Pacific Electric – Page 6 – Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society

Pacific Electric No. 913: The life of a true “survivor” (sort of)

Photo by Harold F. Stewart from the Craig Rasmussen Collection

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

This photo taken by the late Harold F. Stewart from the Craig Rasmussen Collection shows Pacific Electric No. 913 heading west bound at Culver Junction on the Santa Monica Air Line. It’s mid-1940 and 38 years of dependable service by the 913 is nearing an end. At this date, the 913 is just one of a handful of 800s still in service. By early 1941, they were all gone.

The service life of the 131 800s is legendary in PE history. Built by the St. Louis Car Co. in 5 orders between 1902 and 1906, they were the second-largest class of cars on the PE system, second only to the 159 Hollywood cars (600-758). The 800s were to their last days the fastest interurbans on the PE system, faster than PE’s fantastic San Berdoo 12s. Only Henry Huntington’s private car “Alabama” was faster.

They were also the heaviest wood-bodied cars on the system. As built, almost half of the car body was open to the warn California climate, only a sturdy mesh screen from the floor line, to the belt rail, protected seated passengers. In June 1903, an issue of trade magazine Street Railway Journal although prizing the cars, took issue with the PE for allowing passengers in the open section, to be battered by high winds, as the 800s rolled along the open fields of early Southern California at speeds in access of 70 mph.

It did not take the PE management much effort to get the hint. At first, the mesh screen was replaced by wood paneling from the floor line to the belt rail. But this did little to soften the hurricane-force winds buffeting seated passengers in the still open section. By late 1906, the cars were fully enclosed, ending what could only be described as an early California “thrill ride.”

The PE management must have loved the 800s as they performed several experiments on the cars at one time or another. The 800s were the first cars on the PE to be equipped for MU (multiple unit) operation in 1906-07.

Also, about 1912, cars 912-917 were equipped with high-speed General Electric motors and controls in preparation for ordering the magnificent San Berdoo 12s. These six cars became known as the “GE 8s” and for the rest of the long service life, could only operate with each other. The 6 cars could not operate MU with the rest of the 800s. These 6 cars were the fastest and most powerful 800s on the system.

Strangely enough, the PE did not equip all 800s with MU controls. These cars had couplers for towing, but operated only as single cars. In 1940, as most of the 800s were being scrapped and burned, 4 800s were converted into box motors, numbered 1496-99. One of those cars, 1498 (859) was donated to the children of Los Angeles and placed on display at Travel Town in Griffith Park. There, the 1498 sat out in the open for more than 4 decades with little or no real maintenance to its canvas covered wood roof. Finally, the weight of the two 300-pound air trolley base caused the roof to almost cave in. The 1498 was donated to the Orange Empire Trolley Museum at Perris, but it was destroyed by a fire in the “out back” area where the 1498 was stored.

Today, the body of GE-8 913 remains the lone survivor of the once-magnificent fleet. It is now part of the FORMOSA CAFÉ in West Hollywood where it has resided since its 1941 retirement. Overall, the 913 is in excellent condition. The Formosa Café is a Los Angeles Cultural landmark, so I guess the 913 will be there for all time.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/pe-913-1940-2.jpg” image_size=”full” desc=”PE 913 heading west bound at Culver Jct. on the Santa Monica Air Line in mid-1940.”][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/pe-257-1903-later-pe-913-1907.jpg” image_size=”full” desc=”PE 257 poses for the camera in 1903, short after delivery from the St. Louis Car Co. In 1907 she was renumbered to 913.”][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/pe-913.jpg” image_size=”full” desc=”And here is the 913 as she looks today. Over all, the body is in excellent condition, right down to the flag/marker bracket next to the door post. The only modification done to her body is a “train door“ cut into the other end of the car body to allow patrons and staff in enter the interior for “dining passengers.“”][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/pe-1498-at-travel-town-2.jpg” image_size=”full” desc=”Here is the former 859 at Travel Town in 1955. There she would sit, unprotected from the weather, for more than four decades.”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Alan Weeks’ Pacific Electric Railway: Whittier Line Charter Trip, October 17, 1948

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1611513176316{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]By Alan K. Weeks

In 1947 I saw in the paper that the City Public Utilities Commission were going to hold a hearing on the Pacific Electric’s plan to abandon one of their lines. I went downtown on the streetcar and visited the Public Utilities Department. I asked to talk to someone in the office about that plan. I wanted to find out the date of the meeting.

