LARHF satellite exhibits around the Southland

The Los Angeles Railroad Heritage Foundation creates and designs exhibits at key high-traffic restaurant-based locations around the Southland. These exhibits feature themed photography and scale models, blended into presentations that help convey the subject matter being presented. All our exhibits are open to the public during regular restaurant business hours; we invite you to visit them in person and ask that you support the restaurants which provide space for us to communicate with the public.

Philippe's French Dip Restaurant | 1001 N. Alameda Street | Los Angeles, CA 90012 | 213-628-3781

METROLINK – The Crown Jewels – Its Rights of Way

The current exhibit displays the Metrolink system today and the early railroad routes that that provided the right-of-way that made it all possible! Color photographs by Mark Borja depict the San Bernardino Line which used the former Southern Pacific secondary mainline, the Orange County Line with Metrolink trains being boarded at Fullerton, the Ventura County Line with an archive photograph at the Burbank Junction by Robert Morris, Inland Empire/Orange County Line in which Mark captured a Metrolink train near Yorba Linda. A total of twelve photographs both contemporary and archival plus great miniature models of trains that originally operated on these lines and a brand new model of a five-car Metrolink train.
   View previous exhibits  |  Directions | Visit Philippe's site

Old Spaghetti Factory Fullerton  |  110 E. Santa Fe  |  Fullerton, CA 92832  |  714-526-7301

Rails to the North, South, East and West

Located in the original Union Pacific Depot in Fullerton only 25 feet from the railroad mainlines of the BNSF, Metrolink and Amtrak, visitors may watch a parade of trains practically all day long. Inside the restaurant, near the main entrance are two displays –depicting Fullerton as the “center of the compass” for trains radiating out in all directions – making this location the crossroads of Southern California railroading. Models of a BNSF Dash 8, the AMTRAK Pacific Surfliner, Santa Fe locomotive No. 3751 with heavyweight cars, Union Pacific “Consolidation” No. 329 and other models and photos make up these exhibits.
   Directions  |  Visit OSF's site

Old Spaghetti Factory Newport Beach  |  2110 Newport Blvd.  |  Newport Beach, CA 92663  |  949-675-8654

Surfliners – Sea and Sand

Although the LARHF satellite exhibit in Newport Beach is not located in the vicinity of a railroad mainline, the Old Spaghetti Factory building is immediately adjacent, on Newport Boulevard, where the Pacific Electric ran its famous “red” cars. The present exhibit is a collection of photographs along the Los Angeles-San Diego corridor (popularly known as the "Surf Line"). Photos of the San Diegan with its “Warbonnet “ diesels, Rail Diesel Cars, Pacific Electric cars and early right-of-way trackage along the Pacific Ocean plus miniature models make up this display.

Old Spaghetti Factory Riverside  |  3191 Mission Inn Avenue  |  Riverside, CA 92507   |  951-784-4417

Riverside Welcomes You

LARHF’s Riverside satellite is in what used to be a very busy citrus packing house. The plant is located equidistant from the old Santa Fe and Union Pacific Depots. Sadly, they are no longer in use, but the mainline for Amtrak, Metrolink and BNSF is immediately behind the restaurant and it seems like the crossing gate and diesel horns are sounding off every few minute. The present exhibit takes its title from a 1926 photograph welcoming ceremony for the Union Pacific’s arrival of the Los Angeles Limited. The exhibit includes some very early pictures of Riverside from a variety of sources including the Los Angeles Public Library and the Santa Fe Historical and Modeling Society publication, the “Warbonnet.” Models include a Union Pacific FEF locomotive, a Santa Fe No. 3751 “Northern”, three Pacific Electric cars, the Union Pacific – City of Los Angeles with diesel E-6 diesels.

 

Allied Rail Preservation and Historical Organizations

Southern California is blessed with a wealth of active, vibrant historical organizations focused on the preservation of our collective rail history. Many focus on the preservation of railroad equipment and have public access to their collections. We encourage you to visit and support these organizations and their missions; their strength benefits all who value the preservation of history.

   Rail Preservation Organizations: groups dedicated to preserving rail equipment

Orange Empire Railway Museum  |  Visit their site
Located in Perris, the Orange Empire Railway Museum owns and operates the largest collection of vintage Pacific Electric and Los Angeles Railway equipment as well as select examples of mainline railroad equipment from AT&SF, Southern Pacific and Union Pacific. A treat for any railfan, the Orange Empire Railway Museum is fun for the entire family.

Fullerton Railway Plaza Association  |  Visit their site
The Fullerton Railway Plaza Association has preserved the historic Fullerton AT&SF station and is developing an interactive exhibit on local railroad history. They also operate the Fullerton Railroad Days event held each year.

San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society  |  Visit their site
The San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society is the proud owner/operator of AT&SF 3751, a Northern-type steam locomotove rescued from a San Bernardino park and restored to its original glory.

Travel Town and LA Live Steamers  |  Visit TT's site  |  Visit LALS' site
The City of Los Angeles' Travel Town Museum, located in Griffith Park just off the 134 Freeway near Burbank, boasts the largest collection of historic rail equipment within the city limits. It's also home to the Los Angeles Live Steamers, a great group that operates miniature live-steam locomotives and diesel locomotives on weekends that you're invited to ride for a nominal fee.

San Diego Electric Railway Association  |  Visit their site
The San Diego Electric Railway Association is dedicated to the preservation of the history of the San Diego Electric Railway - San Diego's primary streetcar system which operated from the late 1800s to 1949. SDERA is also the operator of the National City depot, an historic Santa Fe railroad station.

California State Railroad Museum  |  Visit their site
The granddaddy of them all, the California State Railroad Museum is a must-visit for all Californians. Their interpretive studies of actual equipment, historical artifacts, and a generous archive make this Sacramento destination a crown jewel of the state park system.

 

   Rail History Organizations: groups focused on rail history and artifact preservation

Mount Lowe Preservation Society  |  Visit their site
Dedicated to the memory of Thaddeus Lowe and his magnificent rail creation on Echo Mountain, the MLPS specializes in all things Mount Lowe — the authoritative source for everything on this fascinating line that became the leading Southern California (and Pacific Electric) tourist attraction.

PE's Arrowhead Hot Springs  |  Visit the site
Created by Christian Tobar, this site is filled with rare and historic photographs on this forgotten line that served the origin of the today's Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water product.

Red Cars of Los Angeles  |  Visit the site
This site is part of USC's Past Present and Future online exhibit and contains an encapsulated overview of Pacific Electric history and great imagery.

Tom Wetzel on the PE and LARy  |  Visit the PE site  |  Visit the LARy site
PE historian Tom Wetzel created these two sites to provide "tours" into the lost electric lines of the Pacific Electric and Los Angeles Railways.