Until I came across this photo, I never knew that some models of the Pacific Electric Red Cars could be coupled together. And even then, it would be only in places with intersections wide enough to allow them to negotiate around the corner. This is the intersection of Colorado Blvd (part of Route 66) and Lake Ave in Pasadena. The streetcar line was abandoned the following day on October 8, 1950.
Reymond says: “The PE Twelves underwent rebuilding/repainting in 1939 to become the “Butterfly” cars you see here. Service on all the lines (including the “Oak Knoll” line that encompassed Lake Ave service) ended in 1949.”
I’m not sure that this image from January 2019 is facing the same direction as the vintage photo, but none of the buildings at any of the four corners of this intersection have that nice building we can see in the background.
I actually have an early memory of being on a Redcar. They were ripped out when I think I was 2, so it was an extremely early memory! It was on Washington Blvd, and it was near the old Helms Bakery, because I remember the Helmsman statue. Which is probably why it stuck in my mind to begin with. So sad they’re gone. They went everywhere!
It might be an early memory, Paula, but at least you have one!
Actually, most of the Big Red Cars could, and did, operate in trains.
https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/peryhs-dukeart.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/236x/61/bf/a3/61bfa30d3f90e985f3065ea03a04c90b–westerns-electric.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/jcQiUJRsLOPx9pcNdaJUDiTsHFxicicbcSbAG2uivDm3bGGEa6AusoaiH6NTPR2kITmX3w
https://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/JS-Venice-3-Car-1600.jpg
🙂
Thanks, MMM. I had no idea!