Garden Grove in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

“Big Red Cars”

of the Pacific Electric Railway

Photographed by Michael Kindig, February 20, 2017

1. “Big Red Cars” Marker

Inscription. For more than half a century, the Pacific Electric Railway served Southern California. The system was established by Henry Huntington in 1895 and linked Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties with over 1,000 miles of service and up to 2,700 scheduled trolleys daily. Through the years, the trolleys were painted different colors, but the most famous and symbolic of the era were the “Big Red Cars”. The electric trolley system carried commuters and sightseers through Southern California cities, fruit groves, beach areas, ranchland, and the Spanish Missions.

The “Santa Ana” line (1905-1950) extended before you is one remnant of the vast Pacific Electric System. This portion of the corridor diagonally traverses central Orange County from the Los Angeles County line to Santa Ana. It crosses through the cities of La Palma, Cypress, Buena Park, Anaheim, Stanton, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana. To remember this colorful part of Orange County’s development, this corridor is dedicated to preserving the history of the “Big Red Cars”.

Topics. This historical marker is listed

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in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 33° 46.011′ N, 117° 55.794′ W. Marker was in Garden Grove, California, in Orange County. It was on Trask Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 11382 Trask Avenue, Garden Grove CA 92843, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Peninsular Ranges.

It was also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it was in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Stanley House Museum (approx. 1.4 miles away); Anaheim Convention Center History (approx. 2.4 miles away); Cóyotl - Coyote (approx. 2.4 miles away); Ficus macrophylla (approx. 2.6 miles away); The Pelton Wheel

Photographed by Michael Kindig, February 20, 2017

2. “Big Red Cars” Marker

(approx. 2.8 miles away); Kate and Ella 1895 (approx. 2.8 miles away); The Steam Donkey (approx. 2.8 miles away); The Millennium Tree (approx. 2.8 miles away).

Photographed by Michael Kindig, February 20, 2017

3. “Big Red Cars” Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2017. It was originally submitted on February 20, 2017, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 533 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 20, 2017, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.