was the largest auditorium in New England at the time; it was the site of two performances by Jenny Lind in October 1850 during her tour of the United States.
The Eastern Railroad opened in 1838 with an East Boston terminal; ferries carried passengers between there and Lewis Wharf in Boston. On April 10, 1854, the railroad opened its Boston terminal on Causeway Street opposite Friend Street - west of the B&M tracks and east of the soon-to-be-built B&L station. This "temporary" station was destroyed by fire on June 21, 1862. The brick replacement station, completed the next year, "had a reputation of being dirty, unattractive, and uninviting."
North Station