Pacific Electric (PE) Interurban #418, popularly known as a "Blimp," was built by the Pullman Company in 1923 for the Southern Pacific. Later acquired by the Pacific Electric Railway, it served as a high-capacity interurban car. It worked until 1961, when the last PE Red Car route between Los Angeles and Long Beach was closed. Railfans and crews dubbed these cars "Blimps" due to their massive size and rounded appearance compared to earlier wooden cars. Love the porthole windows in front - reminds me of the portholes in PRR cabooses and several EMD diesel units througn the years. |