1619 and Crew

Thomas Pollock Collection

Pacific Electric freight locomotive no. 1619 poses with its proud crew somewhere on the Northern District in this circa 1930 image. The gentleman with the light-colored hat is Lynwood Abner Toothaker, or “L.A.” to his coworkers on the PE. He worked for the Pacific Electric from 1912 to 1946. This image is from the collection of his grandson, Thomas Pollock, who contributed it to the site.

L. A. Toothaker Collection
Thomas Pollock Collection

From Tom:

Grandpa Lynn worked for the PE 1912-1946, mostly as a motorman, and I think Boston Elevated for a while before that.

The photos of 1619 may have been taken between when 1619 was built in the PE shops, 1924, and the change to the larger orange lettering scheme circa 1932. My reliable source on the PE tells me they also started changing the headlamp equipment shown here, circa 1930. Therefore, I have to label these photos as “circa 1930”. There are no marks on the backs of these photos and besides what you can see in the photos, I have only one more bit of information: identifying my grandfather, Lynwood Abner Toothaker, the fellow in the light colored cap and dark clothes. I regret I have no idea who his fellow crew members were … and since the same three guys are in those photos, who might have been holding the camera. Grandpa went by “L. A.” on the job, but by “Lynn” within the family. I think these photos might have been taken on the Northern District since that was his home district and had a lot of these rock runs.