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
Satellite Exhibits
If you’re waiting for a table at the Spaghetti Factory, or looking for railroad atmosphere while you munch “French Dipped” sandwiches at Philippe’s, our satellite exhibits deliver rail history and entertainment! Exhibits can be found in restaurants and other public places across the Southland.
Learn about Hollywood’s love of the Golden Spike, tour the former Santa Fe Railway along Route 66, experience Pacific Electric’s LA dynasty, follow the journey of oranges to your breakfast table by rail, and view a century of railroading from Union Pacific to Metrolink. Each of LARHF’s nine “satellite exhibits” are presented in a stylish display case filled with colorful models and beautiful photography. Displays are changed every year. The satellites help fulfill the organization’s chief mission: to present and explain how railroads shaped the growth of today’s Los Angeles and the Southern California mystique.
Philippe's French Dip Restaurant
1001 N. Alameda Street | Los Angeles, CA 90012
LARHF has two current "satellite" displays in Philippe's, "Hollywood's Golden Spike" and the "Circus Display." Both exhibits include spectacular photographs and model trains for your enjoyment.
The "Hollywood's Golden Spike" exhibit commemorates the milestone of the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad with Hollywood's portrayal of the Golden Spike.
The "Circus Display" exhibit at Philippe’s has eye-popping replicas of vintage color posters and an O-scale model circus train.
Additionally, LARHF's new book, Hollywood's Trains & Trolleys, is on display and for sale at the Philippe's candy counter.
Pacific Electric Headquarters
610 S. Main Street | Los Angeles, CA 90014
Known as Mr. Huntington's Pacific Electric Headquarters located at the corner of 6th and Main Streets in downtown Los Angeles, this stately building has been restored and remodeled with spacious apartments and amenities tailored to the new downtown urbanite population.
The building's lobby is the busy hub and LARHF's satellite prominently faces the lobby with a display of archival photographs of the Building as it appeared in 1905, and the 20's, and 30's. Many of LARHF's satellites feature O-scale Pacific Electric (PE) models handcrafted by Bill Everett. The models help to envision in three dimensions the great PE fleet. Fortunately a few of those rail cars may be seen today at the Orange Empire Railroad Museum in Perris, California. LARHF also has an elaborate display, where once the PE Subway tunnel and Toluca Yard were located which is now the Belmont Station Apartment Homes. Both displays are open to the public.
Visit The Pacific Electric Building's Site
Belmont Apartments
610 S. Main Street | Los Angeles, CA 90014
The Belmont Apartments, on Beverly and Glendale Boulevards near downtown Los Angeles house one of LARHF’s ten satellite displays. On exhibit are forty-nine archival photographs, many of which have never been seen before. The display traces the construction of the Subway Terminal Building, the PE Tunnel and the Toluca Yard. Visitors may stand on what was once the Toluca Yard, and be able to view the original Substation and mouth of the Subway Terminal Tunnel. A display case contains such artifacts as: PE watch fob, morterman’s hat, badges 3- barrel coin changer plus twenty other artifacts.
Old Spaghetti Factory
Fullerton
110 E. Santa Fe | Fullerton, CA 92832
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. The changing exhibits may display such models as a BNSF Dash 8, the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, Santa Fe locomotive No. 3751 with heavyweight cars, and Union Pacific “Consolidation” No. 329.
Old Spaghetti Factory
Newport Beach
2110 Newport Blvd. | Newport Beach, CA 92663
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 exhibit displays three types of railroad freight trains, Unit, Manifest and MOW (Maintenance of Way). Informational panels explain the make-up of these trains. Twelve stunning photographs, of Unit and Manifest Trains, by employees of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad enhance the display. The model railroad equipment was selected from LARHF's vast collection of O-scale trains. A knowledge of the freight car terminology in this exhibit is also a requirement for the Boy Scout's Railroad Merit Badge. LARHF conducts Merit Badge classes throughout the year.
Old Spaghetti Factory
Riverside
3191 Mission Inn Avenue | Riverside, CA 92507
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 exhibit displays three types of railroad freight trains, Unit, Manifest and MOW (Maintenance of Way). Informational panels explain the make-up of these trains. Twelve stunning photographs, of Unit and Manifest Trains, by employees of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad enhance the display. The model railroad equipment was selected from LARHF's vast collection of O-scale trains. A knowledge of the freight car terminology in this exhibit is also a requirement for the Boy Scout's Railroad Merit Badge. LARHF conducts Merit Badge classes throughout the year.
Lordsburg Taphouse
and Grill
2335 D Street | La Verne, CA 91750
LARHF's newest satellite exhibit - the tenth in our popular series throughout Southern California - was unveiled in December at the Lordsburg Taphouse and Grill in, located at 2335 D Street in the heart of Old Town La Verne. The restaurant is just a few blocks from the former Santa Fe Pasadena Subdivision (previously the Second District) mainline that hosted hotshot freight and passenger trains from Chicago to Los Angeles.
The premier display depicts LARHF archival photos of Santa Fe trains and stations on this historic route between San Bernardino and Los Angeles. O-scale models include Santa Fe streamliner passenger cars and locomotives - both steam and diesel - seen on this line. Several locomotives show off the famous Warbonnet paint scheme. Plan a stop on your next road trip to visit the exhibit. With the right timing on weekdays, you can also catch the late morning passage of the Pasadena Local to Irwindale, led by "vintage" GP60 diesels.
Bellflower Pacific Electric
Depot
2335 D Street | La Verne, CA 91750
The Bellflower Pacific Electric Depot was completely rebuilt using the original Pacific Electric building plans. The depot located beside the Santa Ana Line, was a 34-mile ride from Los Angeles to Santa Ana with about 30 stops along the way. Today a photo display is mounted in the Depot depicting the Santa Ana Line in its glory days.
It was a dark day for Pacific Electric fans on July 24, 1958. It is true a tremendous black cloud of smoke lay over much of the route from Bellflower to Los Angeles caused by the Hancock Oil Refinery Fire in the city of Signal Hill. It was a devastating blaze that burned for two days. And that was the last day of operation for this PE Line. All service east of Bellflower had already been eliminated on July 2, 1950. It had been a glorious history dating all the way back to November 1905.
Outside the restored Bellflower PE Depot, both the outbound and inbound location of the tracks can still be imagined on either side of Bellflower Boulevard where today there is an excellent bicycle trail.
Los Angeles Union Station
800 N Alameda Street | Los Angeles, CA 90012
If you are riding by rail to Los Angeles, you will most likely end up passing through or arriving at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, California. It remains the largest rail passenger service terminal in the United States West. This Station replace La Grande Station and Central Station in the late 1930's, after being approved through a very controversial ballot measure in 1926. The original intent of this Station was to "union" three major rail services, Union Pacific, Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Railroads into one terminal station.
The Art Deco, Mission Revival and Streamline Moderne architectural styles helped LA Union Station receive the title "Last of the Great Railway Stations." In 1980, the Station was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.