Pacific Electric Toluca Yard and Belmont Tunnel Part 1

History of the first LA subway.

[@jaya.6730]

I lived less than 400 feet away from the entrance of the tunnel. This was from 1967-1969. I was nine years old when my family moved to the area from Cuba. My twin brother and I played at the tunnel all the time. You can see the apartment building where I lived on this video. Stop the video at 3:19 and the building is at 45% of right side of the tunnel. My apartment unit was on the third floor at the top most right window. From the window I could the see the famous "Hollywood" sign and the Toluca Substation. Went back in 2008 to visit and take pictures. Lots of memories.

[@chifloid]

Jacinto A. Did you lived on Emerald St in the apartment complex they were yellow I believe it was 272 Emerald St. I also grew up in this neighborhood back in the 70's great place to grow up, by any chance did you go to Cortez st school?

[@jonmacdonald5345]

Jacinto A. Did your family float over on a door from Cuba??

[@llorensl]

There were a few of us Cubans back there. I lived on Lucas Ave. Our families probably knew each other.

[@FredHerrman]

It's great you included audio of a trip on there. Genius to have had the foresight to have recorded a trip like that.

[@LoreleiErisis]

This brought back a lot of memories. There's even a very brief shot of me in here! I used to find it fascinating to watch people playing Tarasca on Sundays while whole families BBQ'd and the most amazing graff artists practiced their art in the open. Beautiful, intricately stunning graffiti. It made me so very sad and angry to see this all destroyed to build fancy apartments that no one in that neighborhood could ever afford anyway. Thanks for the shoutout to The COG!!!

[@americanamusica13]

Skept....sitting on the roof shooting the wall with his bbgun. That’s what you’d find in 86. For the record Phyn did the first roller piece in LA history there. It was in the corner. Nobody else used bucket paint back then. I still have one pic of myself from there. It’s me , Baba,Phyn,Relm , Rev KSN and the New York writer Stash 2. Good times. If I could go back in time I’d do it all again. I’d ditch school every day and kick it at Belmont. The best was in 86 when pan pacific was still running. Id start at the pan and then end at Belmont. KSN crew ...Los Angeles.

[@sneadh1]

The sound is from "Interurban Memories". It is from a recording of a trip south on the 4 track main line from LA to Watts, 1959, made by Stan Kistler.

[@z31rider24]

Wonderful Job @ putting this together. I was expecting a video but this well done with pictures.

[@llorensl]

I lived a block away from there until 73. It was not very good back then and it got really bad later. Used to know some old timers that lived there in the thirties. They described a VERY different place.

[@spokanetomcat1]

They filmed many movies in this area. One I remember from the 80's Colors.

[@christiancase4855]

Don't forget Tony Hawk's American wasteland

[@AXEL0329]

I live 5 mins away from the ex Belmont Tunnel site, where now there are apartments. If I'm not wrong this is where a scene of the movie "Colors" was filmed. Always wanted to go to the famous Belmont Tunnel but never had the chance when the land was bought and the construction was going to begin I was bearly 10 , but heard lots of stories from this place! If only I could go back in time to have a chance to go in the tunnel!

[@jrferrier]

Remember spending some time there in the summer of '97...walked down the tunnel to we almost couldn't see the light. Have lots of pictures of artwork from back then...stayed in Echo Park...seems like a long time ago...thanks for reminding me of a great summer.

[@howardnielsen6220]

I came up from San Diego to LA for my Physical to join the army in 1960. I rode the Red Car to Long Beach got off at the Pike turned around got back on the next or the same Red Car back to LA. I have a G Scale model of the Red Car on my train layout

[@k.boogs_]

Used to love this spot as a kid. Stupid but good times around there 🤣

[@Hypnotikshiva]

I like seeing old L.A. but just found out about this exact location, (Belmont station) I had heard an old train station used to be in the corner but wow, so different and how time just eats the past, so if that was the entrance to the tunnel anyone know where the other end is? Where the exit is?

[@sirpoppinchuck]

My homeboy did the Olmec . We painted there back in the days R.T.N, S.T.G ! R.I.P Belmont Tunnnel. I think if they started to save the Belmont n preserve it back in 99 when we did the” A Day in the West” paint out and also All the West coast rappers came n took a pic in front of station “Tupac” portrait on one side “Easy E” on other that’s now in the Smithsonian Inst. it probably would’ve been possible.

[@Alexidrik]

Excellent video, thank you. For the first time acquainted with a tunnel in the game L. A. Noire. It is a pity that such a sad fate for him and the entire tram fleet in Los Angeles. They could convert it into the car tunnel than to close it

[@ramonsmediablog]

Is the end of the tunnel still there??

[@DEADIKATED]

My Grandfather told Me he helped Build Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale and they buried alot of those Rail Cars there.

