From contributor Edward Langer: Many years ago I wrote a research paper describing how the arrival of the Pacific Electric in Garden Grove spurred town development. I’m happy to share it with the readers of PERYHS.org.
North of Compton, MTA car 1543 pauses for a photo shoot on an October 1960 fan trip.
Stephen Dudley Photo and Collection
MTA car 1543 coming down the 6th & Main viaduct during an October 1960 fan trip pauses to allow an inbound train to clear the curve.
Stephen Dudley Photo and Collection
MTA car 1543 southbound on Long Beach Blvd. and just a few blocks from the Ocean Avenue turn during an October 1960 fan trip. Note the modernized blue and white dash sign which may have been unique to this car.
Stephen Dudley Photo and Collection
On an October 1960 fan trip, MTA car 1543 ran into Fairbanks Yard prior to preparing to return to Los Angeles.
Stephen Dudley Photo and Collection
On an October 1960 fan trip at Dominguez Junction, MTA car 1543 on the way to Long Beach took a short detour down the San Pedro line to the still-active car storage siding. In order to return to the southbound Long Beach line, the car backtracked on the southbound San Pedro branch track — with the conductor walking ahead and a passenger monitoring the trolley pole rope.
Stephen Dudley Photo and Collection
Towards the end of service on the Long Beach line, car 1543 was refurbished by the MTA and repainted green to match the MTA’s standard equipment color. It saw frequent use in regular trains as well as on occasional fan trips. The car is now at Travel Town in Los Angeles. During an October 1960 fan trip the car pauses northbound at Los Cerritos for a photo shoot in the afternoon sun. As the interurban era came to an end, it was always nice to see this car, old as it was, looking so fresh.
Stephen Dudley Photo and Collection
By Ralph Cantos
Some ninety-five or so years after they were built, seven of the Pacific Electric Railway’s world-famous Hollywood cars survive in various stages of condition. The Orange Empire Railway Museum is home to five of the seven survivors. The 717 remains the only one of seven that is still operable. Car 655 (5094), though beautifully restored to its 1939-40 appearance, is not currently operable. The other three Hollywoods at OERM are stored in need of major restoration.
The former PE 758, sold to Buenos Aires along with 26 of her sisters in 1952 for passenger service, was converted to a line car many years ago. The other 26 Hollywood long since retired and presumed, scrapped after decades of service. The 758 is reported to be in poor condition at this time. One last car, PE 680 (5069) was sold to Portland Traction Co. in mid-1953 as their 4022 for continued passenger service.
The #680 and seven other Hollywood’s were repainted at Torrance Shops before being shipped to Portland. Sadly, their service life in Portland lasted only about 5 years.
One of the Portland Hollywoods was involved in a serious crossing accident with a log truck shortly after entering service, and was severely damaged beyond repair. Of the remaining seven cars, one car, the former PE 680 escaped scrapping and would be moved to the Oregon Electric Railway Museum, its 4 motors having been removed before being saved. After decades of storage at the Oregon museum, the severely rusted and weathered 4022 was sold to the Seashore Trolley Museum were it remains today in need of a major, multi-thousand-dollar restoration.
Ralph Cantos Collection
Southern Pacific SW 1500 no. 452 is captured in this shot headed eastbound along Culver Boulevard. The small freight train is about to cross Overland Avenue in Culver City, circa 1970.
This one-time Pacific Electric line once ran as far south as Redondo Beach. The PE tracks were built along the sandy shoreline between Playa Del Rey and Redondo Beach and were only a few feet from the Pacific Ocean. The Redondo Beach Line lost its passenger status on May 12, 1940 due to its inability to compete with road improvements and the growing use of automobiles. The line was cut back to Alla Junction, a location known today as the busy intersection where Culver Boulevard crosses the 90/Marina Freeway.
For many years after passenger service ceased, the remaining portion of the route provided both the Pacific Electric and then the Southern Pacific with a modest freight business until the late 1970s when the line was cut back again to the Air Line at Culver Junction.
The old Culver Junction today is very close to where the Metro Expo Line’s Culver City station is now located.
The white fence running along the north side of the track, seen here on the left, is protecting the MGM backlot where many of the classic films of the Golden Age of Hollywood were filmed. Ben-Hur, The Philadelphia Story, The Three Musketeers, Little Women and Gone with the Wind are just a few of the features that were shot at this location. By the time this SP train was passing the lot, it had long since been abandoned by MGM for all practical purposes and the site would soon be sold and developed into condominiums.
Steve Crise Collection
Headed by Metropolitan Coach Lines no. 413, here is a two-car outbound train to Bellflower pausing at the Bullis Road stop. Taken Friday, May 23, 1958, the last weekday for the line to operate. In this picture you can clearly see the overhead trolley supports also
extending to the right of the wooden poles — a clear reminder that this once was double track line.
Stephen Dudley Photo, Stephen Dudley Collection