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Southern California Railway Museum

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The Southern California Railway Museum (SCRM, reporting mark OERX[1]), formerly known as the Orange Empire Railway Museum, is a railroad museum in Perris, California, United States. It was founded in 1956 at Griffith Park in Los Angeles before moving to the former Pinacate Station as the "Orange Empire Trolley Museum"[2] in 1958.[3] It was renamed "Orange Empire Railway Museum" in 1975 after merging with a museum then known as the California Southern Railroad Museum, and adopted its current name in 2019.[4] The museum also operates a heritage railroad on the museum grounds and on a right of way into Downtown Perris, CA.

Southern California Railway Museum
Map
Former name
Orange Empire Railway Museum
Established1956
Location2201 S. "A" St.
Perris, California
Coordinates33°45′40″N 117°13′59″W / 33.7611°N 117.2331°W / 33.7611; -117.2331
TypeRailroad museum
CollectionsElectric trains & trolleys, steam & diesel locomotives, passenger & freight cars, light rail vehicles, maintenance of way equipment
Websitewww.socalrailway.org

Background

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The collection focuses on Southern California's railroad history. It houses the largest collection of Pacific Electric Railway rolling stock in the world, much of it rescued from scrapyards after the discontinuation of their passenger operations in 1961.[5]

Two early Los Angeles 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) narrow gauge streetcars from the Los Angeles Railway or standard gauge streetcars from the Pacific Electric Railway run each weekend on the one-half-mile (0.8 km) long, dual gauge (1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) and 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) narrow gauge) Loop Line. A passenger-carrying steam, diesel or electric powered freight train with open gondolas fitted with benches and at least two cabooses runs on the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) long, standard gauge mainline that was once a part of the transcontinental main line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (to San Diego). Its main line stretches from south of the museum northward towards the junction with the BNSF Railway, where the historic Perris Depot on State Route 74 stands. The BNSF Railway spur is in active use, but the museum track onto the spur is currently severed due to Metrolink service, meaning that no museum trains can access the Perris Depot. A Pacific Electric interurban "Red Car" also operates on the mainline on selected weekends, but the line electrification ends a block south of the depot. Streetcars and locomotives are selected on a rotating basis. The museum maintains a steam locomotive in operating condition and its use is scheduled for each third weekend, September through May, certain special events and major holidays.

Parking and admission to the museum are free except for special events. Tickets must be purchased to ride on the museum railway. Tickets are good for the day on all operating equipment on the line, including the streetcar loop.

Tours of the grounds, static exhibits and shops can be self-guided or with a docent. A picnic area is located near the main entrance as is an interactive railroad "signal garden."

Interactive signal garden

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Built between 2000 and 2001 and utilizing a combination of standard railroad signal relays and custom microprocessor controls, the garden's first phase included:

  • Two restored Magnetic Flagman grade crossing signals, both upper- and lower-quadrant
  • Safetran V20 tri-light block signal, a new signal originally installed on the Southern Pacific Coastal Route and removed from service for standardization purposes by its successor, the Union Pacific Railroad
  • Union Switch and Signal motorcar indicators which were miniature semaphores designed to warn maintenance crews of oncoming trains
  • Union Switch and Signal motorcar indicator as used by the ATSF; this was little more than a pair of electric lamps and colored lenses
  • Grade crossing warning bell c. 1910. This is a large, bronze bell with an electromagnetically driven clapper which alerted motorists to the approach of a train. It stood at an SP grade crossing in nearby Anaheim until the early 1960s when it was donated to the museum
  • Union Switch and Signal relay cabinet, c. 1940 and used to house the electronics powering the exhibits

The display has since been expanded to include modern grade crossing signals, a US&S semaphore which once was mounted on a signal bridge spanning the Pacific Electric Watts Line and a century-old US&S banjo signal, used for both grade crossing protection and train control and one of only three known to exist. The others are on display at the Baltimore and Ohio Museum and the Smithsonian Institution.

