LA Ry Trolley Safety Fenders - 2013

Nice information sign about the Los Angeles Rwy use of "safety fenders" on the front of their trolleys. Note the series of photos to the right of the sign for how it was to work.

Los Angeles Railway (LARy) trolley #665 is a "Huntington Standard" Type B streetcar, part of the largest class of streetcars to ever operate in Los Angeles. It was built by the St. Louis Car Company for the Los Angeles Railway and served until being retired from active service after the system was sold to National City Lines and renamed Los Angeles Transit Lines. As a 1911 St. Louis Car Company product, #665 was originally equipped with a folding "Eclipse" safety fender, which was standard for Los Angeles Railway wooden cars through the 1930s. These fenders were designed to be dropped onto the street surface to scoop up individuals in front of the moving streetcar.

A side view of LA Ry trolley #665 with the folding "Eclipse" safety fender extended out in front of the trolley ready to scoop up a pedestrian.

Los Angeles Railway (LARy) trolley #1201 is a historic 1921 Class H-4 streetcar preserved and operated by the Southern California Railway Museum (formerly Orange Empire Railway Museum) in Perris, California. Built by St. Louis Car Company in 1921, #1201 was part of the first all-steel "Type H" class, which was considered the safest on the LARy system at the time. As required by Los Angeles municipal safety regulations, it was equipped with a front-mounted safety fender designed to scoop up pedestrians, a standard feature for streetcars in that era. It was restored to its 1930s appearance, which includes the characteristic safety fender (or pilot) used on "Yellow Cars" of that era. In 2013, the trolley was still in working condition and would take museum visitors on a ride around the museum property.

This almost looks like a staged example of how the "safety fender" might scoop up a pedestrian that stepped in front of the trolley. Of course, the trolley was not moving or even powered up, but use your imagination to see the father and daughter being saved from a collisiont by the safety fender netting.

A safety fender was even installed on the front of the the Los Angeles Ry maintenace of way line car #9350 to protect pedestrians if they should venture in front of the MOW line car. The car was built by the LA Ry Shops in 1907. Car #9350 was the last tower car in service and was retained for use on private right-of-way until 1962 when it was placed into storage at the LAMTA south Park Shops. It was rescued by the Orange Empire Trolley Museum in 1963. Streetcar service in Los Angeles ended altogether in March of 1963.