Narrative:

Prior to start and taxi for departure, we (first officer and myself) discussed upcoming flight. The last things discussed were runways in use at bos. Departing runway 9, arriving 4R, we were cleared to runway 9 via 'outer sierra, hold short runway 4L.' the yellow signs between the south outer and inner txwys were unlit and as a result we wound up on E1, crossed runway 4L, joined sierra to runway 9 (runway 4L was not in use at this time) as we approached runway 9/27. It was then I realized we were to hold short of runway 4L not runway 4R as I thought I had heard. I'm sure the primary reason for my thinking runway 4R rather than runway 4L was our prior discussion of runways in use. I also expected to see lit 'inner,' 'outer' signs to denote the left turn on the outer and inner txwys. I realize this particular taxi route (south outer) isn't very heavily used but I think lighting the aforementioned 'inner' and 'outer' signs would be an aid in avoiding another such occurrence. Also, the red runway 4L/22R sign definitely favors traffic on txwys east and south. A similar sign on the right edge of taxiway E1 would be another reminder to crews somewhat unfamiliar with bos that they are approaching a runway.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF ACR MDT ACFT INADVERTENTLY TRANSGRESSED A RWY DURING TAXI FOR TKOF TO WHICH INSTRUCTED TO HOLD SHORT.

Narrative: PRIOR TO START AND TAXI FOR DEP, WE (FO AND MYSELF) DISCUSSED UPCOMING FLT. THE LAST THINGS DISCUSSED WERE RWYS IN USE AT BOS. DEPARTING RWY 9, ARRIVING 4R, WE WERE CLRED TO RWY 9 VIA 'OUTER SIERRA, HOLD SHORT RWY 4L.' THE YELLOW SIGNS BTWN THE S OUTER AND INNER TXWYS WERE UNLIT AND AS A RESULT WE WOUND UP ON E1, CROSSED RWY 4L, JOINED SIERRA TO RWY 9 (RWY 4L WAS NOT IN USE AT THIS TIME) AS WE APCHED RWY 9/27. IT WAS THEN I REALIZED WE WERE TO HOLD SHORT OF RWY 4L NOT RWY 4R AS I THOUGHT I HAD HEARD. I'M SURE THE PRIMARY REASON FOR MY THINKING RWY 4R RATHER THAN RWY 4L WAS OUR PRIOR DISCUSSION OF RWYS IN USE. I ALSO EXPECTED TO SEE LIT 'INNER,' 'OUTER' SIGNS TO DENOTE THE L TURN ON THE OUTER AND INNER TXWYS. I REALIZE THIS PARTICULAR TAXI RTE (S OUTER) ISN'T VERY HEAVILY USED BUT I THINK LIGHTING THE AFOREMENTIONED 'INNER' AND 'OUTER' SIGNS WOULD BE AN AID IN AVOIDING ANOTHER SUCH OCCURRENCE. ALSO, THE RED RWY 4L/22R SIGN DEFINITELY FAVORS TFC ON TXWYS E AND S. A SIMILAR SIGN ON THE R EDGE OF TXWY E1 WOULD BE ANOTHER REMINDER TO CREWS SOMEWHAT UNFAMILIAR WITH BOS THAT THEY ARE APCHING A RWY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.