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
WARBONNETS OF THE SANTA FE – Theme & Variations
The current exhibit is a visual reminder of the “Warbonnet” paint scheme of the Santa Fe Railway. Resembling a Native American headdress, with vivid red and yellow hues cascading across a silver background, the livery was intended simply to promote the Railroad’s premier streamliner, the Super Chief. In May 1937, the first of the “Warbonnet” designs appeared on the E-Series streamliners from Electro Motive. The design had been specifically created to adorn these locomotives, and when you consider how perfectly the sleek lines, brilliant colors, and theme of the train match, you begin to realize the impression Santa Fe wanted to make on the train riding public. The last of the pure “Warbonnets” were the Dash 9-44CW built in 1994 and the SD75M built a year later. The greatness of the “Warbonnet” graphic design and paint scheme was best exemplified in a photograph by Elrond Lawrence displayed in this exhibit. It captured the end of an era with a magnificent line up of Santa Fe “Warbonnets.” All freshly washed and gleaming in the morning light he photographed this train with perhaps the greatest natural wonder on the entire Santa Fe line, Sullivan’s Curve as a backdrop.
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
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.
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.
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.
PE historian Tom Wetzel created these
two sites to provide "tours" into the lost electric
lines of the Pacific Electric and Los Angeles Railways.
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