Craig Rasmussen Collection

Editor’s Note: News upon the sudden closure of the West Hollywood architectural icon Formosa Cafe, whose exterior features former Pacific Electric car no. 913, prompted transit historian [...]

Here are a collection of images of Pacific Electric no. 1260, its many adventures and even a prominent mishap, all captured by photographers back in the day.

By Ralph Cantos This 8×10 photograph from the Craig Rasmussen collection shows “Butterfly 12” no. 1221 rolling along towards San Pedro Station on March 5, 1948. In as much as the [...]

By Ralph Cantos Pacific Electric no. 538 was one of a 20 “lite interurbans” (530-549) built for the Pacific Electric Railway in 1909 by world famed St. Louis Car Co. The “Medium [...]

By Ralph Cantos This photo from the Craig A. Rasmussen Magna Collection was taken by the late Harold F. Stewart at Culver Junction in late 1940. The 913 is westbound on the evening Santa Monica [...]

Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority Blimp No. 312 heads southbound at the Lynwood station on January 28, 1956. Today this location is under the 105 Freeway; the station would be located [...]

Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority blimp no. 312, southbound at the Lynwood station on January 28, 1956. Craig Rasmussen Collection

Pacific Electric Railway Dash sign showing Sierra Madre as its destination. Courtesy Craig Rasmussen collection

By Ralph Cantos By the mid 1930s, the Pacific Electric was operating a fleet of more than 500 rail cars. The newest of them, the 100s, had just arrived from St. Louis Car Company in 1930; all 160 [...]

By Ralph Cantos Pacific Electric stunned the American Transit Industry when the Railway took delivery of 30 double end PCCs in November of 1940. Not only were PE’s PCCs the first double [...]