4509 in Torrance Front View
Donald Duke Collection
Pacific Electric “blimp” interurban no. 4509 is captured in Torrance. This ex-Northwestern Pacific no. 384 unit was shipped south by Southern Pacific in 1942 and reworked to become PE 4509. It would be renumbered 314 in 1947 and would survive until the end of service on the Pacific Electric in the 1960s. It’s part of the collection at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris.
Donald Duke Collection
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At OERM, the 4509 wears number 314, which it acquired about 1948. It was the last of the fast “hot rod” blimps to be retired and is still operational, although definitely in need of major cosmetic and some mechanical work.
Something to think about: 4509/314 spent about 12 years on the NWP, 18 on PE, and 50 (and counting) at OERM. I checked Interurbans Special 36, and couldn’t find a cross-reference to its NWP number.
NWP 384 to PE 4509 to PE 314 to LAMTA 1511, according to a book written by Harre Demoro about NWP’s commuter operation “Electric Railway Pioneer, Interurbans Special 84”.