Postcard: Electric train arriving at Venice, California (1909-1912)

Archive: Michael Olsen.
Date: 1909 - 1912.
City: Los Angeles (United States).

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Photos from Pacific Electric Railway (PE)

Postcard: Los Angeles railcar 1544 near Travel Town (1970)Vanishing Vista Pacific Electric #1544 is on display at Travel Town in Los Angeles. Named the "Electra" when it was built in 1902 in Sausalito, California, by the North Shore Railroad (B/N 3) for local freight work on the dual-gauge electrified trackage out of Sausalito. It later proved unsatisfactory and was leased in 1906 to the San Francisco Debris Commission to aid in the cleanup after the earthquake. It then went to the United Railways in San Francisco and later to the Southern Pacific as Central Pacific #201. Finally, in 1917, it was transferred to the Pacific Electric as #1544 and remained in service until its retirement. Pacific ElectricBy Henrik Boye, Lyman E. Cox, Roy Gabriel - 1970.

Postcard: Los Angeles railcar 5028 near Downtown (1940)Vanishing Vista The Pacific Electric Railway, on November 24, 1940, restored all-rail service to the cities of Glendale and Burbank via the subway terminal in downtown Los Ageles. To initiate service new streamlined suburban cars built by the Pullman-Standard Car Company were placed in service. These streamlined cars were the longest PCC type equipment built at that time, and were the first such cars to be equipped with multiple-unit control and couplers. The 5000 class cars received great ovation from patrons of the line. A group of the cars were tried on the Venice Short Line, however, they were later placed on the Glendale-Burbank Line until abandonment of the line in 1956. While the Pacific Electric was still in the passenger busines on its south and north lines, the PCC cars were placed in dead storage in the lod subwayterminal tubes. The cars deteriorated badly due to the moisture, however, they were sold three years later to the General Urquiza Railroad, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The cars are still operating on this system today. In this scene, No. 5028 makes an inspection tour of the Pacific Electric facillities at Santa Monica while on a rail boff excursion. Pacific Electric RailwayBy Donald Duke, Henrik Boye, Lyman E. Cox - November 24, 1940.

Postcard: Los Angeles Santa Monica Air Line with railcar 5084 near Santa Monica (1952)Vanishing Vistas The "Hollywood" cars were the largest class of equipment on the Pacific Electric Railway. When built, this equipment was considered as the finest city cars in the nation. They not only enjoyed the longest lifespan of any Pacific Electric car type, but made many appearances in motion pictures. The original cars were built by St. Louis Car Co. in 1922. They were such a success that the PE ordered cars 650-699 and 700-749. The 600 class coming from St. Louis Car and the 700's from J. G. Brill. The No. 5084 was formerly No. 665 in the original numbering scheme. In 1939, after long consideration and in response to public clamor for better and modern equipment, the Pacific Electric undertook a major rebuilding program of the "Hollywood" type cars. The modernization included rebuilding the motors, installing revolving seats, modern interior light fixtures, electric marker lamps, and metal skirting to make the exterior appearance appear new. A striking new paint scherne using orange and silver decoration with the red car body, turned the class into entirely new suburban cars. This modernization program came in time for World War II, and without modern cars the PE would have been in horrible shape. As patronage declined following World War II, the railroad undertook to convert many of the 600 class cars to one man operation. As this was completed, the road numbers were changed to the 5050 serie. Thus car No. 655 becoming No. 5084. Inthis scene, photographed i August 1952, suburban car No. 5084 is operating on the Santa Monica Air Line Route. This line started at the 6th & Main Terminal and ran down the Southern Division 4-track main line to Amoco Junction, here it followed a direct freight belt line west to Santa Monica. It was named the "Air Line" as it was the most direct route between the two towns. This line only saw service in the morning and evening commute hours. Pacific Electric RailwayBy Donald Duke, Henrik Boye, Lyman E. Cox - August 1952.

Postcard: Los Angeles railcar 5121 on Hollywood Boulevard (1952)Hollywood Red Car loading passengers at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Boulevard. 1952.By Bruce Torrence, Henrik Boye, Olde Tyme Photo Cards - 1952.

See all photos from Pacific Electric Railway (PE).

Last updated: October 29, 2025.

Postcard: Electric train arriving at Venice, California (1909-1912)

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