Remembrances of Railroads in Lomita

A telegrapher’s key clicks away in the turn-of-the-century ticket office. Echoing through the Victorian train depot is the labored chugging of a giant locomotive pulling a long string of freight cars.

But it’s all make-believe. The chugging sounds are coming from a recording inside the cab of a Mogul 2-6-0, built by the Baldwin Locomotive Co. in 1902 for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Today it rests on steel tracks that go nowhere and is the prized exhibit of the Lomita Railroad Museum.

The locomotive--which served on runs to San Bernardino and other local points--was scrapped and moved to a yard on Terminal Island where it was destined to be pulverized for the value of its metal. It weighed about 157,000 pounds.

The engine was saved from destruction by the City of Lomita and meticulously restored by the local Live Steamers Club that has its headquarters next to the museum. Built in 1966, the museum was given to Lomita by Irene Lewis.

What a Time It Was

Railroad memorabilia is everywhere in the depot, which is similar to the Boston & Maine’s Greenwood Station at Wakefield, Mass. A potbellied stove warms the room on a chilly day. Timetables are on the wall. Trains used to run on time--it was the code of railroading. Watches were generally 21-jewel movements, their dials in bold Arabic numerals for easy reading. And when a conductor pulled his watch from a vest pocket it was invariably attached to a heavy gold Albert chain.

Other items on view include lanterns, locomotive whistles, long-spouted oil cans, tallow pots for lubricating the valves and pistons, train models, and even an order hoop used by station agents to pass orders to moving trains.

Visitors may also walk through the interior of a Union Pacific caboose built in 1910. The caboose, once the conductor’s home and office on wheels and furnished as comfortably as the average Pullman car, is being phased out.

The age of steam locomotives lasted for more than 10 decades. In 1933, a General Electric subsidiary--the Electro-Motive Corp.--put a Diesel-electric engine on a passenger train. By the end of 1941, Santa Fe had five of these powerful engines. Because they could pull a 100-car train more economically, the steam locomotives became obsolete.

Southern Pacific’s Lark once traveled the coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco, equipped with roomettes for single travelers and drawing rooms for couples or those desiring more comfort. At the end of the train was a three-car unit--a diner, kitchen and lounge.

Era’s Most Luxurious

The most luxurious train of the era was the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe’s Super Chief, which ran between Chicago and Los Angeles. News photographers were almost always on hand when the Super Chief pulled into Union Station because there were usually movie stars, politicians and business tycoons aboard.

The train’s initial run was in 1936. The Fred Harvey system operated the dining car, and it was no fast-food franchise. Indeed, it was an epicure’s delight to be seated at a table covered with white linen and an array of gleaming crystal and polished silver. Items on the 1937 menu included poached tranche of salmon, au vin blanc (70 cents); roast larded tenderloin of beef, sauce madere (95 cents), and fresh strawberry shortcake with whipped cream.

For the thirsty, there was always a bottle of Mums’ Extra Dry, Bollinger, or Dom Perignon Cuvee. Later in the evening, travelers could make their way to the club car to enjoy an imported cognac or Havana cigar. It was the only way to travel.

The Lomita Railroad Museum is at Woodward Avenue and 250th Street West in Lomita. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Admission is 50 cents. Information: (213) 326-6255.

To reach the museum , take the Harbor Freeway toward San Pedro . Exit at the Pacific Coast Highway and turn right . Right again on Narbonne to the second signal, which is 250th Street. Right here to the museum.