Last Ride on the Red Car - April 8, 1961

My dad grew up in L.A. during interesting times. His parents worked for the Pacific Electric--the operator of the extensive network of electric train lines in Southern California during the early 20th century. He rode on them as a kid, and grew to love trains and electricity, making the former a hobby and the latter a career.

57 years ago--April 8, 1961--my dad had his last ride on the red car. The buses, the sprawl, and the automobile took over, and the last electric passenger train ran in L.A. (until L.A. to Long Beach line was rebuilt in the 1980s).

The L.A. Long Beach
Interurban Train:
On Saturday evening April 8, 1961
Easter Saturday with Joseph Sweeney I had my
last ride on the red car, round trip Watts to
Slauson. In both cases two cars were coupled.
One conductor was glad to see them go, the other
was on the point of crying. When we got off at
Watts there was a long farewell blowing of the
whistle for 103rd St. crossing & a pedestrian and
the northbound train came very shortly with it's
farewell.