Notable exhibits and locomotives

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Locomotives

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Name Class Image Type Builder Built Status Previous owner Notes
Ventura County Railway 2 2-6-2 Prairie   Steam Locomotive Baldwin Locomotive Works 1922 Undergoing FRA 1,472 day inspection and overhaul Ventura County Railway Used primarily for special events. Donated in 1972. Operated from 1978-2000, 2006-2021 and is undergoing an overhaul as of 2024
Union Pacific 2564 2-8-2 Mikado   Steam Locomotive American Locomotive Company (ALCo) 1921 Static display, awaiting possible restoration Union Pacific Railroad Formerly on display in Oro Grande, California until 1997, when it was donated to the SCRM for display
Mojave Northern Railroad 2 0-6-0 Saddle Tank   Steam Locomotive Davenport Locomotive Works 1917 Static Display Mojave Northern Railroad Donated 1962, Operated at the museum from 1964-1975. Has not been fired since 1976 and is in very poor mechanical condition
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe 108 EMD FP45   Diesel-Electric Locomotive Electro-Motive Division 1967 Operational Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway,

Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway

Rebuilt numerous times, inherited by BNSF in 1995, donated in serviceable condition 1999. Restored to as-built condition 2012-2018
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe 560 FM H-12-44 Diesel-Electric Locomotive Fairbanks-Morse 1957 Operational Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway,

Metal Processing Inc.

Donated to SCRM in 1990, sat in storage for 30 years until being fired up for evaluation in 2020, underwent a restoration to operating condition which finished in October 2023
Union Pacific 942 EMD E8A   Diesel-Electric Locomotive Electro-Motive Division 1953 Operational Union Pacific Railroad,

Regional Transportation Authority,

METRA

Used by RTA and later METRA for commuter rail service, rebuilt and designated E8Am in 1970s. Purchased in 1997. Restored from 2010-2012.
Southern Pacific 3100 GE U25Be   Diesel-Electric Locomotive General Electric 1963 Operational Southern Pacific Transportation Co. Rebuilt as U25Be in 1975, Donated in 1988 and repainted in 2011. Formerly painted as the SP Bicentennial unit No. 6800.
Southern Pacific 1474 ALCo S-4
 
 Diesel-Electric Locomotive American Locomotive Company (ALCo) 1951 Operational Southern Pacific Transportation Co. Donated circa 1985 and has operated since.
Southern Pacific 1006 EMC SW1
 
 Diesel-Electric Locomotive Electro-Motive Company 1939 Operational Southern Pacific Transportation Co,Bethlehem Steel Donated Circa 1990, sat in storage until the mid 2000s, when restoration commenced, and was completed in 2020
Southern Pacific 1543 Baldwin S-12   Diesel-Electric Locomotive Baldwin Locomotive Works 1953 Static Display/Storage Southern Pacific Transportation Co,

Chrome Crankshaft Inn, Kerr McGee

Renumbered many times, donated to SCRM in 1990 along with sister locomotive 1550, which worked alongside 1543 at Chrome Crankshift and Kerr McGee.
Southern Pacific 1550 Baldwin S-12
 
 Diesel-Electric Locomotive Baldwin Locomotive Works 1953 Static Display/Storage Southern Pacific Transportation Co,

Chrome Crankshaft Inn, Kerr McGee

Renumbered many times, donated to SCRM in 1990 along with sister locomotive 1543, which worked alongside 1550 at Chrome Crankshift and Kerr McGee.
Southern Pacific 2954 ALCO RSD-12   Diesel-Electric Locomotive American Locomotive Company (ALCo) 1961 Static Display/Storage, awaiting possible restoration Southern Pacific Transportation Co,

