Pacific Electric Railway Company

The Pacific Electric Railway was established in Southern California by railroad and real estate tycoon Henry E. Huntington in 1901; by 1911 it was the largest interurban electric transport system in the nation with over 1000 miles of track. The first interurban line constructed by the Railway ran from Los Angeles to Long Beach, and opened in 1902. In 1905, Huntington opened the Pacific Electric Building at 6th and Main Streets in Los Angeles which served as the terminal for many of the interurban routes. Twenty years later, the Pacific Electric opened the Subway Terminal Building at 4th and Hill Streets, and completed a mile-long subway (the "Hollywood Subway"). By the 1920s, ridership on the Pacific Electric's lines was down; the last Pacific Electric line in operation, the Los Angeles to Long Beach trolley, ceased operation on April 8, 1961.

From the description of Pacific Electric Railway Company Photographs [graphic], 1870s-1950s, (bulk 1910s-1940s) (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 79429129

Biography / Administrative History

The Pacific Electric Railway Company (PERy) was created by Henry Huntington in 1901 who sold his shares in the company to Southern Pacific in 1910. PERy grew to connect various cities across the Los Angeles metropolitan area. PERy vehicles were commonly referred to as the Red Cars, distinguishing them from the local routes operated by the Los Angeles Railway. As patronage on passenger rail lines declined, PERy began converting rail routes to bus service. Eventually, in 1953, PERy sold its passenger operations to the Metropolitan Coach Lines. Pacific Electric was later abolished by Southern Pacific in 1965.

From the guide to the Pacific Electric Railway Company records, 1908 - 1964, 1915 - 1955, (Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library and Archives.)