Lowe railway was one of the mustsee attractions in southern california. Standing on the baggage flat in front of the car are two of thaddeus lowes sons, sobieski lowe. Electric car at ye alpine tavern, mount lowe railway, mount. Written by charles seims and published by golden west books. Passengers pose for a souvenir photograph at rubio pavilion shortly after the railway s opening in 1893. Golden west books the mount lowe preservation society inc. Scenic mount lowe and its wonderful railway internet archive. It also sparked the interest of a fellow student, charles seims, who later in life, wrote a book, mount lowe. California, southern description and travel subject. Library of congress repository library of congress prints and photographs division washington, d. Now, readers can enjoy local history and fabulous vistas without the effort of a days hike. Although the mount lowe railway itself is long gone, thaddeus lowes legacy is still alive, thanks to the work of historians, railroad buffs, family members, hiking enthusiasts, area residents and dedicated volunteers. Passengers pose for a souvenir photograph at rubio pavilion shortly after the railways opening in 1893. Today the train tracks are gone, but you can still ride through an old tunnel, see old bridges, and even the ruins of some of the hotels.
The mount lowe railway a personal journey with pictures. The mount lowe preservation society is a nonprofit whose mission is to help secure and preserve history and. The old railway track is a great climb on the mountain bike. On page 71 of seims book is a photo of the dormitories which is described as the casino. In his original plans for the san gabriels, professor lowe planned to extend the mount lowe railway from nearby echo mountain all the way to the summit of this peak, where he planned to build another large hotel and an aerial tramway to san gabriel peak where he also planned to build an observatory and research institute cant say the.
Hardbound with dust jacket and just loaded with great information about the history of the building, operating and destruction of mount lowe and the personalities behind it. Its short trackage from altadena to alpine tavern, rising over 3, feet in only 5. A brief history of the famous mount lowe railway in 1889, david macpherson, a former santa fe railway civil engineer, planned a steam powered railroad into the mountains behind pasadena. Mount lowe railway trail altadena 2020 all you need to. Patris is the author of mount lowe railway, california 4. Since 1960, golden west books has been a leader in the rail publishing industry, with more than 160 titles published to date. Mount lowe the railway in the clouds by charles seims chronicles the result of their efforts, the mount lowe railway, from the time of its original construction through the years in which it functioned as an integral part of the pacific electric system. Hardbound with dust jacket and just loaded with great. The organization is also parent to the pacific electric railway historical society and golden west books, a revered railhistory publishing company based in. The organization is also parent to the pacific electric railway historical society and golden west books, a revered railhistory publishing company based in san marino, california. Lowe railways thrilling, terrifying circular bridge. No injuries were ever reported related to the railway, he said.
The railway opened in 1893 and stopped services in 1938. Southern californias mount lowe railway, for nearly 40 years, lived up to its title the most scenic mountain railway in the world. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Apr 27, 2012 mount lowe railway the guided tour this is a complete trail of mount lowe. Now, readers can enjoy local history and fabulous vistas without the.
Mount lowe railway preservationists want to connect people to. From 1893 to 1936, four million people rode the mount lowe railway, the last portion containing only 224 feet of straight track. Interestingly, the railway was the only scenic mountain electric traction overhead electric trolley railroad in the country. Climbing one of the steepest mountain ranges on the continent between 1893 and 1938, the railway twisted and wound its way up a roadbed blasted from granite. Lowe railway, view from circular bridge library of congress. Professor thaddeus lowes dream is brought back to life by this wellillustrated history of the mount lowe railway and resort, adapted from the authors slide show presentation. Mount lowe railway preservationists want to connect people. Mount lowe, the railway in the clouds written by charles seims and published by golden west books.
From i210 in pasadena, take the lake avenue exit and head north left if you are coming from the west, right if from the east and go. Northern district by donald duke covers a wide variety of subjects and lines, including henry e. Tucked away in southern californias san gabriel mountains, the mount lowe rail. Charles book featured some of the photographs from roberts collection and the two men remained lifelong friends. In 1891, macpherson and thaddeus lowe, a public figure from the civil. The project gutenberg ebook of scenic mount lowe and its. Since mount lowe railway s abandonment in 1936, millions of hikers, mountain bikers, and railfans have followed the longdeserted rail beds to glimpse the scenic grandeur of what was once the earths grandest mountain ride. Mount lowe railway the guided tour this is a complete trail of mount lowe. The mount lowe railway was officially closed in 1938 after a flood destroyed what was left of the facilities. Today the remains of this historic site are still scattered across the mountainside along with numerous trails that were created during its production.
Huntington the builder, south pasadena, pasadena short line, new years day in pasadena, pasadena locals, alhambrasan gabrieltemple city, mount lowe, monroviaglendora, sierra madre, pasadena oak knoll. The mount lowe railway is a historic railroad grade that used to transport people up the mountains to several different hotels and resorts that used to rest high up in the san gabriels. Title electric car at ye alpine tavern, mount lowe railway, mount lowe, calif. Historic mount lowe railway, the disneyland of its day. Electric car at ye alpine tavern, mount lowe railway, mount lowe, calif. Opened with great fanfare on july 4, 1893, the mount lowe incline railway was hailed as earths grandest mountain ride. The mount lowe railway trail has numerous stopping. Scenic mount lowe and its wonderful railway by george. From i210 in pasadena, take the lake avenue exit and head north left if you are coming from the west, right if from the east and go 3.
