Tag Archives: Trains and Railways
Opening of the electric railway from Los Angeles to Santa Monica, April 1, 1896
In this photo we’re lucky enough to have had someone on hand with a camera, which I doubt would’ve have been too common in 1896. This scene shows us the April 1st opening of the electric railway from Los Angeles … Continue reading
The Second Street Cable Railway running up Spring St’s steep incline, Bunker Hill, downtown Los Angeles, 1898
I’m sure Angelenos were glad when the first cable car system opened in Los Angeles. The Second Street Cable Railway started operations in 1885, and ran from 2nd and Spring to 1st and Belmont, a run of around a mile … Continue reading
Open-air cars on the first electric railway along Pico St (later Blvd) in downtown Los Angeles, 1887
I’m glad that someone had a camera on this day back in 1887 when the first electric railway line opened for business on Pico St, in downtown Los Angeles. It wasn’t installed as public transport, but as to assist in … Continue reading
Crowds await the departure of a special train taking guests to Kansas for the premiere of Warner Bros. “Dodge City”, Los Angeles, circa late March, 1939
This photo gives us a glimpse into the hoopla that studios sometimes whipped up to promo a new movie. In late March, 1939, Warner Bros. chartered a 16-car train to take 36 members of the press along with the stars … Continue reading
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Tagged Movie Premiere, Movie Stars, Night photo, Trains and Railways, Warner Bros.
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Southern Pacific train coming up Alameda St at Second Street, downtown Los Angeles, circa early 20th Century
A Southern Pacific train chugs up Alameda St at 2nd St, which puts it a few blocks south of where Union Station will later be built on the edge of downtown LA. There is a flagman on the left helping … Continue reading
Looking north across Colorado Blvd at the back end of the Santa Fe Chief train, Pasadena, California, circa early 1950s
I don’t know whose idea it was for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railway to run its tracks through the center of Pasadena, but it even with that long gate (on the right) it looks like an accident waiting … Continue reading
A reconstructed Union Pacific locomotive travels down Alameda St as part of the Union Station opening day celebrations, downtown Los Angeles, May 3, 1939
After five years of construction, May 3, 1939 was a big day for Los Angeles—it was the opening day for the new Union Station that consolidated rail services from the Union Pacific, Santa Fe, and Southern Pacific under one roof. … Continue reading
Night photo of the Union Pacific railroad ticket office, 144 Pine Ave, Long Beach, California, circa 1939
I do love coming across a striking night photo, and this one is a prime example. This one is of a Union Pacific railroad ticket office sandwiched between a Florsheim shoe store and a drug store. It was at 144 … Continue reading
Color photo of the Santa Fe Railway Station near the intersection of Meridian Ave and El Centro St, South Pasadena, California, 1945
It’s not often that we are treated to a genuine color photo from the 1940s, so I’m grateful for every one that I come across. This one is of the Santa Fe train pulling into their South Pasadena station, which … Continue reading
Union Station in color, downtown Los Angeles, 1950
From the always-interesting Davelandweb site comes this color photo of Union Station at the edge of downtown in 1950. What I like about this photo is that the railway station looks practically the same now as it did back then. … Continue reading
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Tagged Color photo, Downtown Los Angeles, Trains and Railways, Union Station
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