Surprisingly the head of the Agency came to the counter to talk to me. His name was Col. Bean. I was fifteen at that time and he could see that I had a interest in transportation. He went to his desk and came back with a publication called Interurbans. He suggested I sit down and look at it there because he wanted it back. He also mentioned that the Editor of the publication held meetings every Sunday at his house. He said many other people came and showed rail pictures on those nights.

I took the address down. It was 1414 Westmoreland Avenue. One day I took the P Line streetcar to that address. It was in the middle of a weekday but I thought someone might be there. Sure enough there was a very nice elderly lady watering the front lawn. She said yes, her son was at work but come over Sunday night at 7:00 PM. and I would see lots of young people who liked trains and streetcars.

That opened the door to a whole new world and hobby. Up until that time I thought that I and a friend in Junior High School were the only people in the world that liked rail.

I went to the Sunday meeting and learned that a rail club called Railroad Boosters was sponsoring a chartered trip on the PE Inglewood line. I contacted them and purchased a ticket for that trip in January of 1948. The editor was the well known railfan Ira Swett. He was considered one of the most recognized author, photographer and transit historian of the period.

That brings us to this new batch of pictures. These pictures were taken on the second or third chartered trip.

NOTES Looking back I am struck at how much open space existed in the L.A. area in 1948.

411 — This was taken at Slauson Jct. just after we come onto the Whittier -Fullerton-La Habra Line. This was a freight-only line so a chartered trip was the only way to ride it.

412 — La Habra was where the Whittier Branch turned North from the main line.

415 — The Fullerton Branch dropped South into Fullerton. It was early on the Sunday morning we arrived. It seemed like the whole town was still asleep.

416 Note the P.E. bus parked next to our car. It was laying over until the next A.M. An older friend of mine the late James N. Spencer worked for the Santa Fe and later the Union Pacific decided we should take a ride. I was sixteen and thought if would be risky. If my memory is correct he flipped a switch in the rear motor compartment. Three or four of us got in the bus. It was a stick shift. Jimmy had never driven a bus but the engine started and we drove three or four blocks around a totally quiet town. No people or cars. The only bus that was stolen and returned LOL.

419 — Yorba Linda end of the line. President Nixon lived here and his Library is here now. All in all it was a fun day as they say.

Alan Weeks (Photos) January 11, 2021[/vc_column_text][mk_gallery images=”15182,15183,15184,15185,15186,15187,15188,15189,15190″ column=”4″ height=”300″ hover_scenarios=”slow_zoom”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Pacific Electric’s Hill Street Tunnels: An LA Icon

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

Pacific Electric Hollywood car no. 614 poses for the camera at 1st & Hill Street in this 1923 photo. The south end of the Hill Street tunnel portals dominate the scene. For almost four decades, the twin tunnels stood proudly at the top end of the Hill Street business district.

The rail portion of the twin tunnels was first proposed in 1903. Then as now, bureaucratic “BS” delayed the start of construction for almost 4 years. Finally in 1907, the LA & Pacific took matters into their hands, secured the necessary permits and began construction. Construction of the rail tunnel was completed in 1909.

The rail tunnel saved LAP cars 15 minutes by not having to go around the ‘The Big Hill.” So impressed by the time saved by LAP cars using the tunnel, LA City officials got off their duffs and built an identical auto tunnel in 1913.

Around 1939, the LARY began using the rail portion of the twin bore for car lines 2 and L.

The last use of the tunnel by the LARY cars was in late 1947 thanks to the dirty deeds of the new LATL. PE cars continued to roll through the tunnel until the end of 1950 with the last Echo Park Avenue franchise car.

City of Los Angeles management wasted no time in converting the rail portion of the tunnel for auto and bus use.. The end of the iconic tunnels would come in 1954 when the BUNKER REDEVELOPMENT Project leveled the entire hill over the tunnels. By the end of 1955, there was no trace of the tunnels to be found.

