Two collections of vintage films makeup this video on the street railways of Los Angeles.
The first one, on the PE, is mainly of their big red and Hollywood cars that traveled to the outlying sections of LA. Most of the photography is pretty good. However, I really wished they had a section on the subway terminal which was strangely missing from this video. Some of the scenes seem to feel a bit duplicated after awhile, but most of it is fine.
The second film is on the MTA's trolley lines. Lots of PCCs as well as older equipment is seen. There's some footage of the busy intersections in downtown LA, but it didn't seem to be as good as it could have been and it's somewhat limited in scope(same intersections seen several times).
The major problem I had with this video is that if you are not familiar with the geography of Los Angeles, you are not going to understand where you are, except for maybe the downtown area. It would have been helpful if Pentrex had described each vantage point a bit more with maps, as this was quite a flat, non-descript city in many respects.

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Wonderful DVD lots of good info and history in this DVD!

Additional remarks by Mitcho:
Narration: Could have used more.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

Get the DVD for the interurban scenes, but also for the cars and street scenes. How lovely to see the models of the 50's driving about, some brand new, others just a few years old. You won't be disappointed.

Additional remarks by Robert:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

Growing up with these Trolleys made this DVD both memorable and special, showing lines and footage I've never seen before, like the Bellflower Line. The quality of these films is as though it were shot a few weeks ago.
Anyone who grow up with either the Big Red Cars or the LA Yellow Cars or even the two tone green PCC's this is a Must Have DVD !!!!! Just beware, you may get depressed in seeing them being "retired" for polluting cars and buses at the conclusion and ask, what have they done?

Additional remarks by California Native:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

I watch this twice a year. I rode the yellow and green roof streetcars with my grandparents in the late 40s. I rode the red car in late 40s early 50s. I watch these videos with my grandkids. What a nostalgia trip. If you grew up in LA at this time and road these cars its like being their again. LA was really empty in the early 50s. The Watts Towers had no home around them. Going down the LA River and down the Long Beach Line and the San Pedro Line there were NO housing tracts. It was country before the post WW2 building era. What a trip, especially for someone who lived in the area in the 40s 50s and early 60s. Great, Great, Great. Wish I could tell all the people who lived at the time we were riding!!!!!!

Additional remarks by Gary Wight:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? Definitely.

