PE 418
Blimp

Built: 1913 by the Pullman Car Co.  Retired: 1961 Construction: Steel. 

Length: 72 ft. 4 in.  Weight: 121,160 lbs.  Seats: 80 

Car 418 was built for the Oakland, Alameda and Berkeley Lines of the Southern Pacific RR, which provided electric commuter service in the San Francisco Bay area. It was later transferred to the SP's Interurban Electric Railway, and operated across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge from 1939 until 1941. The tracks over the bridge were shared with trains of the competing Key System (including “Bridge Unit” 167, also preserved at OERM). 

Following America’s entry into World War II, the U.S. Maritime Commission purchased sixty-one IER cars, including the 418, for its Calship service between Los Angeles and the harbor area to the south. Beginning in 1943, the new "Terminal Island"  line served the Calship Shipyard on Terminal Island, connecting with PE’s Long Beach/San Pedro line. The Calship service was discontinued in September, 1945. 

PE ultimately purchased the 418 from the Maritime Commission, along with the majority of its other East Bay brethren. In 1947-48 the cars were remodeled to include new interiors, seating and the famous "butterfly" paint scheme.  The “Blimps”, as they came to be known, operated on PE’s Southern District lines out of Downtown Los Angeles.  The 418 was retired in 1961. 

PE 418 is fully operational and is used regularly on the museum railway.  

Renumberings: The car was originally numbered SP 344, it became PE 4614, then PE 418 in 1947, and finally MTA 1528 in 1958.  


Additional Photos:

 

418 Railfest 2003.JPG (274686 bytes)

PE 332 and 418 sm.JPG (115866 bytes)

418 interior sm.JPG (125080 bytes)

Rail Festival 2003

With PE 332 12/03

Interior 2005

418 with boxcar sm.JPG (132062 bytes)
Carhouse Four yard 9/05
John Smatlak photos -click to enlarge-

 

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