Norm Suydam Collection – Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society

730 at Hill and Venice

Pacific Electric car no. 730 rounds the corner at Hill and Venice in this undated photo by Robert T. McVay.

Robert T. McVay Photo, Norm Suydam Collection

Pacific Electric freight locomotive no. 1627 and its crew member are photographed by Robert T. McVay at Lone Hill, one mile west of San Dimas, on the San Bernardino Line. This image is believed to be from a fan trip whose participants must have stumbled upon a switching move during the event. The image is undated.

Robert T. McVay Photo, Norm Suydam Collection

Pacific Electric no. 1217 and two other cars are captured standing at the Colton Southern Pacific station looking northeast. This image was shot by Robert T. McVay through the window of a Southern Pacific steam locomotive. Other slides from this series suggest the view is through the fireman’s window of a 5000-series three-cylinder steam locomotive. Interesting to note that the Sunkist packing house in the background was demolished to make way for Interstate 10. Southern Pacific’s Colton Station stood for many years after this photo was taken, and was demolished in 2012 to make way for the Union Pacific’s Colton Flyover project that crosses over the BNSF and UP main lines just west of this very spot.

Robert T. McVay Photo, Norm Suydam Collection

Pacific Electric car (possibly no. 1120) rolls through the 6th & Los Angeles Street intersection that plays host to a classic Greyhound Bus Station (northeast corner of 6th and Los Angeles) in this undated Robert T. McVay photo.

Update from Ralph Cantos:

This photo was taken from the north side of the 6th & Main elevated platform looking down on 6th Street as Pasadena bound car #1120 heads west to Main St. Greyhound moved out of this building when the big combined RTD / Greyhound Bus Terminal was built on the foot print of the PE 6th & Main elevated platforms. Years later, Greyhound pulled out of the Terminal and moved to 7th & Alameda Streets where they remain today. As for RTD city bus passengers, they were told to “take a hike” and be sure to bring an umbrella and a windbreaker coat , in other words, “go to Hell” Inside the Terminal, there were many shops and small business.. The business people lost their shorts when the RTD and Greyhound abandoned them…

Robert T. McVay Photo, Norm Suydam Collection

Pacific Electric no. 1036 is on a fan trip (possibly on February 12, 1950, but this image is undated), and is running on the Venice Short Line. This image was captured at Venice Boulevard and Berendo Street.

Robert T. McVay Photo, Norm Suydam Collection

Photographer Robert T McVay captured a fan trip with Pacific Electric no. 1036 on March 23, 1947, at this stop at Barham Boulevard at the Hollywood Freeway. Pacific Electric no. 662 seems to be on regular service and is just passing through the scene.

Robert T. McVay Photo, Norm Suydam Collection

Pacific Electric no. 618 and another car are captured by Robert T. McVay on South Main Street near 7th Street. Note the Santa Fe advertisement behind the the car on the left. The image is undated.

Robert T. McVay Photo, Norm Suydam Collection

A shoo-fly is being built on Sunset Boulevard in preparation for a bridge to be built to enable the 110 Freeway to connect with the Pasadena Freeway. A Pacific Electric 100-Class car (most likely an Echo Park car) can been seen heading westbound on Sunset with a Hollywood car following a half-block behind.

Robert T. McVay Photo, Norm Suydam Collection

From Norm Suydam, image and collection owner, on this image:

This is Sunset Blvd just north of downtown looking towards Union Station as can be referenced by the large natural gas storage tanks in the distance. The closest car here is a double-truck Birney probably on the Echo Park Line and a Hollywood car is seen in the distance. I believe that this location is where they are building the Pasadena Freeway just north of the 4-level interchange. The freeway will pass under Sunset so there is a wide detour for Sunset Blvd’s autos and the PE to allow for the construction of a bridge. Once complete, the cars and PE will return to the original alignment of Sunset Blvd. A historical aerial photo of LA in 1948 shows this bridge completed but the freeway still under construction so I guess this photo was taken in 1947 or early ’48.

Robert T. McVay Photo, Norm Suydam Collection

It’s October 1950 and Pacific Electric no. 1243 is stopped at the Etiwanda Station as part of a railfan trip.

Robert T. McVay Photo, Norm Suydam Collection

RPO 1401

Pacific Electric Railway Post Office no. 1401 poses with operators and fans (identified as Dick Burns and Jack Ferrier) at the Macy Street Yard some time in the late 1940s.

Modified based on comment

Robert T. McVay Photo, Norm Suydam Collection

From Interurban Special 37:

In 1902, desperately short of cars, Old PE purchased fifteen out of service cars from The Golden Gate Park & Ocean Railroad of San Francisco; three were motor cars, twelve were open trailers, all quite large, having originally been hauled by steam (locomotives). Unsuited for high speed operation, Old PE relegated the cars to a side track for a time, then rebuilt them. The three box motors cars were narrowed, their windows made to open, seats upholstered and speed increased. Of the dozen trailers, six became passenger trailers, six box motors. The passenger trailers eventually were motorized and became PE 1350, 1351, 467, 468 and 1360 (one was retired before 1911); the box motors became 1410 – 1415.

In 1930, passenger and mail combo 1350 was renumbered IV 1401 – a baggage-mail car. In 1936, the mail facilities were removed and thereafter this car was a box motor. In its later years this car gained fame as being the oldest operating electrical car in the nation. It was finally scrapped in 1947, the last of the Golden Gates.

– Ira Swett 1965, Interurbans Special # 37, Page 523

730 at Hill and Venice

1627 at Lone Hill

1217 in Colton

Pacific Electric and Greyhound

1036 Fan Trip at Venice and Berendo

1036 and 662 at Barham

618 on South Main near 7th Street

Sunset Boulevard Shoo-Fly

1243 at Etiwanda

RPO 1401