In pacific electric the twilight years, it starts with a pair of the big red cars passing by the railroad crossing, then the diamond and the filmmaker. Next a look at the entire map is shown. Afterwards a look at one of the main terminals are shown followed by their ownership logos. Car 1800 is waiting for its departure time in downtown Los Angeles, followed by car 1807 leaving the station. Another car leaves the Main Street station, which is probably 1807 once again but we are not sure. Turning south at San Pedro Street, another car leaves the viaduct. Next, cars 1802 and 1803 makes a meet with a yellow and green trolley, followed by car 1815 as it turns east to Olympic boulevard. At the intersection of Olympic and hooper, the big red cars and automobiles are struggling for the right of way near the 4 track mainline. Rolling alongside the warehouse, another red car is tooting it�s horn for the crossing. Spanning all 4 tracks at ammoco tower, the other car is passing alongside the middle track for freights only with LA city hall in the background. Car 1800 passes by the cameraman. On Long Beach Avenue, there is some short pacing with car 1815 included as it heads to watts. Car 1802 passes by the cameraman. Afterwards another car passes by the tower as it heads for the shops. Car 1800 is seen once again as it concludes it�s jobs for the day. Back at the 6th and Main Street stations, some of the big red cars are shown as car 318 is heading to bellflower, followed by cars 1520 and 1523 heading to Long Beach. Next, the other cars are shown from the ground followed by cars 1544 and 1515 (not sure) as it turns on to San Pedro Street. Note the conductor is waving the red flag on 1544. The tracks from San Pedro Street to Olympic boulevard are dual gauge as they make a meet With another green and yellow trolley on the S line, followed by a meet with the other big red cars. Next the other red cars are rolling though some wet weather, as evidenced by puddles on the ground in Olympic boulevard. South of the firestone boulevard overpass, the sun is out as 2 more of the big red cars are highballing through the junction as it heads for Long Beach. At Watts, the 4 tracks narrow to 2 tracks as another Long Beach train heads south. Note the boxcar in the going away shot. Moving onto the bellflower line, a trio of the big red cars are shown at watts junction. The dark blue smoke in the sky is from the oil refinery fire. The other train stops in sicorro with a quick look at the wheels are shown, followed by the motorman receiving orders, as another 2 car train with car 413 in the lead gets the right of way. At last with another look at the wheels, the train with car 423 on the rear gets the green signal. Not the passengers waving to the cameraman. Leaving lingwood, the 2 car train nearly crushes the tail of the automobile. Over the Long Beach freeway near the Los Angeles river, a single car crosses over the steel viaduct. Next another trio of the big red cars are approaching Garfield, followed by another 2 car train at paramount boulevard crossing. At the final destination of bellflower, the same train with car 423 on the rear arrives. A different 2 car train crosses the crossings, then it rolls alongside the roadway with various automobiles. It left conton station. At conton creek bridge, another 2 car train crosses over, followed by a quick shot of the other 2 cars at the crossing. Next an overhead shot is shown as it heads for Dominguez Junction. At Dominguez junction, the San Pedro branch begins as one of the cars curves to the left, followed by 2 more cars combined making a meet with the single car. On the west basin line, a single car is at B street in Wilmington, followed by car 417 making a reverse S curve. Afterwards car 1545 arrives in San Pedro. The Catalina special operates every summer to the steam ship terminal. It is a 3 car special led by car 1523, that is turning from the private right of way. Next it does some street running, then While it was turning onto the tracks into the steamship terminal, note the split second blooper. The S. S. Catalina is shown. Moving onto the Long Beach line, it continues through Dominguez junction as a 2 unit consist with car 1701 in the lead makes a stop, then it proceeds through the crossing. Next a single car crosses the Los Angeles river. Followed by a 2 car train heading to Long Beach boulevard, which includes some street running near the pacific coast highway. The other 2 car train is turning west onto ocean avenue. The train is approaching the end of the line with automobiles passing by the cameraman. The same train with cars 1701 and 1702 (not the US army/Reader railroad/Fremont & Elkhorn valley/Great Smoky mountains 2-8-0 steam engine), are snaking through various curves after dropping all of its passengers off, then it�ll turn into the opposite direction. Sometimes the Pacific electric railway has various Railfan specials to deal with beginning with a 3 car special leaving the 6th and Main Street station and curves in to San Pedro Street. It is led by car 5166. The departure was very foggy, but later in the day, the weather changed. It is picking up speed on the bellflower line which includes some pacing, then it is inbound out of watts. Next an unusual 5 car consist of the big red cars are leaving the 6th and Main Street station, with car 314 in the lead and car 312 on the rear as it heads for the harbor. It is turning to Olympic boulevard, then it is snaking along the San Pedro Branch as it approaches the harbor. The middle cars are 318, 311, and 305. In December of 1956, car 498 is preparing to leave the 6th and Main Street station once again. Thankfully this car is preserved at the orange empire railway museum in Perris along with some of the big red cars. First 498 curves onto San Pedro Street, then it is squeezing through the Washington Street Yard. A tower car is seen in the background. Next 498 is on the arrow heads spur. Back on the bellflower line, 2 conductors are shown as 498 pulls ahead then it backs into the inbound track to let the bellflower bound train go by. 498 is still heading to Long Beach as it is crossing the Los Angeles river. 498 arrives at Morgan yard. Fair banks yard is where all the heavy maintenance is performed. In the service pits, a look at the underneath of car 498 is shown. Cars are jacked up so that the trucks can be removed and serviced. At The daisy street freight line, 498 crawls through the crossing, then it is on the soon to be abandoned tourence line north of San Pedro. 498 is inbound. Note the horns from the ferry boats in the background. 498 is shown on the Catalina line, then it is on to the freight track. Next the other 5 car train is shown. This time it is heading to Long Beach. The special is at slosen junction where the Santa fe�s Hover branch crosses. The special is led by car 1519. On a different 2 car special, car 1543 is in the MTA blue paint which is thankfully preserved at the travel town museum. The final segment of this program shows the tower cars working on the overhead wires. Here car number 9223 is shown followed by 9224, then 9223 once again which is thankfully preserved in seal beach California. 9223 arrives into the watts yard. As an added bonus, electric freight locomotives are shown. Beginning with butte street yard in 1956 as engine 1619 is shown but 1624 is thankfully survived at the orange empire railway museum along with car 498. 1619 is still doing some back and forth movements around the yard. Next 1623 is running light. Afterwards, 1622 and 1624 are transferred for night runs as they are working alongside the Hollywood freight house. At sunrise, Southern pacific 1012 is towing the 2 dead engines in storage. This concludes the twilight years of the pacific electric.

