1216 in West Los Angeles
Alan Weeks Photo-Collection
Specially chartered Pacific Electric interurbans led by no. 1216 pause at the Old Soldiers’ Home (now, the Veterans Administration Hospital) in West Los Angeles on the Sawtelle Line, May 9, 1948.
Alan Weeks Photo
Alan Weeks Collection
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I was raised in LA and lived about three blocks from the Santa Monica Air Line. I spent a lot of time outside playing as did most kids at that time. There were many grade crossings near my place so there was a lot of whistling as trains approached from either direction, giving me a lot of warning that something was approaching. Every time I heard a whistle, I ran to look down the street at whatever was moving on the PE. Even though I was about 5 or 6 years old in1945 or 1946, I vividly recall seeing a train of raiilroad baggage cars moving west on the Air Line. Nobody could tell me what the movement was. I now realize that these were trains transporting the remains of American servicemen to the Sawtelle Veterans Cemetary at the end of the war- the Air Line was the closest rail line to this cemetary. These trains were hauled by the standard PE 1600 class electric locomotives.