498 Fan Trip
Metropolitan Coach Lines (ex-Pacific Electric) no. 498 rolls probably on the West Basin route to San Pedro on the Southern Division in this undated photo.
Modified based on comments
L. Swanson Photo, Andy Goddard Collection
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This would be in the mid-1950’s, (the Metro Coach period was from 1953 to 1958). My guess is that it’s on the West Basin line to San Pedro. The car is in process of restoration at Orange Empire.
I concur with Bob, West Basin Line headed inbound – looks like a fan trip as well.
This photo seems to be looking south-east from Pacific Ave just south of Front Street in San Pedro. Knoll Drive can be seen cut into the hillside above the trolley car. The trolley would be going north, inbound. Years back there was a small neighborhood up Knoll Drive, all the houses have been removed and there is now a little league field and Dog Park on the hill top now.
Terrific looking steel combine. Great photo. I’m glad PE 498 still exist and is stored at OERM.
Link to source follows. In these 1898 issues of Sunset, one can find that Terminal Island held a resort spot which could be accessed by a ferry operation from the Espee San Pedro station. Anyone know of Pacific Electric connections to this?
https://books.google.com/books?id=L7URAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA75&lpg=RA2-PA75&dq=castle+crag+hotel+and+cottages+california&source=bl&ots=xEESnp1xmi&sig=SrtyahKH-TXfsfa2iqIeeYSzIyw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwijtLbKpZXaAhUN1mMKHS3YBxg4FBDoATAAegQICRAB#v=onepage&q=castle%20crag%20hotel%20and%20cottages%20california&f=false
Later, with the expansion of UP-owned Portland & San Francisco Steamship Company services to San Pedro around 1912, the Los Angeles office was established in the Hotel Alexandria a short ways from the PE Station. Presumably, ships Bear & Beaver docked near rail access which would seem to imply PE by then. [LASSCO’s Yale and Harvard moored in the inlet].
Sunset Vol. 1 No. 4 August 1898-Announcement of franchise for an electric line to Whittier: https://books.google.com/books?id=L7URAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA75&lpg=RA2-PA75&dq=castle+crag+hotel+and+cottages+california&source=bl&ots=xEESnp1xmi&sig=SrtyahKH-TXfsfa2iqIeeYSzIyw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwijtLbKpZXaAhUN1mMKHS3YBxg4FBDoATAAegQICRAB#v=onepage&q=whittier&f=false
This picture I believe is from the 2-16-1958 fan trip. Car heading northbound on the West Basin track. See nearly identical shot which I took and posted in Stephen Dudley Collection (along with several other views from this same fan trip).