Philipott and Baldridge Collection
Los Angeles Transit Lines no. 1281 negotiates traffic on the W Line in this undated photo.
Philipott and Baldridge Collection
LATL 1281 in Traffic
Philipott and Baldridge Collection
Philipott and Baldridge Collection
LATL 1215 on the W Line
Los Angeles Transit Lines no. 1215 is photographed on W Line service in this undated image.
Philipott and Baldridge Collection
Big Bertha to the Rescue
From traction fan Bill Volkmer comes this interesting photo taken some time between the May 1955 rail abandonments and the end of the W line rail service in late 1956.
There is not much information that came with this photo, so traction expert Jeff Moreau filled in the information blanks.
The camera looks north along North Broadway at Avenue 20. Los Angeles Transit Lines car no. 1450 (working the post-1955 abandonments on the W line) is inbound to downtown Los Angeles. Another H-class car is just behind no. 1450, and a Big Bertha emergency truck is parked to the left right of no. 1450.
There must have been a fire situation nearby as the crew of the Bertha truck is in the process of setting up a “fire hose grass hopper” so the W line cars can proceed towards downtown, and Washington and Rimpau Blvds. The track heading to Lincoln Park has not been tended to as yet. The track turning to the left at this location was used to access the Division 3 car house. The overhead wire has already been removed, but the switch point is still in place, and probably in good working order.
LATL car no. 1450 would later finish its 35 years of service working the S line, and would be preserved at OERM, along with sister H-3 class car no. 1423.
Bill Volkmer Collection, Ralph Cantos Collection
Standing on a Milk Box in the Middle of Temple Street
Here’s a terrific photo by Raymond E. Younghans, capturing L.T. Gotchy on a milk box in the middle of Temple Street, snapping Los Angeles Railway cars (S Line H-3 and W Line 1500) on Broadway, on June 16, 1946.
Raymond E. Younghans Photo, Orange Empire Railway Museum OERM Collection
1439 on Figueroa at 11th
Los Angeles Transit Lines (ex-Los Angeles Railway) car no. 1439 rolls on Figueroa at 11th Street in this image captured the last week of W Line service: November 11, 1956. Note the Felix Chevrolet auxiliary lot in the background.
L. Swanson Image, Andy Goddard Collection
LATL 1445 at 6th and Broadway
Los Angeles Transit Lines (ex-Los Angeles Railway) W Line car no. 1445 picks up passengers while heading southbound on Broadway at 6th Street on April 10, 1956.
L. Swanson Photo, Andy Goddard Collection
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1443 at Washington and Rimpau
Los Angeles Transit Lines (ex-Los Angeles Railway) car no. 1443 pauses for the light at Washington and Rimpau near the west end of the W Line. The date is October 1956.
Bill Whyte Photo, Steve Crise Collection
1443 on the W Line
Los Angeles Transit Lines (ex-Los Angeles Railway) car no. 1443 rolls away from the photographer in this moody W Line shot dated October 1956.
Bill Whyte Photo, Steve Crise Collection
1443 Interior at Washington and Rimpau
A terrific interior view of Los Angeles Transit Lines (ex-Los Angeles Railway) car no. 1443 as it pauses at the west end of the W Line at Washington Blvd. and Rimpau. The image is dated October 1956.
Bill Whyte Photo, Steve Crise Collection
1441 at Broadway and Alta
Los Angeles Transit Lines (ex-Los Angeles Railway) car no. 1441 rolls down North Broadway at Alta Street, near the east end of the W Line at Lincoln High School, in October 1956. Los Angeles City Fire Department hook and ladder rolls ahead.
Bill Whyte Photo, Steve Crise Collection