Northern District – Page 10 – Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society

Pacific Electric and Greyhound

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

Waiting at Rubio Canyon by Bjorn Palenius and Charles Lawrence

Here is a hand-colored image that was originally shot by Charles Lawrence, the official photographer of the Pacific Electric Railway, colorized by San Diego resident and railfan Bjorn Palenius. He has enhanced this image for everyone to enjoy, and we are grateful for his efforts and contributions.

Charles Lawrence Photo, Bjorn Palenius Colorization

Mount Lowe Then & Now Presentation Jan. 31, 2013

On January 31 the South Pasadena Public Library hosted Mount Lowe Then and Now authors Michael Patris and Steve Crise for a program in the Community Room.

Little did anyone know in advance, but this turned out to be a record setting event for both the library speaker program and for a single audience seeing the Mount Lowe program. 165 guests filled the room to capacity, including music legend Ian Whitcomb, until it was standing room only.

The line for autographed copies of the book snaked through the room following the show and nearly one case of books was sold. Many thanks to all the folks who attended the program and special thanks to South Pasadena’s City Librarian Steve Fjeldsted for inviting us to such an enthusiastic gathering.

This event was video taped for the local cable channel and will be made available for the Mount Lowe Preservation Society website in the near future.

Macpherson Trestle

Among the things the Mount Lowe incline was known for was Macpherson Trestle; so named for design engineer David Joseph Macpherson. Formally educated at Cornell University and formerly employed by the Santa Fe Railway, Macpherson took his challenges to heart and came up with some brilliant solutions to less than suitable building conditions. Photographer unknown, undated, 4.75″ by 6.75″.

Michael Patris Collection

“Mount Lowe” at the Base of the Incline

A wood-bodied Pacific Electric Railway “Mount Lowe” car sits at the platform at Rubio Canyon while passengers line up for their trip up the incline. Beyond the head of the line is the waiting room and restrooms, and at some point in time there was a gift and snack counter. 8″ by 10″ print attributed to Charles Lawrence, official PE photographer. Undated.

Michael Patris Collection

Echo Mountain by Detroit Publishing (1899)

Echo Mountain as viewed from the Castle Canyon Trail in 1899, captured by Detroit Publishing photographer William Henry Jackson. This hand tinted image was taken just before the famed Echo Mountain House hotel burned to the ground in January 1900. From the left, the Chalet, the smaller of the two hotels, is seen by the grand Echo Mountain House. Just behind Echo Mountain House, out of sight, is the winding station at the top of the incline. Next is the barely perceptible roof of the zoo, or menagerie as they once called it, where local animals were kept for the public to view. Included in the zoo were civit cats, foxes, eagles, raccoon, coyote, snakes and even bear at times in a special pit enclosure. Next is the dance hall, the maintenance and repair shop, and finally the Mount Lowe Observatory on the right. This unmounted souvenir print is 9″ by 7″ and became a postcard image for sale to tourists.

Michael Patris Collection

Mount Lowe Incline: Then and Now

A blended, then-and-now image of the top of the Mount Lowe Incline at Echo Mountain, featuring a late-1800s image composited with a contemporary view of the location. Contemporary photo by Steve Crise. Compositing by Jim Bunte.

Mount Lowe Preservation Society Collection

Then and Now

AOL “What Remains”: Mount Lowe

Check out this amazing piece produced by AOL for its “What Remains” web video series on Mount Lowe. Featuring Michael Patris and images from the collection of the Mount Lowe Preservation Society (parent to Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society), the video promises to introduce Mount Lowe and the Pacific Electric to hundreds of thousands of new viewers over the next few weeks.

Mount Lowe Incline in “What the Doctor Ordered” (1912)

The Great Incline from "Just What the Doctor Ordered" by Mack Sennett 1912

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/zWDZMdHOZ3Q”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1684927946340{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Mack Sennett-produced comedy for Biograph featuring Mabel Normand and filmed in Rubio Canyon on April 19, 1912, and later released August 7, 1912.

The clip features footage of the “Rubio” incline car in operation at Mount Lowe, plus footage at the Alpine Tavern.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Then and Now: 1051 at 6th and Main

The past comes into view in this blended image of contemporary 6th and Main Streets in Los Angeles with an exact-location match featuring Pacific Electric 1051 from the Jack Finn Collection.

Contemporary photo by Steve Crise, vintage photo Jack Finn Collection, compositing by Jim Bunte