Mt. Lowe Railway - What Remains

Luxury hotels, a zoo, and the world's largest spotlight were just a few of the things found along this now-extinct and largely forgotten Southern California mountain railway. Subscribe to AOL: goo.gl/00Mfj.
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[@franciscopalafox9820]

Used to hike there when I was in 6th grade. Used to go there in highschool when cut class with my girlfriend at the time..nice place.

[@nathandash9385]

Great job Michael. Our great great uncle Thaddeus would be proud

[@pinbret]

in the mid 70's I was told the story about this railroad by a hundred year old man this documentary shakes me up in a good way he said watching that spot light shot across Los Angeles was amazing . think of it this big beautiful spot light before anyone ever thought about using them to spot enemy aircraft ... that light was no doubt scenes by my relatives who live there 120 years ago ...

[@shootfirst2097]

I would sell my soul to be able to go back in time and live in Pasadena/L.A. during those days.

[@tammanyfields3583]

I loved Hiking here and finding bits in pieces of glass and dish pieces when I was a kid. It also reminds me of the lost Ridge Route and how it too was magnificent feats of engineering.

[@cozycastle]

I just hiked the trail today. It is very beautiful. Wish the tavern was still there. Now it’s just a camp ground that’s not so good looking.

[@sneadh1]

It's terrible that the Forest Service blew up the Echo Mt. Power house , and the shell of the Alpine Tavern around 1960.

[@SpinBikerRepair]

I've been riding my bicycle Mt Lowe - it's always fascinating to marvel over the ruins at this location. From this location we often trek up the mountain to Mt Wilson.

[@larrysteimle2004]

Thank you Michael. We really enjoyed watching this. Now to look for others you've done.

[@carolemclaughlin781]

I had never heard of this. Interesting.

[@laybackrockguy]

One day, I have a feeling that it will be re-created but, with a new modern style.

[@cozycastle]

With how prices are going these days….. it’s been ten years since you said that remark. Congrats 🎈

[@sneadh1]

Why no mention of Lowe's distinguished career with balloons in the Civil War? He originally wanted his railway to go to Mount Wilson. The Rose Bowl was not built until 1921.

[@ADX77]

Why not use this platform to fight police brutality? Outrage!

[@rocknroll7400]

@@ADX77 libtard alert, and oh the railroad and estate actually existed.. Police brutality, not so much

[@robertdavis5714]

Paradise so short lived, where's a Time Machine when you need it to go back to July 4, 1893 .

[@raymondmaurer1838]

Bravo! Concise and to the point.

[@markemyshibukawa9254]

I wonder what happened to the searchlight.

[@jimwadsworth2329]

This is so well done, I really enjoyed watching it. Who is playing the piano piece toward the end of the video?

[@shootfirst2097]

2:16 Was there a name for the 2nd Hotel that was lost? The "Mountain House" was the first hotel to go, followed by the Tavern, the Casino, and the Pavilion was washed away in a flood. I just wonder if there are pictures of the 2nd hotel and what the name of it was.

[@rocknroll7400]

Amazing 8th wonder of the world, built by real men, so not mentioned much, I lived on that street and didn't even know of it.. My school made no mention. Dudes working for a couple bucks a week hauling iron cable and supplies by back and mule in 100 degree weather, most would say 10 yrs would be reasonable time to build an empire from scratch, but in Donald Trump fashion, Thaddeus Lowe built it in 2 yrs and never stopped winning. Go at 4th of July to the ruins and hundreds are gathered celebrating and watching the fireworks from all over Southern California.

[@simmthingler]

So let me get this straight - 02:18 "by 1915 most everything was lost on echo Mt" Got it, okay. - 1:51 "It was only about 6 months in 1924 that it was ever in the black or a money making viable railway." Okay now I'm confused.

[@tomfitz3324]

He meant 1894, I believe. That fits in with the context.

[@bryantespada659]

Does anyone know what happened to the search light? Does it still exist somewhere?

[@johnnyjames7139]

Bryant Espada the search light was on the roof of the power house. It was destroyed when a forest fire burned the power house. The shell of the power house was concrete but the forest service dynamited that unfortunately. Walt Disney inquired about restoring the railway in the late 1940's but Pacific Electric had allowed the lease to expire and the forest service would no longer allow such development.

[@DNRY122]

@@johnnyjames7139 The "Back to Nature" bureaucrats who ordered the Mt. Lowe building ruins dynamited should have been whupped upside the head with a Smokey Bear shovel!

[@shootfirst2097]

What a tragedy that two fires destroyed the wonderful history of those buildings. Imagine if they had survived and were refurbished every ten years... and what it would be like NOW

[@Hogger280]

The railway's only profitable time (in 1924) occurred After two of the hotels burned ?

[@kmgall]

So, how do you get up to the ruins? Hike?

[@miguelcastaneda7236]

can be hiked up to from mountain trail road its paved or can also come up from the old cobb estate...just beware of poison oak

[@sneadh1]

Go up the Sam Merrill trail from the end of Lake Ave. in Altadena. You can also connect from a fire road from Chaney Trail in Altadena, or from Angeles Crest Hwy.

[@honey38baby]

does anyone know the music(piano) that plays towards the end of the segment?

[@whgrunow]

Florence “Pancho”Barnes Grandfather.

[@whgrunow]

Watch, Exploring this site, “KZbin” Adventures of WonderHussy .