The Pacific Electric Pictorial Volume 1 is about the Pacific Electric Railway. The railway was started by one far sighted American capitalist, Henry E. Huntington. 

The Pacific electric was born in 1901. Over several years, the railway grew quickly, like a weed, until its octopus-like shape was completed. A map of the system’s routes is included in this book. The Southern Pacific Railroad bought the Pacific Electric and combined with the Los Angles Pacific into the Pacific Electric Railway. Unfortunately, over time, like a plant, its parts withered and died.   

Perhaps it was management, with lack of foresight, that killed the railroad. Or perhaps increasing demands of labor or the prevention of a large locally owned newspaper’s killing of the “east bypass” overhead terminal plan. That plan would have taken Pacific Electric (P.E.) off the city streets and sped them into a company owned terminal building. 

The Pacific Electric Pictorial Volume 1 is organized chronologically as follows: 

1.       The Beginning 1901-1910

2.       Period of Adjustment – 1011 – 1929

3.       The Decline and Fall – 1930 – 1950. 

The Pacific Electric Pictorial Volume 1 photographs are in black and white. The captions for each photograph are listed at the end of the book under credits. The caption includes information on the piece of equipment in the photograph and the location of the shot.

The Pacific Electric Pictorial Volume 1 is full of rare photographs. Included is a mimeographed note with all the errors that were made in the copy. If you are a Pacific Electric Railway, Interurban Railway or Railroad fan, you will want to add this book to your collections. Also, on this website are 5 other books on the Pacific Electric Railway listed below. 

Pacific Electric – Album of Cars

Cars of the Pacific Electric Volume 1

Cars of the Pacific Electric Volume 2

Cars of the Pacific Electric Volume 3

and

Lines of the Pacific Electric – S & W Districts.