Tag Archives: Trains and Railways

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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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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Intrepid Angelenos cross the Circular Bridge on the Mt. Lowe Railway, San Gabriel Mountains, north of Los Angeles, circa late 1890s

The Mt. Lowe railway transported Angelenos from Altadena (just north of Pasadena) to a 70-room Victorian hotel called the Echo Mountain House and its neighbor, the 40-room Echo Chalet. Getting there entailed taking more than one form of railway and … Continue reading

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Aerial shot looking east along Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills toward Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills, 1924

In this aerial shot we’re looking east along the Beverly Hills stretch of Santa Monica Blvd before it makes a slight turn to the right as it enters West Hollywood. It was taken in 1924, when West Hollywood was still … Continue reading

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Looking north up Vine Street, Hollywood from Sunset Blvd at night, circa early 1950s.

Vine Street in Hollywood was a quite a (neon) light show at night in the 1950s, when this photo was taken. From left to right, I can see signs for Alexander Stationers, Wil Wright’s Ice Cream (orange and yellow stripes), … Continue reading

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