1299 and Southern Pacific 1740 at Covina

William Wherry Photo, Charles Wherry Collection

By Charles Wherry

Here is Southern Pacific no. 1740 with Pacific Electric’s no. 1299 in tow pausing at the SP Covina station while the top brass inspect the facilities inside the depot. The occasion is an inspection trip sometime between August and October 1946 by PE’s management in conjunction with the purchase of SP’s Covina Branch which was consummated on September 1, 1946.

The Motorman is in full uniform as well as the officials wearing their full business suits and hats. Even the engineer is outfitted with his starched cap which he has removed in an effort to cool off while awaiting a ‘highball’ to proceed.

William Wherry Photo, Charles Wherry Collection

Pacific Electric and World War II Hysteria, Part 2

Ralph Cantos Collection

By Ralph Cantos

In this photo from March 1942, Pacific Electric cars 1373 and 1375 are seen at the Santa Anita Racetrack. The Japanese-American gentleman in the foreground seems a little bewildered as he waits to be registered. Almost every one of the evacuation trains utilized at least one combo to handle the baggage and worldly belongingss that the “evacuees” could bring with them. In most cases, these Americans lost just about everything they owned except for the clothes on their backs.

Ralph Cantos Collection

Northbound Approaching the Los Angeles River

February 24, 1957: northbound later in the afternoon from Los Cerritos on the single track approach to the bridge of the Los Angeles River.

Stephen Dudley Photo, Stephen Dudley Collection

Northbound on Long Beach Boulevard

February 24, 1957: on Long Beach Blvd with 5167 now the lead car on the northbound return to Los Angeles.

Stephen Dudley Photo, Stephen Dudley Collection

Fairbanks Yard

February 24, 1957: Fairbanks Yard in Long Beach, where all significant repairs on the fleet were performed. The excursion train pulled into the yard and passengers are observing the work being done on jacked-up car no. 302. Two 5050 cars, including an unusually clean 5122 with a long-unused destination sign showing, were parked in the yard pending return to service out of Watts.

Stephen Dudley Photo, Stephen Dudley Collection

Stopped at Cerritos

February 24, 1957: Stopped southbound at Los Cerritos — probably the most beautiful stop on the entire line, with steps up from the tracks and a driveway between the two sets of steps so autos could pick up passengers.

At the time, many bankers and other business people from the adjacent Los Cerritos neighborhood took the PE to jobs in downtown Los Angeles. Because of the heavy patronage, Los Cerritos was the first stop outbound for the 3-car Long Beach Express trains.

The photographer grew up in the neighborhood and remembers the traffic jam at this stop on weekdays when two 3-car express trains arrived not far apart, each followed minutes later by a similarly size limited train.

Stephen Dudley Photo, Stephen Dudley Collection

Seminary Bridge near Dominguez Junction

February 24, 1957: At the seminary bridge just north of Dominguez Junction. This is a photo stop with a northbound Long Beach train passing. The bridge is long gone; the Metro Blue Line plus two freight tracks now occupy this area.

Stephen Dudley Photo, Stephen Dudley Collection

On the Viaduct for Photos

February 24, 1957, on viaduct at Firestone Boulevard and Park Lane, sometime after leaving the 6th and Main Street Station, conveniently stopped so photographers could get a picture.

Here’s a photo of the location today with the Blue Line overpass replacing the viaduct.

Stephen Dudley Photo, Stephen Dudley Collection

At 6th and Main

February 24, 1957, at 6th and Main ready to depart for Long Beach, car 5166 in lead and blimp 418 on an adjacent track bound for San Pedro; a soon-to-depart train for Watts on the far right track in the image.

Stephen Dudley Photo, Stephen Dudley Collection