Ralph Cantos Collection[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/lary-71-at-1st-hill-a-line.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”Los Angeles Transit Lines no. 71 in 1947″ desc=”LATL car no. 71 burst into the sunlight shorty before the A Line was abandoned in August 1947.” hover_image_overlay=”false”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/pe-670-at-1st-hill.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”Three LA icons in one photo.” desc=”Hollywood car no. 670 stops at 1st & Hill Street. An ACME traffic light guards the intersection while the South portals stand proud.” hover_image_overlay=”false”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/pe-hill-st-tunnel-after-abandonment-1952.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”Rails gone” desc=”By mid-1951, the PE and LARY rails had been removed.” hover_image_overlay=”false”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/pe-hill-st-tunnel-the-end.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”Demolition underway” desc=”By mid 1954, demolition of the land mark tunnels was well underway. A new Metro Coach Lines 400-class GM bus working the Hollywood Blvd. line trespasses over what was once sacred ground.” hover_image_overlay=”false”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1st-hill-then-now.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=” The Hill Street Tunnels” desc=”Now you see them-1954, and now you don’t-2014.” hover_image_overlay=”false”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Alan Weeks’ Pacific Electric Railway: Torrance Shops 1948

408 - Torrance Shops of the Pacific Electric, Torrance, California.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Alan K. Weeks

After a little detour we finally got back to Torrance Shops. I was surprised that I did not take more pictures while I was there. Then I remembered my Box Camera used a roll of Kodac Film with only eight exposures. I was sixteen at the time and my income from a paper route limited how many pictures I took.

I mentioned before that I had met O. A. Smith President of the PERy. I asked him if I could go to Torrance. He said sure. Wrote out a pass so I could ride the morning Shop train. It was a two or three car train of Blimps. I was told just be careful but could go where I wanted. I brought a brown bag lunch and spent the whole day there. I heard a whistle at 3:50 PM signaling the eminent departure of the Shop Train. We left for Los Angeles at 4:00 PM This day left me with wonderful memories.

As Railroad Shops go I think Torrance was quite large. They built wooden Street Cars there in the early days. Also all the necessary repairs and modernizing of their other cars.

NOTES

402 – Here are three steel Box Motors bought by the P.E. to rebuild and use. But it never happened. Beside it is 4661 that came from the Interurban Electric Railway in the Bay Area. These were 60 Ton cars and crossed the Bay from Oakland to San Francisco using the Oakland – SF Bay bridge. The State of California owned the Bridge and were unhappy that the heavy cars would shake the bridge. It all came to a sad end July 25, 1941. In January 15, 1939 the Bridge Railway opened up for service. The Southern Pacific Railroad built and ran the IER. When the New Bridge opened in 1939 it was renamed IER because the State had financial investment in the Bridge Railway and yards. Interesting that three Interurban RR used this Bridge for a short time. The IER used the 1200 v Overhead wire along with the Sacramento Northern Railroad which could use 1200 v or 1500 V. The Key System Lines used the 600 v third rail. World War 2 came five months to late to save this operation. Some surplus cars were sold to the P.E. and the United States Maritime Commission. The rebuilt 4600 and 4700’s were renumbered in the 400 series.

403 – These steel Box Motors came from the Central California Traction Co. when they de-electrified. They were never rebuilt or used on the Pacific Electric.

405 – These cars were used to dump rock ballast when rebuilding track.

406 – Wooden cars awaiting scrapping.

This winds up another year we are all glad to see go. Hopefully 2021 will be
a much better year for us all. I am aiming and on schedule to wrap up sending
out my P.E. collection by June of 2021.

Happy New Year – Alan

Alan Weeks Photos and Collection[/vc_column_text][mk_gallery images=”15158,15159,15160,15161,15162,15163,15164,15165″ column=”4″ height=”300″ hover_scenarios=”slow_zoom”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Alan Weeks’ Pacific Electric Railway West Hollywood Car House and Shops

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Alan K. Weeks

Image 98 – The 100 class cars were really neat cars. They were shorter than most but they rode very well. Big leather seats inside. They eventually ended up in Vera Cruz Mexico. It was so nice to ride them again in 1959 when I was there. They had repainted some of them yellow. Some people called them Double Truck Birneys.

Image 99 – 900 Class Cars built some time in the 1920’s They were made out of wood did not hold up well in wrecks. They were used on the Venice Short Line along with the Wooden 1000 class. Both classes ran M.U.

Image 100 – Class 1000 Wooden Interurban cars. These ran in Multiple Units. I remember seeing three car trains on Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles.

Image 104 – Locomotive 1616 was used at night time on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood and in Hollywood / Los Angeles. There were numerous freight spurs that they switched cars in and out. They had a large freight house at Highland and Santa Monica Blvd. The work was all done at night. (There was a famous hotel I think it was the Hilton, still there at Santa Monica and Beverly Drive, that complained about the noise but the line kept on running.

Image 108 – If you can look closely in the right side of the Car Barn you can see a lone 5000-type PCC. The last new cars the PERy bought just before World War II. They ran on the Glendale-Burbank Line but must have been there for maintenance.

