Southern District – Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society

A Little Slice of Life

By Steve Crise

The United States of America was engaged in its second year of WW II when Harley L. Kelso made this timely shot of Los Angeles Railway car 934 and Pacific Electric interurban car 1370 meeting at the intersection of Vernon Avenue and Long Beach Avenue back in 1943.

There are may sights to behold at this moment frozen in time. The L.A. Railway car is stopped just short of Long Beach Avenue to pick up and drop off passengers. It would soon depart to the eastern terminus of its V-Line run at Leonis Boulevard and Downey Road in the City of Vernon.

Pacific Electric 1370 is seen crossing Vernon Avenue in a southerly direction toward the harbors of San Pedro and Long Beach. The roller sign at the top of the car reads “Special” and all the passengers in the windows appear to be members of various branches of the military, suggesting this could be a special troop transport exclusively scheduled for military personnel only.

The “Red Spot Liquor Store” must have had a very good customer base at this location where two heavily trafficked transit lines intersected. Note the shoeshine booth has both chairs full of customers having their shoes shined.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this photo is the small girl that is seemingly framed by the photographer between the two trolleys. She stares down the track as if she was disappointed that she could not board the Special train of servicemen and is looking for the next regular service car to arrive.

Also note the absence of any noticeable grade crossing apparatus protecting the trains, automobiles and pedestrians from colliding with each other. In researching this image and comparing it to other photos taken at the intersection in our collection, we could not find evidence of any grade crossing protection being installed until sometime after the war.

Today this area is still a vital transit intersection where the Metro A-Line (Blue) interchanges with Metro bus passengers of the 105, 611 and 705 Lines.

Pacific Electric 969 Fan Trip: A scene unrecognizable today

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

Pacific Electric car no. 969 is seen here on the PE Inglewood line heading east, as it nears the crossing of La Cienega Blvd.

This line was originally built by the Santa Fe Railway in 1887, as their entry into Santa Monica. Revenue on this line never amounted to anything approaching a profit from either passenger or freight service. It was sold to the Los Angeles Pacific in 1902 and was electrified. The line came into the Pacific Electric portfolio in 1911.

Today, this scene is completely changed. For one thing, the photographer would be standing in the northbound lanes of the 405 Freeway and would be mowed down by a “hit-and-run” driver in a matter of seconds.

The rail line and open fields seen here are gone, replaced by urban sprawl, houses, factories, and apartments. I would bet that if Metro Rail was operating along this long-gone rail line, it would be well patronized. No use crying over pulled spikes.[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/pe-969-fan-trip-crosses-the-venice-short-line.jpg” image_size=”full” title=”PE 969 Fan Trip crosses the Venice Short Line” desc=”969 as it crosses the Venice Short Line rails on the Inglewood Line heading eastbound. ” caption_location=”outside-image”][/vc_column][/vc_row] READ MORE

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] READ MORE

Alan Weeks’ Pacific Electric Railway: Torrance Shops 1948

[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] READ MORE

PE #428-LAMTA #1537: Mayhem on Long Beach Blvd.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1601858137498{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]By Ralph Cantos

Although almost 50 years separate these two photos, the results are the same, the destruction of two Ford vehicles. A wise man once said, “never assume anything.” Such was the case in these two accidents.

The 1959 accident on Long Beach Blvd. near Pacific Coast Highway involving MTA no. 1537 (PE no. 428) happened when northbound 1537 was rolling along at about 35 mph. An 85-year-old lady driving a 1955 Ford Mainline stalled as she was making a left turn in front of the approaching 1537.

Possibly because she was wearing high heal “stilettos”, she “popped the clutch” and came to a stop, across the tracks. The motorman of 1537, seeing the Ford stopped across the tracks ahead of him, “assumed” the Ford would get out of his way.

Unfortunately , that did not happen. By the time the motorman of 1537 realized the Ford was not going to move out of the way of his fast-approaching Blimp, it was too late. He threw the 1537 in emergency braking (The Big Hole) but it was too little, too late.

The 1537 was almost completely stopped when it hit the Ford, but the results speak for themselves. The lady driver was a bit shaken up, but none the worse for what had just happened.

In the end, the MTA and the motorman were found at fault. The 1537’s motorman should not have “assumed” that the Ford would get out of his way in time.

In the case of the Long Beach Police car, the officer driving code 3, “assumed” that the fast-approaching Blue Line train would pull over to the curb and give him the right of way.

Well as can be seen , that did not happen, sending another Ford to Terminal Island. Of interest to car guys, the Ford Mainline was the entry-level model. The only chrome on the car were the bumpers and door handles. No radio, no heater, “dog dish hub caps,” a 6 cylinder inline motor and stick shift trans. were standard.

[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/latl-3035-accicent-with-sf-loco-1956.jpg” image_size=”full”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1601858249646{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]In another “never assume anything” incident, , LATL PCC no. 3035 was the victim of this unfortunate encounter with a Santa Fe switcher just outside Vernon Yard.

For an unknown reason, PCC 3035 became inoperable while at Vernon Yard. A “Big Bertha” tow truck was dispatched from South Parks Shops to tow the 3035 back to the repair shop. The Big Bertha began to tow the 3035 back to South Park Shop when the Big Bertha with 3035 in tow, became mired in the gravel right of way at the Santa Fe crossing and stalled. The hapless 3035 was directly in the center of the diamond. The engineer of an approaching Santa Fe local freight saw the 3035 directly in front of his train, but he “assumed” the 3035 would clear the crossing in time.

Well, once again, that did not happen. The Santa Fa switcher “T BONED” the 3035 flipping her on the side and causing extensive damage. Later that day, the 3035 was righted and brought back to Vernon Yard where she was scrapped on the spot. The 3035 was the only LA PCC lost in action.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/latl-3035-at-vernon-yard-rear.jpg” image_size=”full”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1601894850988{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The 3035 sits in the dirt at Vernon Yard day after the accident. After insurance photos were taken, she was cut up on the spot.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row] READ MORE

4507 in Santa Ana

Pacific Electric Express no. 4507 is photographed at rest in Santa Ana wearing a “Bellflower Santa Ana” dash sign. The image is undated.

Gordon Glattenberg Collection

1706 at 6th and Main

Metropolitan Transit Authority (ex-Pacific Electric) no. 1706 on “Long Beach Limited” service is photographed at rest at the 6th and Main Street station’s passenger platform. The date is March 27, 1961.

Gordon Glattenberg Collection

1706 in Long Beach

Metropolitan Transit Authority (ex-Pacific Electric) blimp no. 1706 is photographed in Long Beach on the final day of 1960, December 31.

Gordon Glattenberg Collection

1545 at 6th and Main

Metropolitan Transit Authority (ex-Pacific Electric) blimp no. 1545 is captured in this dramatic nighttime shot (with star filters) at 6th and Main Street Station in downtown Los Angeles. Service will be to Long Beach, per the dash sign. The date is February 18, 1961.

1544 at the Torrance Shops

Pacific Electric steeplecab switcher no. 1544 is photographed coupled to a Southern Pacific outside-braced boxcar and an ominous stack of recovered rail – an indication of line abandonments and removals. The image is undated.

Gordon Glattenberg Collection