Nostalgia & History > A Bit Of Traction--PE, LARy, Key, SF, Seattle

It was a mild sunny day in Ritzville. WA with a high-low of 74-42 Here is a bit of Traction from the Andy Goddard collection.

1. Pacific Electric MTA blimp 1501 at the 6th and main station with a Hollywood car in the far background in the 1950's. Any extra info welcomed. Jerry Squier photo.
2. A possible night shot of Pacific Electric green 1543 at 6th and main? in the 1960's. Any extra info welcomed. Jerry Squier photo.
3. LATL M series streetcar 2602 on a possible Charter in the early 1950's. Any extra info welcomed. Jetty Squier photo.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/01/23 19:42 by Ritzville.

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Another set of amazing historical photos!
Bob

4. Key System units 108-111-135 in storage after lines quit in 1958. Any extra info welcomed. Alan Weeks photo.
5. San Francisco Muni PCC 1127 turning onto Market St. from Fremont St. in 1975. Any extra info welcomed. Andy Goddard photo.
6. OT--Seattle Transit Twin bus 174 at Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Alaska St in the 1970's. Any extra info welcomed. Mitchell Libby photo.

That's it for today. Hope everyone has a great evening and tomorrow. Thanks so much for looking!

Larry
Ritzville, WA

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6th and Main was really something.To have a time machine.But,this helps bring back the past.Bill Webb

Key units stored on the two main tracks and the yard lead in Emeryville near Tower 2. Service ended for good on April 20, 1958. Some units actually pulled work equipment across the bridge as the railway was dismantled. But all the Key-owned units were eventually scrapped. The state-owned units found their way to South America and new lives except six units to various museums. Of the six, three reside today at Western Railway Museum; one at Perris, Calif., and the other two eventually got scrapped.

 

Thanks Bob for your Nice comments. Thanks Jim for your interesting thoughts. Thanks :"stash" for all your interesting comments on about the Key trains and where they ended up after serivice was discontinued in April 1958. Much appreciated to you all!

Larry

Thanks for the photos. Photo #3 LATL 2602 is actually a M-series  class car. It is a double -ended Peter Witt style car with 26" wheels for a low step.

Thrilling Thursday comments:

1 - An impressive scene. Trolley wires seem to be going in all directions. Off to right is the top of a GM Old Look.
2 - A most excellent night scene made better by the presence of #1543. Passengers on the platform add atmosphere.
3 - An especially interesting scene. Looks like the man in the scene exited the truck, leaving door open, to meet a passenger
    arriving on #2602.  All motor vehicles appear to be pre-WWII.  
5 - A scene with a lot to like.  Actually, the most intriguing element is the white box by the tree.
6 - A two for one scene with a twin and a GM New Look.

Thanks for your posting of treasures one of which included a mystery, "the mystery of the white box".
Always appreciate and enjoy your work.

ALLEN

Thanks "tramfan" for your correction and comments. Thaks Allen for your fun reviews, auto details and bus info. Muxh appreciated to you both.

Larry

Nos 1 & 2 are atop PE's viaduct at 6th & Main in Los Angeles. Blimp 1501 came to PE in 1942 following
abandonment of Northwestern Pacific's commuter operations in Marin County. One of seven "control trailers",
the 1929-30 built car was equipped with operator controls for MU operation and as such saw extensive use
at the head of trains during the remaining war time years, usually on a one trailer/one motor configuration
but there are photos showing two trailers with one motor. In 1943 the decision was made to motorize the
7 ExNWP trailers. In 1947 the car underwent a modernization at PE's Torrance shops, emerging as number 302.
The car soldiered on through the sale of PE's passenger service in 1953 and formation of LAMTA in 1958 when
it was renumbered again to its final number, 1501. Scrapping followed, in 1961, presumably following final
operations in April. 

No 3 looks like the 2602 is on another of many fan trips the Peter Witt car was used on after being stored, along with
sister 2601, after September, 1950 and before being retired in the Spring of 1955. The scene looks like Eagle Rock Blvd
on the 5-Line, about a mile from the eastern end, at Colorado Blvd.
Railfans tried to purchase both 2601 and 2602 but LATL refused to sell 2602 owing to dangerously worn wheels and it was
scrapped by National Metals on Terminal Island. 2601 was sold to the Southern California Division of the Electric Railroaders
Association and after a short stay at Traveltown was relocated to Perris, where it remains today. According to Southern California
Railway Museum's website it is either nearing or has undergone a complete restoration. 

As always, corrections are welcome.

Charlie  

Thanks Charlie for your in depth classroom of locations, dates and other interesting tidbits of information. Thanks for your hard work, much appreciated!

Larry

Pic 5 -- anyone know what the Turn Left sign
in the middle of Market is for?