[@kclite]

LOL OMG ITS NEAR MY HOUSE, YES ITS BEVERLY AND GLENDALE BLVD ,ITS WAS LOST YEARS TILL THEY BOUGHT THE LAND AND NOW A APT BUILDING IS BUILT NOW, I REMEMBER GANG BANGERS CRASH THERE AND MOVIES WAS FILMED THERE BUT I WONDER WHERE IT END UP AT??? DID ANYBODY EXPLORE THE TUNNEL, GOSH I WISH I DID WHEN I WAS A KID

[@sanchezv8]

where is the location at?

[@Alexidrik]

FYI Trams or streetcars or interurbans almost the same, one difference interurbans - is transport linking nearby communities or suburbs of the city, and is just to the tram.

[@ChristianCaseGaming]

Tony Hawk's American Wasteland through and through love that game

[@dalecase7721]

Good thing some were saved @ OERM !!

[@sirpoppinchuck]

Our homeboy “Midst”piece R.T.N, G.A.W@ 6:51 and “Guilt” R.T.N, i2W Olmec @ 6:14

[@73CharlieBrown73]

NICE PICTURES!!!

[@sneadh1]

Used in one movie for MacArthur's tunnel on Corregidor

[@dankymemes4661]

Dayum it feels nice to see the old 2003 , CAR graffiti WSCARX111

[@JP-og9no]

DanKy MemeS I remember when car were tag bangers and futures. forgot which hood hhs? fmk n car was goin to my continuation school Metropolitan. I was Koo w the car forgot his name.

[@carolina01011]

Wow I grew up here :)

[@FULOKSB1]

8:34 were is that at and wuts the streets to get there?????

[@cheerTILidie]

Does anyone if this still here? I want to shoot a video of it?

[@sanchezv8]

thanks its still there only bad part inside a apartment complex

[@gilval808]

Bring back the red car !!!! . I hate taking the fuckin bus and driving to fuckin work I'm tired of being stuck in fuckin traffic. The rail system today is still not enough we need more not just certain areas of the city or county. We need it everywhere .

[@microbusss]

Nebraska has a Belmont Tunnel as well & is the only former railroad tunnel in the state!

[@TheLostchild123]

8:27 wheres that exactly at??

[@RobertoSuavecito]

Los Angeles Graffiti ART roots...Know your History..History for many of us LA OLD schoolerz as little kids learning culture

[@rextony22]

awesomepictures

[@oceans80]

Is that the bridge from Under the Bridge?

[@theblackbelle]

The Chili Peppers song? No, he was referring to the bridge in McArthur Park. "Under the bridge downtown" where he used to get his drugs.

[@LoreleiErisis]

thecarlarizzo Actually, there is some debate whether it's that bridge in MacArthur Park or this one. Having lived across the street from this one, I can tell you it was a verrrrrrryyyyy likely location.....

[@m33lover]

Yeah Indeed....Dj RAW days.

[@seren178]

thx!!!!! for uploading this "rtd1!" man straight remenicing on the belmont yard ....early 90s i used to go fuck around there with ma'homie "kino" KBc" i used to write "seren"one"....dope!!!!!!!!!!!

[@CajonDS]

They're not trams, their "streetcars" and "interurbans"

[@theblackbelle]

You're talking about MacArthur Park :)

[@zehnsechz]

awesome

[@harmonylara9813]

If anyone likes the Red Hot Chili Peppers and knows their song Under the Bridge this is the location that he is singing about in the song. I used to hang out down there when I was young and never really knew what it was until now. I always thought that it was an abandoned police station or something. I didn't even know there was a subway system years ago. So interesting.

[@CrazyCousins32]

I'v seen it in LA Noire.

[@kyledrywallpuncherpro135]

Take it to a friendly place, that's all....Marcellus ain't got no partners in the 818!

[@JayProe1]

Enable the embeding for me please. I want to post this somewhere where it will get a million views.

[@BeautifulLasers12345]

under the bridge downtown... is where I drew some blood

[@jrferrier]

hey man got those pictures of belmont tunnel yard...what's your email????

[@FULOKSB1]

can u send me them old pics u got of the graff to my email plz??

[@3platestommy]

I ok Ted a picture on here in watercolor ide love to show you I’m dsae one on Instagram

[@lon3wolf178]

the graffiti looks beautiful... those are not gangs those are artists

[@jrferrier]

what's your email?

[@shootfirst2097]

The graffiti just shows to what depths L.A. was destroyed by savage 3rd-worlder phil. The

[@donberg01]

Sand blast all that graffiti the Olympics are coming to LA, don't want the world to think how scummy LA is!

[@jctrekkers]

Dude, where've you been? That's history. The tunnel and substation are all scrubbed clean and closed off to the general public behind the walls of the elite, multi-million dollar Belmont Station Apartments.

[@arroyoramiro1091]

ws c.a.r x111

[@rextony22]

graffiti is ugly and should be banned

[@jonmacdonald5345]

rextony22 That is Exactly what they said about your mother!

[@adventureswithmikeandfrien1653]

What he said

[@PUBNave]

I agree with RexTony. Art shouldn't be forced down the public's eye. It looks like garbage that needs to be cleaned up.