Metropolitan Stevedore

Donated in operable condition alongside sister engine 2958 in 1995. Last operated 1999-2003. Candidate for next restoration project one Santa Fe 560 is complete.
Southern Pacific 2958 ALCO RSD-12   Diesel-Electric Locomotive American Locomotive Company (ALCo) 1961 Serviceable, Static Display/Storage, awaiting possible restoration Southern Pacific Transportation Co,

Metropolitan Stevedore

Donated in operable condition alongside sister engine 2954 in 1995. Last operated on excursion service 1999-2003. Fired up in 2009 and used a few times and not operated since 2010. Candidate for next restoration project once Santa Fe 560 is complete
Orange Empire Railway Museum 8 Baldwin VO-1000   Diesel-Electric Locomotive Baldwin Locomotive Works 1945 Static Display/Storage, awaiting restoration United States Army,

Port of Los Angeles,

National Metal and Steel

Donated to SCRM Circa 1986. Operated mainline trains at the museum from late 1980s-Late 1990s. Last operated between 2002-2004
Orange Empire Railway Museum 1956 ALCO RSD-1   Diesel-Electric Locomotive American Locomotive Company (ALCo) 1941 Operational United States Army,

Department of Transportation

Donated mid 1980's along with sister engine 1975. Repainted into custom OERM colors in 2007.
Orange Empire Railway Museum 1975 ALCO RSD-1   Diesel-Electric Locomotive American Locomotive Company (ALCo) 1942 Operational United States Army,