In Los Angeles streetcars, the program starts with a meet of the 2 yellow and green cars in downtown LA followed by car 3081. A map is shown. The year is 1956. Car 1440 is shown in a still image. All of the yellow cars are shown in the Georgia Street house. Followed by 3156 at night. A bus is shown around the terminal. Starting with the W line, it goes north to 11th street and east over to broadway as car 1284 is turning tracks. Car 1436 turns north on Broadway. The same scene from the opening shot is included. At 7th and broadway, car 1250 makes a meet with another car., followed by a parade of meets. Car 1284 is seen once again in the going away shot with a bus following behind. The other car is crossing over the Hollywood freeway. At china town, a streetcar and a bus passes by. Looking over the southern pacific Taylor Freight yard, one of the yellow cars, crosses over the yard, as well as the LA river. Not far from the SP yard is LAUPT. The W line turns south off north broadway and onto Lincoln park avenue. Car 1250 arrives at the dead end as car 1450 is being serviced. Car 1436 has already left Lincoln avenue back to downtown. Car 1250 is seen once again as it makes a bend at north broadway, followed by some chasing footage of the same car. Back at SP�s Taylor Yard, there is a meet as the street car meets with a bus over the LA river. Car 1437 is meeting with the bus as it leaves the bridge. Boy was everything cheap back then. Back at Chinatown, car 1442 passes by the structures as well as another car crossing the intersection. Car 1439 is shown as the camera moves to 1st and broadway where the P line meets the W line. Car 1290 crosses 7th street. The W line turns back to 11th street as car 1241 is making a bend. Car 1284 is Western on 11th street. Car 1446 turns south as figarora street. This used to be known as the street of automobiles. Car 1439 is crossing pico boulevard and the P line. Car 1445 emerges from the new highway bridge. A look at the intersection of Washington and Vermont as car 1444 crosses. A quick look at car 1446 is shown. Next some meets are included as car 1284 is shown once again. Car 1441 approaches the end of the W line. The motorman changes ends. The date is November 18, 1956. The W line was converted to buses. The remaining Railfans are shown at dawn in a still photo. Moving onto the S line, a still image of car 1430 is shown with the pacific electric red cars included. A pump house is between the tracks as car 1420 turns south on central avenue. Note the split second blooper. At the end of the S line it is located near Manhattan avenue as 1420 arrives. Car 1422 is inbound on gauge avenue. Back on San Pedro Street, the big red cars are shown once again. The S line turns west onto 7th street as car 1442 is shown, followed by 1439 in the going away shot. 1422 is seen once again. This time it is on Georgia street to go to the car house. Car 1325 is changing ends before going into the car house. In March of 1958, the MTA took over. Another look at the map is shown. On the S line, PCC car 3116 is doing some street running as always. Next another car is circling at 8th and western avenue. In 7th and broadway, this is a busy area. On San Pedro Street the S line heads south. Car 3105 is south on 54th street. On gauge avenue, another car is heading to central avenue. Near Florence avenue you can barely see the Goodyear tire plant in the background near Florence avenue. This is the end of the S line where a loop is located. Car 3039 is heading back to downtown. A cepiatone still of car 358 is shown followed by a pair of buses in different shots. One of the electric buses are shown. In a 1938 black and white segment, there are several trollies to look at. A color still of car 3857 is shown. Back at Georgia Street, car 3151 is on the P line. A busy meet in downtown Los Angeles is shown. As always downtown LA is always busy. On east 1st street, city hall is in the background. Car 3139 is preparing into the loop. It heads south on Rowan avenue. It�s on the Chicago street loop. Car 3136 have crossed the river and the SP Taylor yard. A yellow P car turns south. A trio of trollies are shown on Arlington ave. At pico, this is the end of the P line. Car 3145 is turning around, then it heads back to east Los Angeles. Car 3151 arrives back at the car house. Car 3157 heads backwards. On the J line, car 3077 leaves the car house. Turning off at 7th street, it�s on grand avenue. Car 3066 goes by. At the end of the J line and 10th Avenue, someone put a crying woman�s face on the front of the car which indicates the final farewell of streetcar service in Los Angeles. Note the sign saying: goodbye forever old sweethearts and pals. A yellow car is shown as it heads back to the end of the line. Car 3127 is on the last regular day of service followed by a look at downtown LA. Afterwards a look at the closing ceremonies are shown as well as the other details on the R and V lines.

These 2 videos from 1992 are a great look at the final years of what vintage Southern California railroading is all about.

Additional remarks by Steamboy:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: A little rough around the edges.
DVD Value:: Fair.
Recommend to others? Yes.

Grrrrreat! I've shown these dvd's to my diving friends (we dive on some of the old cars that were disposed of in Santa Monica Bay) they all loved them. They really help to ID some of the artifacts we find. They also help to get my grandkids interested in our local HISTORY.

Additional remarks by J. Smith:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? Definitely.

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I had purchased these videos years ago as VHS tapes. DVD is much easier to play and store. VHS programs required 2 tapes as this fit one one DVD. Strictly for the trolley history buff.

Additional remarks by Jim Maurer:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? Not unless they REALLY were interested in the subject matter.