robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Is it OK to post streetcar images here? they do run on rails and some even run in "trains" and we don't have a streetcar section. If it gets moved to the Gallery I will understand.

This streetcar was part of the Los Angeles Railway (LARy, aka "yellow cars") city commuter fleet, as opposed to the Pacific Electric's interurban "Red Cars" that ran all over the LA Metro Area on over 1000 miles of inter-city track as far out as March Air Base. I like to think that the car is remembering its glory days hauling commuters to and from work, shopping etc. around the city of LA. LARy 525 is a "Huntington Standard" built in 1906 and retired as the last operating wooden-bodied car in Los Angeles in 1955. At one point there were 747 of these cars in several variations and "one-off" specials in the Los Angels fleet. It is maintained in operating condition and runs fairly regularly at the Southern California Railway Museum (formerly Orange Empire Railway Museum) in Perris CA.
This shot is at the museum during "Night Operations" for members and guests. The cars and trains are run after dark outside of museum hours and members etc. can get a chance to do cab rides, operate equipment plus other things not done during normal museum visits.

This shot was at 8:30PM on July 25th, 2015. The young lady about to take the controls under the Motorman's supervision is our daughter who had almost finished her Quals for Motorman and Conductor before she took off to UCLA for PreMed in 2012. She came home for the weekend just to go out for Night Operations with the family. We live 70 miles from UCLA and about 35 miles from the Museum where we have a family membership. At the time I was active in the Operations Department as a streetcar Motorman, Conductor, train Conductor, and sometimes announcer for large events. This car is one of those I was qualified to operate.

7DII, Tamron 10-24 @ 10, 1/25 @ f/3.5, ISO-6400
handheld by ambiant light

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

JustJill Loc: Iowa

Great image and background to go with it!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

thanks

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thanks very much.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

That is so cool, Rob! Great post and story!

Stephan G

Personally, I think this folder should be OK. After all, there were the inter-urbans that worked alongside with the rail cousins.

The shot reminded me of my time as a trolley motorman. Still have my cap hanging on my wall.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice night shot.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thanks a lot.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thanks, we still have a few museum members who actually worked for LARy or Pacific Electric back in the day. But since LA basically ended all street car operations in 1963 they are getting on in years.

LA does have some operating "Red Cars" on a 1.5-mile line from the San Pedro cruise ship terminal to other tourist features by the harbor. They have two replica cars and one original. For the grand opening several years ago the museum sent one of our restored Red Cars to run for a while. The track is part of the original Pacific Electric trackage right of way that was still being used for freight.

https://socalrailway.org/

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thank You

gastech1949 Loc: Imperial Beach, CA.

It has been years since I visited there, but I still remember what a great place it was with a lot of operating equipment. Great photo!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thanks You

SCRM/OERM is the largest operating RR museum west of the Mississippi. Over 200 pieces of rolling stock if you count both train locos+cars and streetcars.

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

If you want to see some really antique street cars, visit San Francisco. They have a nice collection running along the Bay. I know of one special one. It came from New Orleans, and was the actual "Streetcar Named Desire". That was the line that ran through the French Quarter, down Royal St. Tennessee Williams, made this Streetcar famous. SF traded that car with one of their old cable cars. The cable car is in a display in New Orleans, City Park.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Robert, streetcars fit nicely!!!
Enjoyed the commentary and the image!!
Pat