These Shops were the original Shops for the Los Angeles & Pacific Railway, one of the first interurban lines built in Los Angeles. General Sherman built this railway and West Hollywood at that time was named Sherman, hence the Sherman Shops. In 1911 the Southern Pacific bought both the LA & Pacific and the PE Railway from Henry Huntington and combined the two into the new Pacific Electric Railway. Through changes and mergers the MTA acquired the property and Built a new Bus Division 7 on the site. That was after all was abandoned in 1954.

Alan Weeks Photos and Collection[/vc_column_text][mk_gallery images=”15144,15145,15146,15147,15148,15149,15150,15151,15152,15153,15154″ column=”4″ height=”300″ hover_scenarios=”slow_zoom”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

LA’s streetcars under festive Christmas decorations: Span wires made convenient

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

Over the decades, Christmas time always meant Christmas decorations mounted to street lights and more often, hanging from LARY-LATL-MTA and PE overhead span wires.

The overhead span wires made it very easy to hang decorations along many important avenues and boulevards when LA’s once-vast streetcar system covered the city.

In later years, Hollywood Boulevard, Pacific Boulevard in Huntington Park, and Brand Boulevard in Glendale always displayed beautiful, often illuminated holiday decorations.

Before the out break of World War II, Broadway and 7th Streets in Downtown Los Angekles also went all-out to celebrate the Christmas season with decorations hanging from LARY span wires.

Its believed that Christmas 1941 was the last time Downtown LA went all out with the decorations.

In this 1940 colorized black-and-white photo, LARY no. 3029 working the J line turns off of 7th street onto Grand Ave. Holiday shoppers add to the festive atmosphere.[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/lary-3007-on-broadway-x-mas-1940.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”Los Angeles Railway no.3007 on Broadway, Christmas 1940.” hover_image_overlay=”false”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607959857060{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Incredible crowds fill the sidewalks and streetcar safety zones at Broadway & 7th at Christmas time 1940. Decorations hanging from span wires add to the festive season. A near-new P-1 PCC working the P line takes on passengers.[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/pe-5150-at-hollywood-highland-1953.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”Pacific Electric no. 5150 at Hollywood and Highland, 1953.” hover_image_overlay=”false”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607959999051{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The last Christmas for the PE cars on Hollywood Boulevard: Its Christmas time 1953 on Hollywood Blvd. Festive decorations hang form PE’s overhead, a yearly seen that took place for decades.[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/pe-5028-christmas-1954.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”Pacific Electric no. 5028, Christmas 1954.” hover_image_overlay=”false”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607960107311{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The last Christmas for Pacific Electric cars on Brand Boulevard: It’s Christmas time on Brand Boulevard. Decorations hang from PE’s magnificent catenary overhead. The beautiful decorations eclipsed only by the beauty of the 5028. Roger Titus photo.[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/latl-3165-on-east-first-st.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”LATL no. 3165 on East First Street.” hover_image_overlay=”false”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607960196073{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Los Angeles Transit Lines no. 3165 rolls along East First Street in this Christmas 1957 photo. Today, the 3165 rolls on at the OERM museum in Perris, California.[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/img254-2.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”LAMTA no. 3046 on Pacific Boulevard in Huntington Park, 1962.” hover_image_overlay=”false”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607960326443{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The last Christmas for LA’s PCCs in Huntington Park: this beautiful photo take by Harry D. Peat shows LAMTA no. 3046 as she swings off of Pacific Boulevard and onto Florence Avenue at Christmas time 1962. The motorman stopped the 3046 momentarily and smiled so Harry could get this timeless photo.

This is it for decorations of any type that will hang from overhead span wires along Pacific Boulevard. The J line will become history just 4 months after this photo was taken.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Alan Weeks’ Pacific Electric Railway 6th and Main Street Headquarters

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Alan Weeks

You might all be tried of the Main St. Station but I think this is the last batch. It really was the most important facility of the Railway. It was a grand hub of the whole system.

Millions of people must have gone thru the station from 1908 – 1961. Downstairs was and is the oldest continuous operating business in LA, Cole’s Cafe. It closed for one year for remodeling. I liked the original layout much better. But the food is still good. It had a beautiful old antique bar that became a famous “Watering Hole. Many railway people from the PERy, Southern Pacific Railroad, Santa Fe Railroad and later SCRTD.

When working at RTD on Main Street I some times went there for lunch and the bar was jammed. I guess Rule G no longer mattered.

