California
Los Angeles
Blue Line
A photo of the modern day (circa 1996) Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Blue Line train.  The Blue Line runs from downtown Los Angeles to downtown Long Beach, and about 90% of it's route is along the old PE right of way, which ran from 1902 until (under the yesteryear LAMTA) it was discontinued in approximately 1961.  This photo was taken at the Imperial/ Wilmington Stations (crossing Imperial Highway).  The train on the left is outbound toward Long Beach.  The one on the right is inbound to Los Angeles.
This scene has changed since this photo was taken.  There is now an elevated bridge under construction running over these tracks for automobile traffic. The MTA shares right-of-way at this point with the Union Pacific (absorbed the Southern Pacific who originally used these tracks in conjunction with PE).  The UP, like SP when it operated here, has a nasty habit of running mile long trains that choke auto traffic as they pass through (particularly when they run out of time on the federal time limit, and simply "park" the train, blocking intersections for blocks!)
Chris Carson photo. Back to California 1 page
To California 2 page
To state by state index
Back to Home Page