Powerhouse and incline station, mount lowe railway, mount. The scenic mount lowe railway historical committee the formal name for a group of volunteers who work to preserve the remnants of the mount lowe railway, including structures and artifacts. Mount lowe railway mountain bike trail in pasadena. Electric car at ye alpine tavern, mount lowe railway. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround. The mount lowe railway was created as a scenic tourist line to bring visitors to see mount lowe and echo mountain. It was placed on the national register of historical places on january 6, 1993. Since mount lowe railways abandonment in 1936, millions of hikers, mountain bikers, and railfans have followed the longdeserted rail beds to glimpse the scenic grandeur of what was once the earths grandest mountain ride.
Another good book on this piece of history is mount lowe railway ca images of rail which is a little easier to read. Starting from a trolley line in altadena, passengers took an incline railway to lofty echo mountain, where they could stay at the chalet or. Thaddeus lowe and his wife leontine seated at the front at the foot of the incline, circa 1893 the incline is a steep 60% grade section of the mt. This is one of the most comprehensive books i have found on the mt. Profusely illustrated fifth edition by george wharton james author of travelers hand book to. Apr 21, 2017 over the years the railway ran into a series of troubles with floods and fires. Mount lowe trains used this line later to become pacific electrics south pasadena line until after henry huntington completed his route to monrovia and glendora in 19021903. How the sierra madre mountains have been surmounted by electric cars, and the most beautiful and grand views of mountain, valley and ocean scenery made accessible to all.
I purchased this book from a bookstore years before existed. There is a decent amount of street parking here, but it can be busy on the weekends and make sure to read signs. Michael patris, president of golden west books at the mount lowe preservation society is expanding, renovating a 14,000squarefoot. Apr 07, 2017 from 1893 to 1936, four million people rode the mount lowe railway, the last portion containing only 224 feet of straight track. It covers this piece of history from the first ideas of what was to be built to its ultimate demise. Scenic mount lowe and its wonderful railway addeddate 20180731 12. Jun 06, 2007 opened with great fanfare on july 4, 1893, the mount lowe incline railway was hailed as earths grandest mountain ride. Bookstore mount lowe preservation society secures and shares. The mount lowe railway was officially abandoned in 1938 after a horrendous rain washed most everything off the mountainsides.
A pictorial account of the mount lowe railway from construction to memorial by mike manning. Only the ruins of this once shining venture still remain, and can be visited by hikers willing to make the trek up. Today the train tracks are gone, but you can still ride through an old tunnel, see old. Description and travel, mount lowe railway publisher project gutenberg collection gutenberg contributor project gutenberg language en. The mount lowe railway cost three times as much per mile to build as any other mountain railway in the world, according to charles seims in the book trolley days in pasadena. The mount lowe railway was the third in a series of scenic mountain railroads in america. A brief overlook into the history of the white city music by.
Jul 20, 2010 a brief overlook into the history of the white city music by. The mount lowe railway and associated resort properties had a checkered and colorful history. Title powerhouse and incline station, mount lowe railway, mount lowe, calif. Pacific electric railway volume 1 northern district by. Books, newsletters, documentaries and websites, including this one have been inspired by lowes accomplishments. Today, the ruins of mount lowe railway remain as a monument to a onceever experienced enterprise. In 1901 henry huntington came into the picture by forming and buying several railway lines. Lowe, have hiked the trail many times and used both of these books to look into the past of what was once on this mountain. Mount lowe the railway in the clouds by charles seims chronicles this famed lost railway, from its beginnings to its end as part of the pacific electric. Altadena north of pasadena, on the corner of lake avenue and loma alta drive. Mount lowe preservation society secures and shares the. To the echo mountain house hotel, the alpine tavern and inspiration point. Parking the best place to park is at the end of lake ave and e loma alta dr at the sam merrill trailhead. Since mount lowe railways abandonment in 1936, millions of hikers, mountain.
Over the years the railway ran into a series of troubles with floods and fires. The railway, originally incorporated by professor thaddeus s. The best place to park is at the end of lake ave and e loma alta dr at the sam merrill trailhead. Starting from a trolley line in altadena, passengers took an incline railway to lofty echo mountain, where they could stay at the chalet or the echo mountain house. The mount lowe railway was officially abandoned in 1938 after a horrendous rain washed most everything off the mountain sides. Lowe rail system designed to carry passengers up a cable funicular railway to a mountaintop hotel, 1,500 feet above the rubio canyon floor. Scenic mount lowe and its wonderful railway language. United statescalifornialos angeles countylowe, mount. Lowe was established as an alternate route for the mount lowe railway when attempts to procure rights of way to the more prominent mount wilson had failed. Part of henry huntingtons, pacific electric railway red. From the flatlands of altadena to the alpine tavern on mount lowe, the railway to the clouds gained 3,121 feet in elevation over 5. It reads like an authoritative history book on the subject and does not skimp on details or photos it includes an elevation foldout section. Alternating between successes and bankruptcies, lowe eventually lost control of the operation in 1899.
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