Department of Transportation

Donated mid 1980's along with sister engine 1956. Repainted into custom OERM colors in 2008.
  • The Emma Nevada, a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Baldwin Locomotive Works 2-6-0 "Mogul" steam locomotive built in 1881, was purchased by Disney animator Ward Kimball,[6] and his spouse, Betty, for the Grizzly Flats Railroad in San Gabriel, California that they created at their southern California residence in 1938.[7] During his life, Kimball was most known as being one of Walt Disney's "Nine Old Men,"[8] a core group of longtime animators who were extremely influential in defining the Disney style and shaping various Disney productions. Originally built for the short-line Nevada Central Railway connecting Battle Mountain with Austin, the beautifully restored locomotive features Kimball's own artwork on the cab and headlight and was finally fired up in 1942.[9] Boiler problems permanently sidelined the Emma Nevada in 1951 when neighbors complained about the smoke.[10] Kimball donated the locomotive to the museum, and it can be seen today in the museum's Grizzly Flats car barn.[11] The love of trains that Kimball shared with Walt Disney, and with fellow animator, Ollie Johnston, partly inspired Walt Disney's creation of the turn-of-the-19th Century Disneyland Railroad on Main Street, U.S.A., at The Magic Kingdom, when it opened to the world in 1955. Of the five steam-powered engines that the Disneyland Railroad operates, a restored 1902 Baldwin 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge locomotive was named in recognition of Kimball, who was also designated a "Disney Legend" by The Walt Disney Company before his passing. Engine No. 5, the Ward Kimball, entered service at the D.R.R. on June 26, 2005. The piece is the first and only locomotive to be added to the railway since 1959.
  • In addition to the "Emma Nevada," the Chloe, a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Baldwin Locomotive Works 0-4-2T steam locomotive built in 1883, was also owned by Kimball, and the engine is also on display at the museum. Neither are operational;[12] however, a diesel switcher is used to move the locomotives up and down the museum's short segment of 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge track on select days. On July 28, 2017, the Chloe and its train car made an appearance at the media preview for the reopening of the Disneyland Railroad.[13] They were pulled along its new route by the Justi Creek Railway's Marie E. locomotive driven by John Lasseter.[13][14] The SCRM plans to restore the Chloe to operating condition.[13] The Hillcrest Shops in Reedley, California, was selected as the location for the locomotive's restoration.[15]
  • Santa Fe 108, is a 1967 EMD FP45 diesel locomotive.[16][17] Featuring a 3600-horsepower (2.7 MW), 20-cylinder prime mover and six traction motors, the FP45 was intended for fast passenger service and is geared to run in excess of 90 miles per hour (140 km/h). ATSF 108 is especially notable as being the last passenger locomotive ever purchased by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and was used on Santa Fe's finest passenger trains, including the Super Chief between Chicago and Los Angeles. Relegated to fast freight service in 1971 when passenger rail operations were transferred to Amtrak, the FP45 was donated in operating condition less its air conditioner by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe in 1997, but its size limits its use to occasional demonstration service and special excursions. It is maintained in service-ready condition and is sometimes used on off-property work trains. The locomotive underwent an extensive six-year restoration which was completed in late 2018.[17] The completed restoration returned the locomotive to its as delivered external arrangement, including the original Santa Fe passenger Warbonnet paint scheme[18] and original number.
  • Southern Pacific 3100 is a GE U25B diesel locomotive once owned by the Southern Pacific Railroad and is the last operating example left in the US. Built in 1963 and originally numbered 7508, it became one of three SP locomotives painted in a red, white and blue color scheme in 1976 in celebration of the United States Bicentennial.[19][20] It was retired in 1987.[20] Numbered as SP 3100 prior to being donated, this locomotive is used in regular service. Like the FP45, the U25B is certified to run on any railroad, and its two-axle trucks and 2500-horsepower (1.9 MW) prime mover make it ideal for off-property work trains. It is also used to pull passenger-carrying freight cars on weekends and during members-only events, may be operated by museum members under supervision by a qualified engineer.
  • The Union Pacific E8A 942 built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division in 1953. It is one of 18 UP cars and locomotives preserved at the museum. The 942 is the flagship of the museum's UP fleet. It has been fully mechanically and cosmetically restored to UP's traditional yellow paint scheme with red and grey accents. The locomotive is occasionally used to lead a matching four car passenger train consist, nicknamed “The City of Perris”, playing on Union Pacific's practice of christening certain named trains after cities they originated from. Example: City of Los Angeles, City of San Francisco. The consist runs on select weekends, and occasionally for special events.
  • The Pacific Electric collection consists of over 30 pieces of equipment from the largest interurban network in the United States, including local, suburban and interurban passenger equipment, electric locomotives, cabooses, and freight cars. Included are "Business Car" PE 1000, and interurban PE 1001, built in 1913 by Jewett; PE 1299, a 1929 "Business Car" rebuilt from a 1912 Pullman-built Southern Pacific trailer; three giant "Blimp" interurban coaches; several "Hollywood" suburban cars (featured in the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit), and two Birney streetcars.
  • The Los Angeles Railway collection consists of over two dozen pieces of electric railway equipment and is the most comprehensive collection of preserved equipment from any large city streetcar system. Highlights of the collection, which includes examples of nearly every type of streetcar run in Los Angeles in the 20th century as well as numerous work cars, include the "Descanso", the only surviving street railway funeral car; car 3001, christened by Shirley Temple as the first PCC streetcar in Los Angeles;[21] and several examples of the "California" type of streetcar that utilized a half-open design suitable to the warm climate. Cars are operated regularly over the only 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) narrow gauge trolley line remaining in the United States.
  • Ventura County Railway #2 is a 1922 Baldwin Locomotive Works 2-6-2 steam locomotive maintained in operating condition. Originally built to run on coal, the locomotive was converted to oil soon after delivery to its original purchaser, the Cascade Timber Company of Reliance, Washington as No. 107. Last used by the V.C. Ry. on an excursion run in 1959, it was put up for sale in 1962, sold to a private party in 1964, and finally, it was transferred to the California Southern Railroad Museum in 1972, one of the SCRM's predecessors. In 1983, the locomotive appeared in the made for TV series movie: The Winds of War. The boiler was overhauled to present-day FRA steam locomotive regulations in 2001–2006; bringing the rest of the locomotive to specifications has been ongoing since its acquisition. In November 2021, the locomotive was taken out of service for a federally-mandated inspection and overhaul. Every 15 years or 1472 service days, whichever comes first, this process must be repeated. The overhaul and inspection is estimated to take three to five years to complete, and is estimated to cost $200,000. Updates and progress can be followed on the museum's official steam shop Facebook page.
  • Santa Fe #5704 is one of 5 ATSF SD45-2s to be painted in the Bicentennial scheme, originally built in 1973 by Electro-Motive Division. The locomotive was donated to the museum in 2021 by BNSF. In 2022, the locomotive was cosmetically restored to its as-built appearance at Mid-America Car in Kansas City, Missouri. 5704 is not currently in operating condition, but the museum plans to restore it to working order once it arrives on museum property. The locomotive is expected to arrive at the museum sometime in 2023.[22] As of 2024, the locomotive has yet to arrive at the museum, still waiting for the "Perris Connection" to be reconnected, stored in the BNSF Railway Commerce Yard.
  • Coaster #2105 is a F40PHM-2C built in 1994 by Morrison–Knudsen for commuter rail service for the then new Coaster commuter rail in San Diego. It hauled commuter trains for the next 25 years until being retired in 2021 and replaced with a Siemens SC-44 Charger. With the help of Mike Armstrong of the CoasterFan2105 YouTube Channel, 2105 was donated to the Southern California Railway Museum in 2022. The locomotive was moved to BNSF Railway's Commerce rail facility yard later that year. It is currently in storage, awaiting alongside SD45-2 #5704 for the "Perris Connection" to be reconnected. The locomotive is currently inoperable as a hole was drilled in the engine as per Tier 4 Regulation standards to ensure the locomotive cannot operate again. The museum hopes once it arrives at the museum, it can be operated as a cab car on their short stretch of line.[23] However, as of 2024, just like Santa Fe #5704, it has yet to arrive at the museum and stored at the BNSF Railway Commerce Yard.
  • A Caltrain F40PH-2 (specific unit yet to be confirmed) unit built in 1985 by Electro-Motive Division is currently being fundraised to be preserved at the Southern California Rail. It hauled passenger trains along the San Francisco Peninsula for the next 39 years until being retired, which all non-rebuilt F40PH-2 and most rebuilt F40PH-2CAT were replaced by a Stadler KISS electric multiple unit. The F40PH-2 for Caltrain means it was not rebuilt in 1999 by Alstom with conversion of HEP generators into separate Caterpillar 6-cylinder engines, which those rebuilt units were converted into F40PH-2CAT. Fundraiser to preserve a F40PH-2 unit is currently underway and funding will close by the end of 2024.[24]

