1591 in San Bernardino
Jack Whitmeyer Photo, Mount Lowe Preservation Society Collection
Pacific Electric freight locomotive no. 1591 and crew pose for this image near San Bernardino on the Eastern District. Note the PE gondola with scrap metal, possibly dating this image to the World War II era.
Jack Whitmeyer Photo, Mount Lowe Preservation Society Collection
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Usually you see the Arrowhead springs job,or some consist version with water tanks in tow. Great shot,especially the footboards,with most likely the pinpuller and the conductor riding on em.
I like everything about Pacific Electric even though I never rode it let alone been To Los Angeles Its a shame National City Lines Trashed everything in the name of “Progress”The same thing happend when I was a kid in Philly Thank God For museums and the lines are making a comeback in the wy of light rail Necissity not Nostalgia is the bottom line now a days
Sorry, all you conspiracy fans. NCL had nothing to do with the demise of passenger services on PE’s rail lines. Those decisions were being made at San Francisco’s One Market Street, the headquarters of PE’s parent company (since 1911) Southern Pacific Railroad.
After some research into No. 1591 this photo can not be from the WWII area but more like the late 1920’s. No. 1591 was built by Baldwin-Westinghouse in February 1920, #53026, as CL 23. It was not delivered and was held in stock. It became Pacific Electric 1591 on April 23, 1923 and was used by PE until It was sold as FGU 1591 in December 1931 and renumbered 951. It became EFEA 951.
I believe the date 1931 was a misprint; more probably it was 1951. I am not aware P.E. was selling equipment to Argentina until the 1950’s. As I understand a number of ex-P.E. cars still exist down there – 1100’s and freight motors and some Hollywood cars but in marginal condition and much altered!
Jack was born in 1921. Assuming he started shooting in his early 20’s, this would date the photo to be around 1940, give or take a year.
What was the interchange situation on PE freight cars. Were they restricted from this? I don’t recall seeing photos of any off-line.