Trolley buff guides others down the tracks of memory

A No. 1522 Pacific Electric Red Car leaves the Pacific Electric Building at 6th and Main streets heading to Long Beach in Los Angeles in Dec. 1960 shortly before service ended in 1961. (R.L. Oliver / Los Angeles Times)

March 11, 2013 4:05 PM PT

In his talks, Jeff Arnett, 88, paints portraits of an earlier L.A., when he grew up riding trolleys and life moved at a slower pace.

Last trips of the Pacific Electric cars making finals runs in June 1955 through the mile-long subway tunnel before its abandonment. This end of the tunnel was at 2nd Street and Glendale Boulevard. (Donald Duke / Los Angeles Times)

A Pacific Electric Red Car motorman waves to a passing colleague in 1953. (Jack Gaunt / Los Angeles Times)