Boston used to have several of these

Somewhere in the vicinity of Henley St, looking northbound. That's my guess...

Some time around 1900-1901 given the lack of tracks on the elevated structure.

^{( Miami's system is 30 years old, new systems are even better! )            GMap}
As Adam has shown us in other posts, the original elevated tracks throughout Boston were assembled quickly, and from the simple steel components available in those days.

This resulted in lots and lots of obstructing vertical steel columns, and large horizontal beams across the entire street. It made the streetscape dark and ugly. The noise of the primitive trains resonated in the steel framework, making it loud and irritating. The whole thing was just very unpleasant for anyone driving, walking, or living along the path of the elevated line!

Modern elevated trains need far fewer support columns; they take up very little space and don't obstruct intersections. Modern reinforced concrete and steel technologies make the whole thing lighter and more compact, quieter, brighter, and less intrusive. Like the original elevated lines, it can be constructed above existing city streets, so there's no cost to acquire property for right-of-way; and of course, it's much less expensive than digging subway tunnels. The trains too — quiet, and automated to provide frequent service, while responding to surges in demand.

Unfortunately in Boston, too many people still think of elevated trains like they were in today's mystery photo, and reflexively reject any consideration of new, rapid-transit infrastructure in their neighborhoods on elevated tracks. Not only are they uninformed about modern technology, they fail to imagine how beneficial it could be!