NOTES # 383 Trolley Bus on fifth St. at Main St.

# 385 Looking down from the Viaduct at track removal in 7th St surface

tracks. The yard had a connection from both 6th & 7th Sts.

# 391 Pasadena Short Line turning North from 6th St. onto Main St.

Before one way streets took effect.

# 392 PERy Headquarters Building on the right. Also shared with the

Southern Pacific Railroad.

# 393 Double Exposures were always a concern with a wind up Box

Camera. This might have been the only one I remember doing.

Unfortunately you always lost two pictures. This does not happen

with 35 mm or Digital cameras.

# 398 View beneath the Viaduct. This was the freight and baggage loading

Area. Box Motors would load here and had access all three Districts,

North, South and West, The track connection ran to the left of this

picture. I think they were removed when Fifth & Sixth Sts. were made

One Way. That was August 3, 1947

Ariel photo of Sixth and Main St. Station provided by Yorkman Lowe

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Alan Weeks’ Pacific Electric Railway Macy Street Car House and Shops, 1950-1951

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Alan K. Weeks

Here we have a switch in venue. Shops, Yards and Stored cars. Macy Street was not a heavy shop but did a lot of other types of work. The Main Shops were built in Torrance and were very large. It had many buildings and could even build and re build new cars. In the Western District they had a pretty big shop in West Hollywood (Sherman). A Shop and Yard existed at 7th and Alameda Streets but was replaced by the newer Torrance Shops.

After September 30, 1951, when all rail service ended in the Northern District, the P.E. made it much larger for bus storage. In 1953 P.E. sold all their passenger service to Metropolitan Coach Lines. MCL leased the last remaining rail lines from the P.E.

The lines were Los Angeles Glendale-Burbank Line using the Hill St. Subway Terminal. Los Angeles West Hollywood Beverly Hills Line. Los Angeles Bellflower Line. Watts Local Line. Los Angeles San Pedro and Los Angeles Long Beach Lines. In 1958 the Los Angels Metropolitan Transit Authority was formed and bought the Los Angeles Transit Lines (Yellow car system) and the MCL to form a Public Agency. They continued to use Macy Street and it became Div. 10. It still belongs to LACMTA who recently mothballed it indefinitely. The Shops and facilities are still usable. It is pretty centrally located. Just East across the Los Angeles River near Mission Rd and Macy Street.

NOTES

Car 969 was a wooden car used in the Western District. Until the Venice Short Line was abandoned in Sept 1950. You can see that it has been modified. The day following this picture the car was used by City and other officials as a farewell trip on the Pasadena Oak Knoll Line the day after it was abandoned. They had a band playing on the car. It was used in a two car train.

Macy St. Car House being dismantled. It is dated 5-16-51. The last lines were yet to be abandoned on Sept. 30, 1951. Assuming my dates were correct they started dismantling it to clear the way and enlarge the bus storage yard for the replacement buses coming four months later.

Car 1299 Was a one of a kind. It was used as an inspection Car for the President and Board Members of the PERY. It had Carpets, leather chairs and working tables. Also a small kitchen and toilet. After all the passenger lines were abandoned we were able to charter this car and make a trip on the 1200-volt line to San Bernardino. It was a great high speed trip because there were mostly farms and open spaces between the small towns. Not long after our last trip they started removing the overhead wire.

Note the 400 class cars. They were steel Railway Post Office cars. If my memory is correct these cars came from the Oregon Electric when it was abandoned.

Note the car number 418. It was sold to the Orange Empire Railway Museum and is still running today.

This track was behind the Shops and was the last remnant of the Original Los Angeles-Highland Park- South Pasadena to Pasadena Line.

# 181 Is a picture of the Final trip of 969.[/vc_column_text][mk_gallery images=”15085,15088,15084,15083,15082,15081,15080,15079,15078,15077,15076,15075,15074,15073,15072,15071,15070″ column=”4″ height=”300″ hover_scenarios=”slow_zoom”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Alan Weeks’ Pacific Electric Railway: More Northern District and Downtown, 1950-1951

Pasadena Short Line, Main Street Station, September 30, 1950

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Alan K. Weeks

This pretty much winds up the Northern District. It only took about one year to completely abandon and tear up this district. These are the lines that were abandoned:

Pasadena Short Line
Pasadena Oak Knoll Line
Sierra Vista Line
Sierra Madre Line
Monrovia-Glendora Line

Sad to see them all go.

It may look like there are duplicate pictures from other batches. Most are different
cars at the same locations.

