Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Once upon a time, the Pacific Electric Red Cars connected Downtown L.A. to destinations like Santa Monica, Venice, and Redondo Beach, operating from July 1903 until April 1961.
This clip from the 1961 documentary “Ride The Last of the Big Red Cars” features the Long Beach Line, which was both the first interurban route built and the last in operation under Pacific Electric Railway’s Red Car system 🚋
As cars and buses gained popularity, streetcar ridership declined. Urban development expanded, car ownership increased, and the construction of new roads created more grade crossings and hazards for streetcars, ultimately leading to their gradual decline and eventual phaseout.
Fast forward to today: that same route, running from Downtown L.A. all the way to Long Beach, was rebuilt as the Metro Blue Line in 1990, or now referred to as the A Line 💙
And we’re not stopping there! Metro continues to expand its rail system to connect more Angelenos to more places. We’re building this ride back, besties 🚆✨
Once upon a time, the Pacific Electric Red Cars connected Downtown L.A. to destinations like Santa Monica, Venice, and Redondo Beach, operating from July 1903 until April 1961.
This clip from the 1961 documentary “Ride The Last of the Big Red Cars” features the Long Beach Line, which was both the first interurban route built and the last in operation under Pacific Electric Railway’s Red Car system 🚋
As cars and buses gained popularity, streetcar ridership declined. Urban development expanded, car ownership increased, and the construction of new roads created more grade crossings and hazards for streetcars, ultimately leading to their gradual decline and eventual phaseout.
Fast forward to today: that same route, running from Downtown L.A. all the way to Long Beach, was rebuilt as the Metro Blue Line in 1990, or now referred to as the A Line 💙
And we’re not stopping there! Metro continues to expand its rail system to connect more Angelenos to more places. We’re building this ride back, besties 🚆✨
