The Pacific Electric (PE) #1299, a historic "Big Red Car" deluxe business car, is a key part of the collection at the Southern California Railway Museum (formerly the Orange Empire Railway Museum) in Perris, California. Originally built in 1912 by Pullman as a passenger trailer for the Southern Pacific's "Red Electric" lines in Oregon, the car was sold to Pacific Electric in 1928. In 1929, it underwent a $21,000 conversion at PE's Torrance workshops into an executive business car. The car was outfitted with observation lounges featuring large windows, a kitchen, a toilet, and traction motors. It served as the primary business car for PE executives and was used for official inspection tours. It is often cited as the last official car retained by Pacific Electric before being sold into private preservation in 1958. |