Thursday, June 19, 2014

India Street Stop: June 19, 1955

Photo: Loren Ayers, June 19, 1955.  Red Car Trolley fans lined the tracks and climbed telephone poles, cameras in hand (like here, at the India Street Stop) in an attempt to capture their memories on film of the "Big Red Cars" on their final day on the Glendale Line.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

It's difficult to replicate this shot today due to the enormous volume of earth removed from the Red Car Property for grading for the 2 & 5 Freeways. 

According to neighbors present at the time, the tracks were pulled up fairly quickly after the last train.  However,  the viaducts both at Fletcher & Riverside Drives and Riverside Drive & Glendale Blvd were not removed until 1959.  

Thanks again to Paul Ayers for sharing his late uncle's photos with us.