That huge Rail Viaduct over Mission and Huntington Dr. was converted to a four lane street after abandonment. Surprisingly it was just demolished a couple of years ago.

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PE and LARy Cars Under Flapping Banners

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

This wonderful photo shows LARY cars on Broadway at 7th in the glory days of Downtown Los Angeles. Car lines of both systems blanked the City and with it, miles of trolley wire span wires, The span wires beckoning their use for cloth banners of all manor and messages. The Pomona Fair was always sure to use span wires to advertise the grand exposition. In 1932, the coming of the Olympic Games made liberal use of span wires of both systems. In this photo, its difficult to tell what the banners were advertising, but one this is for sure, Broadway and Downtown LA was a festive place thanks to the abundance banners hanging from trolley span wires. When the last of LA’s streetcar system was abandoned in March 1963, the heart and soul of Downtown was ripped away. Downtown LA would never be the same. The beautiful sounds of ringing bells echoing of the tall buildings, and steel wheels hitting the diamond at 7th & Broadway, are now just pleasant distant memories.[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/lary-pcc-at-on-broadway-at-8th-1942.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”LARy PCC at Broadway and 8th, 1942″ desc=”Here, an LARy PCC is stopped on Broadway at 8th. World War II patriotic banners hang from just about every span wire as far as can be seen.”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/lary-j-line-car-645-at-7th-broadway.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”LARy J Line Car no. 645 at 7th and Broadway” desc=”LARy car no. 645 working the J Line hits the diamond on 7th at Broadway. Flapping banners advertise LA Angels baseball.”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/lary-l-line-tracks-at-w.10th-crenshaw-1939.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”LARy L Line tracks at W. 10th & Crenshaw, 1939″ desc=”This rare photo looking west on Olympic Blvd. (formerly W 10th Street) at Crenshaw Blvd. The rails are for the soon to be abandoned L line. Banners advertising the grand opening of a new VONS Super Market to the left of this photo, hang from span wires. Olympic Blvd. has just been cut through west of Crenshaw, rails of the L line not included in the new roadway. The L line cars had to make a ZIG-SAG detour to return to Olympic Bl. at Country Club Drive. In the distant haze, the LA High School bell tower can be seen.”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/pe-655-on-hollywood-blvd.-1941.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”Pacific Electric no. 655 on Hollywood Blvd., 1941″ desc=”In this beautiful 1941 night photo taken on Hollywood Blvd., PE car #655 is stopped in front of the WARNER Theater. Banners hand from span wires advertising the new GARY COPPER-BARBARA STANWYCK movie, Meet John Doe. What makes this photo so unusual, is that car #655 has defied all odds and survived the mass extinction of all but a handful of PE cars. Almost eighty years after this photo was taken, today the 655 survives at OERM. A true survivor.”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/pe-719-vineyard-jct.1939.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”Pacific Electric no. 719 at Vineyard Junction, 1939″ desc=”In this 1939 photo, car no, 719 is stopped at Vineyard Jct. under the West Blvd. Bridge. Although not hanging from a span wire, a large banner is handing from the next best thing, the bridge. The banner is advertising the grand opening of SEARS PICO.”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/pe-965-and-train-at-7th-hill.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”Pacific Electric no. 965 and train at 7th & Hill” desc=”Ever handsome car 965 and train take on passengers by the score at Hill St and 7th. Banners hang from the trusty span wires above the train.”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/pe-5161-on-highland-at-hollywood-bl-1951.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”Pacific Electric no. 5161 on Highland at Hollywood Boulevard, 1951″ desc=”Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave. Flapping banners hang over the intersection thanks to PE overhead as a Northbound SF Valley car pounds the diamond. A west bound Beverly Hills car awaits it turn to clear the intersection.”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/pe-1213-on-colorado-bl.-pasadena.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”Pacific Electric 1213 on Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena” desc=”PE car 1213 and train head east along Colorado Blvd. under banners hanging from PE taught span wires. The 1200s were not often seen on the streets of Pasadena, truly a impressive sight.”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/img016.jpg” image_size=”full” lightbox=”true” title=”PE PCC 5024 northbound on Brand Boulevard, Glendale” desc=”Beautiful Pacific Electric PCC 5024 heads northbound along Brand Blvd. on this horrible last day of service for the Glendale-Burbank Line. Festive banners hand from PE’s magnificent catenary overhead all along the boulevard. This will be the last time banners of any type will hang from PE overhead in the City of Glendale.”][/vc_column][/vc_row]