Programs
Programs
Programs
Programs
The Los Angeles Railroad Heritage Foundation is built on three elements: preservation, adventures and education. Our education initiatives include Boy Scout Railroad Merit Badge classes and Urban Archeological tours. For the general public LARHF's permanent "satellites" displays are continuing sources of historical and geographical educational information. The displays consist of archival and contemporary photographs. Complementing the photos are prototypical miniature train models.
Programs
Programs
Programs
Programs
Satellite Exhibits
The Los Angeles Railroad Heritage Foundation is built on three elements: preservation, adventures and education. Our education initiatives include Boy Scout Railroad Merit Badge classes and Urban Archeological tours. For the general public LARHF's permanent "satellites" displays are continuing sources of historical and geographical educational information. The displays consist of archival and contemporary photographs. Complementing the photos are prototypical miniature train models.
Programs
Programs
Programs
Programs
Satellite Exhibits
The Los Angeles Railroad Heritage Foundation is built on three elements: preservation, adventures and education. Our education initiatives include Boy Scout Railroad Merit Badge classes and Urban Archeological tours. For the general public LARHF's permanent "satellites" displays are continuing sources of historical and geographical educational information. The displays consist of archival and contemporary photographs. Complementing the photos are prototypical miniature train models.
Roger L. Titus is a noted rail-traction historian and postcard collector. He is the co-author of "Destinations," a LARHF-published title documenting the rise of Southern California through vintage postcards and their relationship to the trolley lines that fueled Southland growth. As a teenager, Roger and his father Robert rode the Pacific Electric and Los Angeles Railway systems, photographing the systems as they were on the verge of shutdown. His collection provides a brilliant snapshot into late-1940s through late-1950s Southern California, and how trolley systems defined our way of life.
Ralph Melching (1917-2005) was a founder of the Pacific Rail Society (née Railroad Boosters) and an avid rail photographer throughout his adult life. Ralph photographed a wide variety of rail-based subjects, including the construction of Los Angeles Union Station in 1938-39, as well as the Pacific Electric Railway and main line railroads.
Ralph Melching (1917-2005) was a founder of the Pacific Rail Society (née Railroad Boosters) and an avid rail photographer throughout his adult life. Ralph photographed a wide variety of rail-based subjects, including the construction of Los Angeles Union Station in 1938-39, as well as the Pacific Electric Railway and main line railroads.
Ralph Melching (1917-2005) was a founder of the Pacific Rail Society (née Railroad Boosters) and an avid rail photographer throughout his adult life. Ralph photographed a wide variety of rail-based subjects, including the construction of Los Angeles Union Station in 1938-39, as well as the Pacific Electric Railway and main line railroads.
Ralph Melching (1917-2005) was a founder of the Pacific Rail Society (née Railroad Boosters) and an avid rail photographer throughout his adult life. Ralph photographed a wide variety of rail-based subjects, including the construction of Los Angeles Union Station in 1938-39, as well as the Pacific Electric Railway and main line railroads.
Ralph Melching (1917-2005) was a founder of the Pacific Rail Society (née Railroad Boosters) and an avid rail photographer throughout his adult life. Ralph photographed a wide variety of rail-based subjects, including the construction of Los Angeles Union Station in 1938-39, as well as the Pacific Electric Railway and main line railroads.
Ralph Melching (1917-2005) was a founder of the Pacific Rail Society (née Railroad Boosters) and an avid rail photographer throughout his adult life. Ralph photographed a wide variety of rail-based subjects, including the construction of Los Angeles Union Station in 1938-39, as well as the Pacific Electric Railway and main line railroads.
National Geographic Collection
National Geographic Collection
Railroads Today
Union Pacific
One of the most historic names in railroading, Union Pacific celebrated the 150th anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike in 2019 (May 10). In 1996 Union Pacific merged with Southern Pacific Railroad, which in 1876 connected a sleepy agricultural town named Los Angeles with America’s midwest and east coast markets. Today’s Union Pacific serves 23 states. The railroad also operates a fleet of heritage locomotives, headlined by never-retired 4-8-4 no. 844 and “Big Boy” 4-8-8-4 no. 4014 (a former resident of the Rail Giants museum in Pomona).
BNSF Railway
Successor to the iconic Santa Fe Railway, BNSF was born through the merger of Santa Fe and Burlington Northern railroads. Santa Fe became a gateway to Southern California in 1885; its Super Chief and El Capitan streamliners became legendary with their first-class service, combined with Fred Harvey hotels and red and silver “warbonnet” locomotives. BNSF was formed at the end of 1995 and today serves 28 states with a network of 32,500 rail miles. BNSF is a supporter of LARHF's Scouting Merit Badge classes.
Amtrak
Amtrak has more than 40 years of rich American history. Since beginning operations in 1971, Amtrak ridership has grown to exceed 30 million passengers (as of fiscal year 2017). The Federal passenger carrier operates long-distance and regional trains out of LA Union Station, including the Southwest Chief, Coast Starlight, Sunset Limited and Pacific Surfliner trains. Read more (and book a train trip!) at Amtrak's website.
Metro Los Angeles
Metro is unique among the nation’s transportation agencies, serving as transportation planner and coordinator, designer, builder and operator for one of America’s largest, most populated counties. More than 9.6 million people – nearly one-third of California’s residents – live within its 1,433-square-mile service area. Metro’s light rail routes include the Blue, Gold, Red, and Purple lines. Read more at Metro's website.
Metrolink
With 512 route miles, Metrolink has been providing rail commuter service to Southern California for more than 25 years. What began with three lines, 11 stations and 2,300 daily passengers, has now grown to seven lines, 59 stations, and passengers who travel approximately 441 million passenger miles per year.
Check out Metrolink's 25th digital anniversary book here.
Pacific Harbor Line
Pacific Harbor Line provides rail transportation, maintenance and dispatching services to the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, which together form the largest container port in the United States. In addition to switching over 40,000 units of carload freight annually, PHL provides switching services for nine on-dock intermodal terminals and dispatching services for about 140 intermodal or unit trains per day.