Light rail vehicles

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Shop and maintenance facilities

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In addition to the museum's railroad equipment exhibits, its shops hold a historic collection of industrial machine tools and hand tools. One of these is a sheet-metal shear, which was made by Parker Manufacturing Company, a machine shop in Santa Monica, CA. The company needed a shear, but backlogs in the World War II years meant a two-year waiting list to obtain one. So, the small company decided to design and make its own shear. It was made entirely of steel plate (no castings) due to backlogs in foundries. The design was successful, and desired by other shops needing machine tools. Soon, the local company was in the shear manufacturing business. The museum puts this unique shear to use in its Car house 4.[25]

Other shop and maintenance facilities at the museum include:

  • Machine Shop, capable of custom machining and metalwork operations, this fully equipped shop is frequently used to recreate custom parts for maintenance of rolling stock and projects. The machine shop also houses the air brake shop.
  • Wood Shop, equipped for precision woodworking to help maintain facilities and rolling stock with wooden components.
  • Communications, Electronics & LRV Maintenance Shop maintains the museum's railway radio communications system along with other electronics-based systems, and also maintains the museum's fleet of Light Rail Vehicles, as these vehicles are highly electronics-based.
  • Signal Shop, maintains the railway signal system including all track switches, controllers, CTC systems, relays, automatic block signaling, track circuits and associated equipment.
  • Diesel Maintenance Shop maintains the railway's fleet of diesel locomotives and associated diesel engines.
  • Electric car maintenance is performed in workshops located in car houses 1 and 2, for narrow-gauge and standard-gauge cars respectively.
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  •  
    The Emma Nevada
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    The Chloe
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    ATSF 98
  •  
    Front view of ATSF 98
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    Control stand of ATSF 98
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    Pacific Electric 1001
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    A "California car"
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    "Peach basket" grade crossing signal at the main entrance
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    San Diego Trolley U2 cars 1008 and 1003

