[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Ralph Cantos

August 15, 1945, was a great day for the entire world. After years of war, peace had finally had come to planet Earth. There were spontaneous celebrations all over the world. Cities large and small across the globe celebrated in the streets. New York, City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles were no exceptions.

In Southern California, Hollywood Blvd. seemed to be ground zero for a massive gathering of joyous Angelenos. On Hollywood Blvd., PE’s Hollywood cars were in the thick of the celebrating mayhem. At the world famous intersection of Hollywood & Vine, an unidentified Hollywood car is stopped behind a 1942 Cadillac in the the happy mayhem. Further west down the Blvd. car no. 684 is finally in the clear, the rails ahead covered in mounds of paper confetti.

World peace would last little more than 5 years, when war in Korea would again drag the United States into another conflict. Many of PE’s magnificent interurbans that played such an important part of moving the masses in Southern California during World War II would now be sacrificed for the Korean War effort. Among the most notable cars to be lost were the fabulous 1200s. They were among the most magnificent interurbans ever built, the Butterfly 12s, chief among them.

Ralph Cantos Collection[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/pe-684-on-hollywood-bl..-vj-day.jpg” image_size=”full”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1573658518509{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]ABOVE: Pacific Electric no. 684 prepares to move along  down Hollywood Blvd. as crowds begin to thin out.  Never again would the Pacific Electric, and the LARY for that matter, be considered such an important asset to the welfare of Los Angeles. It seems that from VJ Day onward, LA City officials began to look at the PE and LARY with  ever increasing amounts of disdain.  Talk about biting the hand that saved your ass!!![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

By Ralph Cantos

This beautiful photograph taken around 1948-49 shows Pacific electric car no. 746 laying over at San Vicente Blvd. and Genesee Street. Most likely, the 746 is working the “16th St. Local.” That line would run local service along Venice Blvd. Hill Street, Sunset Blvd. through Hollywood to Gardner Junction with some rush-hour runs going all the way to Beverly Hills Station.

On weekends, a single car would operate as the “San Vicente Shuttle” every 20 minutes. Originally, this trackage was part of the Santa Monica via Beverly Hills line that was discontinued in 1940. Thereafter, this track was kept intact to La Cienega Blvd. for  a “back door”  access to West Hollywood car house and yard via a single track, “back alley” p-r-w (private right-of-way). Passenger service was provided only as far as Genesee Street. Beyond Genesee, only dead-heading cars to West Hollywood yard used the remaining track.

The 746 looks really beautiful in this photo. For what ever reason, she looks nicely “refreshed” in what appears to be a complete repaint from roof to skirts. Notice that the words PACIFIC ELECTRIC are gone from her flanks, replaced by  a new, winged PE emblem.  Just 3 or 4 years after this photo was taken, the 746 would arrive in Buenos Aires. I am sure that railroad officials there looked at the 746 and wondered, “What the hell is wrong with those stupid Americanos?” How right they were….

Today, all the apartments on the right side of this photo still stand , but the left side of the street has completely changed. A large hospital complex now occupies that ground.

Ralph Cantos Collection