Comebacks

Los Angeles once boasted the largest interurban railway system in the country. That system, the Pacific Electric Railway, largely extinct since 1961, has been revived in one small part.

The Port of Los Angeles has resurrected a portion of the original San Pedro Red Car line, 1.5 miles along its waterfront. Three cars are in operation, one restored car and two exact replicas of the 500-class design series that ran from 1903-1930.




The ride (one-day unlimited) costs a buck, transfers to shuttles, and is free for kids (moreover they receive a paper conductors cap and Red Car history coloring book.) The days of operation are Friday through Monday (10 am to 6 pm), with service every 20 minutes.

I took my son last Monday, after we first watched the documentary, This is Pacific Electric. There were so few riders that the conductor was willing to explain the controls, gauges, and whistle. A few rail buffs (there's always a few), chatted about, comparing rail museums. The best, they claimed, are in Sacramento and Perris. Perris? Hmmm, expect a report soon.