Excursion Fares from Pasadena to the Beaches -- August 10, 2025

Pasadena Post, 24-August-1925

The Pacific Electric Railway operated its famous Red Cars on interurban and streetcar routes throughout the Los Angeles area. The PE offered "Week-End Round Trip Excursion Fares from Pasadena to the Beaches."

Closely Connecting all Important Southland Cities -- November 3, 2024

San Pedro News-Pilot, 01-November-1924

The Pacific Electric Railway operated its famous Red Cars on interurban and streetcar routes throughout the Los Angeles area. "Many delightful weekend trips to beach and mountain resorts, parks and picnic-groups may be made via our lines."

Live Alligator in Santa Monica -- July 9, 2023

Los Angeles Herald, 08-July-1898

Summer in Southern California. I first noticed this because the Southern Pacific offered to take people to see the "Live Alligator in Santa Monica." "Now is the time that the fish bite."

The Los Angeles Terminal Railway was a short line between Altadena and Pasadena. The line was abandoned in 1921.

I have never been to Catalina. 

At Mountain Junction in Altadena, the Mount Lowe Railroad connected with the Los Angeles Terminal Railway. The Mount Lowe Excursion included a ride to Rubio Canyon at the foot of Echo Mountain. Passengers transferred to the great incline, which climbed 3,000 feet to the summit. At the summit, they could ride a narrow gauge scenic electric railway and see some spectacular sights. The Mount Lowe Railroad was eventually taken over by the Pacific Electric Railway. 

The Wilshire Ostrich Farm was a popular destination. 

America's Most Scenic Mountain Trolley Trip -- March 27, 2023

California Eagle, 03-March-1923

The Pacific Electric Railway operated its famous Red Cars on interurban and streetcar routes throughout the Los Angeles area. I am happy to see that they advertised the Mount Lowe Excursion in The California Eagle, an African-American owned newspaper. 

The Mount Lowe Excursion included a ride to Rubio Canyon at the foot of Echo Mountain. Passengers transferred to the great incline, which climbed 3,000 feet to the summit. At the summit, they could ride a narrow gauge scenic electric railway and see some spectacular sights.

The Mission Play at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel told the history of the missions. 

From Monrovia to the Beaches -- August 7, 2022

Monrovia Daily News, 01-August-1922

The Pacific Electric Railway operated its famous Red Cars on interurban and streetcar routes throughout the Los Angeles area. I'll bet a weekend excursion to the beach would be popular in August, 1922.

Train Station #50 -- August 7, 2012

In 2012, Disney California Adventure introduced a Red Car line that runs from the main gate to the Tower of Terror, with stops at Carthay Circle and Hollywood Boulevard.  I saw two cars, 623 in an older Pacific Electric livery, and 717, painted like a PE Hollywood car.  The cars are double ended.  The terminals are stub ended.  There is a passing track on Hollywood Boulevard, closer to the outer terminal than the inner.

Here is the Buena Vista Street Station, near the main gate.  I took the photo during this year's visit.

Red Cars at Disney California Adventure -- July 22, 2012

We just got back from vacation. We drove down I-5 to Hollywood and visited with relatives.  We had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, my first time.  The food was good.  The memorabilia was interesting.  We continued on to the Disneyland Hotel.  The construction project was finished.  We went to 5 o'clock mass at Saint Boniface. 

The great revision of Disney California Adventure (they lost the apostrophe s) was finished.  They tried to make the park look like Los Angeles when Walt Disney arrived in the 1920s.

One feature of this is a Red Car line that runs from the main gate to the Tower of Terror, with stops at Carthay Circle and Hollywood Boulevard.  I saw two cars, 623 in an older Pacific Electric livery, and 717, painted like a PE Hollywood car.  July 17 was the date that Disneyland opened.  The cars are double ended.  The terminals are stub ended.  There is a passing track on Hollywood Boulevard, closer to the outer terminal than the inner. 

There is an overhead electric wire which is not energized.  I learned on my first ride, when the trolley pole dewired, that the correct (rear) pole has to be up and in contact with the wire or the car will not move. 

A cast member (Disney's term for employee) explained that the people working on the Red Cars rotate through three jobs: motorman/motorette, conductor and station agent.  The station agents work at the terminals and stops, answering questions and getting people to wait in line.  When the crowds are heavy, an agent will walk in front of the car to ask people to get out of the way. 

One car makes a short turn at Carthay Circle when a musical show is performed there.  The other car is used as a background for the show. 

The tracks disappear behind a gate at the outer terminal. 


I took the photo last week. 

The new Cars Land is a lot of fun.