SAN PEDRO WATERFRONT LINE
Over 250 Attend Brass Train Show In Ontario, CA
George Huckaby -
On an overcast day with the electricity still available, over 250 hardy souls ventured to the DoubleTree Hotel in Ontario, California for the 5th annual All Brass Model Train Show. There was lots of traction available at the show. As usual the Southern California Trolleyville stalwarts of traction, Ken Dively of Railway/Traction Miniatures (Ventura, CA); Mitch Holland of Holland Traction Supply (Colton, CA) and George Huckaby of Custom Traxx were on hand, but this year, the show had two first time visitors, Carol and Joel Lovitch, owners of MTS Imports, Inc.
MTS Imports, Inc introduced their new urethane O scale PERy 1100 series car and it is a beauty. They also had examples of the new HO scale PERy 170 series car, the Southern Pacific Lines 800 series streetcar, ATSF Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDC), Standard and Narrow Gauge Forney Steam locomotives and their post war PCC cars, including a very striking painted model of Toronto all-electric PCC 4349. Of note this year were the vendors who had large amounts of traction for sale. Heather Clark of Portland, Oregon had both a Sacramento Northern Railway Birney streetcar and a three car train of Niles Interurbans, all of which were sold before the show was 30 minutes old. Fulton Station, of Santa Rosa, CA had several models pictured below, all at reasonable prices.
Past and Present, represented by Finomina Cascadden (Lancaster, CA) and Dan Smith (Monrovia, CA) had several unusual and rare traction pieces, most of which left the building before the show was over. Custom Traxx reported the most intense half-hour of sales in the first half hour of the show in their history. Patrons were literally waiting in line to purchase brass traction items.
The single disappointment of the show was the inability of Dick Bale of RailLine News (Rancho La Costa, CA) to attend due to illness. We all missed him and wish him a speedy recovery.
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Progress Continues on Southern California's Red Line
George Huckaby -
By mid-January, it was reported that all overhead wire, including the two overhead frogs at the passing siding between 5th and 6th street, had been completed but the contact wire had yet to be tensioned. These will be the first two operational overhead trolley frogs in Los Angeles County in thirty-eight years. The writer personally inspected the line on Saturday, January 20th and found this to be totally accurate. Right now there are four stations on the line, starting with the northern end of the line at the Cruise Ship Terminal, just south of the Vincent-Thomas Bridge. The second stop is the Maritime Museum (6th Street); the third at Ports O’ Call and the current end of the line is at 22nd and Miner. Work continues on the three cars at a steady deliberate pace. The second truck for car 1058 has been assembled and will probably be under the car by the time that you read this. It is probably worth repeating how much effort is being made to ensure that the two replica 500 class cars, 500 and 501, will be as similar to the original 530 class as possible. Bear in mind that of the 100 cars in the class, the first 200 (500 to 529) were actually rebuilds of PERy 200-229. The medium 500s (530-549) were built by Saint Louis Car Co 530 along the lines of the 500-529 class in 1909. It is car 538 of this original class, which still exists today at the Orange Empire Railway Museum, which has given most of the actual data for the construction of these two replica cars. The final 50 cars (550-599) were again built by Saint Louis Car Company in 1912 and were distinguishable from the other cars by the distinctive arched windows along each side. Work is now progressing on the interior of the cars. Shown below are better views of the side of car 501, the controller, one of the walk-over seats and a close-up of the composite steel and wood construction at the cars ends.
The latest news is that the design for the car barn is just been finalized and should be out for bid this month or next. The barn as currently planned is 80 feet wide and 140 feet long and is designed to be expandable in both dimensions. This barn will contain two tracks with space for four cars, with an inspection pit on one of the tracks. The facility will contain provisions for parts storage along with a tool room, shop work areas, shop office, provisions for hazardous materials storage, male and female rest room and locker facilities, a lunch room and a visitors gallery. The barn will be located just east of the 22nd & Miner station and capable of being expanded to the north and east.
Much more on the progress of this line to come so stay tuned!
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