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Railinc, Search MARKs Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 2019
  2. ^ "Unknown title". The Emblem. 5 (4). Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority: 5. February 1963.
  3. ^ Young, Andrew D. (1997). Veteran & Vintage Transit. St. Louis, Missouri (US): Archway Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 0-9647279-2-7.
  4. ^ Rhodes, Diane A. (April 7, 2019). "Perris railway museum rolls into future with new name, logo: The 64-year-old venue is now the Southern California Railway Museum". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside, California. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  5. ^ Bernal, Victoria (2022-03-18). "Where to Find Remnants of L.A.'s Red Car System". KCET. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  6. ^ "Nevada Central 2-6-0 "Mogul" Locomotives in the USA". www.steamlocomotive.com. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  7. ^ Pool, Bob (2007-05-12). "Railroad hits end of the line". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  8. ^ Widmar, Aaron (2022-02-23). "Who Were Walt Disney's Nine Old Men?". WDW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  9. ^ Broggie, Michael. Walt Disney's Railroad Story: The Small-Scale Fascination that Led to a Full-Scale Kingdom, pp. 52-9, 31-70, 81-2, 150, 2nd Ed., The Donning Company Publishers, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 2006. ISBN 1-57864-309-0.
  10. ^ "Grizzly Flats Railroad Emma Nevada 2". Steam On America (Site Under Construction). Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  11. ^ Alexander, E. P. (2013-01-17). Iron Horses: American Locomotives 1829-1900. Courier Corporation. ISBN 978-0-486-14277-7.
  12. ^ Surviving Steam Locomotive Search
  13. ^ a b c Eades, Mark (July 28, 2017). "Disneyland's River Rides and Railroad Open to the Public with New Route". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  14. ^ Amendola (2015), p. 133.
  15. ^ Colton, Roger (March 24, 2017). "Ward Kimball Fans Take Note – Special Event Sunday, March 26th". MiceChat. Archived from the original on July 15, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  16. ^ Lustig, David (2021-11-17). "Top preserved diesel locomotives we're glad were saved". Trains. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  17. ^ a b Busse, Dave (2018-10-08). "Santa Fe 'Warbonnet' FP45 comes alive in California | Trains Magazine". Trains. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  18. ^ "A fresh-painted Warbonnet is back | Trains Magazine". Trains. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  19. ^ Solomon, Brian (2014-08-01). GE and EMD Locomotives. Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-1-62788-397-9.
  20. ^ a b "Perris California Train Museum". www.seecalifornia.com. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  21. ^ "Shirley Temple Inaugurates New Los Angeles Streetcar". YouTube.
  22. ^ "Southern California Railroad Museum adds ATSF bicentennial SD45-2 to collection". Trains. 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  23. ^ Franz, Justin (2022-07-20). "Coaster F40 Bound for Southern California Railway Museum". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  24. ^ Franz, Justin (October 16, 2024). "Effort Launched to Save Caltrain F40PH-2". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  25. ^ "Santa Monica's New Power Shear," Western Machinery and Steel World, October 1946, Vol. 37, No. 10, pp. 108-109, San Francisco, CA.

Bibliography

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  • Amendola, Dana (2015). All Aboard: The Wonderful World of Disney Trains (1st ed.). Disney Editions. ISBN 978-1-4231-1714-8.
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