PE 418 and 498 are both in Carhouse 4 at the Orange Empire Railway Museum. Called Blimps because of their size (steam RR passenger car size), these interurbans started their lives in commuter service for the Southern Pacific in the East Bay (Oakland, Berkeley, etc.) and ran across the Bay Bridge when it opened. At the start of WWII they were shipped to Southern California. 418 is a coach and 498 is a combine. 418 for example was built in 1913 by the Pullman Car Co. For a picture of 498's baggage end see this OERM page http://www.oerm.org/pages/pe498.html |