Discover the History of the Seal Beach Red Car Museum

The Seal Beach Red Car Museum is located aboard Car No. 1734, a restored Pacific Electric Railway car on the corner of Main and Electric. The museum is a rare and unique glimpse into the mass transit system that once served Southern California using streetcars. This red car on display in Seal Beach is not a passenger car; it’s a tower car used to service and repair the overhead electrical lines.

Henry Huntington’s Pacific Electric Railway

At its peak, the Pacific Electric Railway was a grand and awe-inspiring sight with over 1000 miles of trolley lines and 2700 scheduled trains daily in the Los Angeles area. The railway served Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County, allowing passengers to board a red car trolley in Los Angeles and travel to the Balboa Pavilion for a fun day at the beach.

Pacific Electric Railway “Big Red Cars”

The Newport-Balboa Line was the first Pacific Electric line in Orange County. It ran down the coast from Long Beach to Newport Beach. The Big Red Cars stopped at Seal Beach, Anaheim Landing, Sunset Beach, Huntington Beach, and Newport Beach, with the final stop at the Balboa Pavilion. As roadways improved, ridership declined. On June 9, 1940, rail passenger service between Newport Beach and Balboa was discontinued. The PE continued to reduce service on the Newport-Balboa Line, with the last passenger run occurring in 1950.

Seal Beach Greenbelt

The Seal Beach, California Greenbelt is a scenic stretch of green space that runs through Old Town Seal Beach. This area is not just an ordinary park; it is built on the rail right-of-way of the Pacific Electric Railway. Initially, there were proposals to use this space for houses, apartments, and parking lots after the railway right-of-way was abandoned. However, after much discussion, the city decided to develop the Greenbelt with parking areas. One unique feature of the Greenbelt is the Red Car.

Seal Beach Big Red Car

The Seal Beach Red Car is a stationary display with only a few feet of track on the original right-of-way. Unfortunately, visitors cannot enter the car; they can only walk around the exterior. In February 2021, the Seal Beach Lions Club purchased the Pacific Electric Railroad Historic Red Car. Two years later, in 2023, the Red Car was transferred to the care of the Seal Beach Historical Resources Foundation. Plans for the restoration of the Red Car are currently being developed. The museum is a prominent feature of Seal Beach and reminds us of the city’s rich history.

Where Can I Ride a Red Car Trolley

If you would like to ride on a Pacific Electric Railway red car trolley, we recommend visiting the Southern California Railroad Museum in Perris, California. The museum is home to the world’s largest Pacific Electric Railway rolling stock collection, offering a unique look into the region’s railroad history. During weekends, the museum operates restored trolley cars along a two-mile track. If you enjoy trains and are looking for a fun day trip, the Southern California Railway Museum is the perfect destination. Visit Website.

Day Trip To Seal Beach, California

Seal Beach is home to the second-longest wooden pier in the United States. It blends a rustic old surf town and a new upscale cultural community. The main attraction that draws visitors to this seaside town is the beach, with its soft sand, abundant sunshine, and temperate waters, providing the perfect aquatic playground for swimming, surfing, and fishing. All this while enjoying a panoramic view of the majestic Pacific Ocean.

Bolsa Chica Wetlands Huntington Beach

Bolsa Chica is one of the last remaining wetlands in Southern California. Over the past 100 years, the area has been used for hunting, as gun emplacements by the United States military, and as an extensive oil production field. Native Americans inhabited the Bolsa Chica wetlands and surrounding bluffs for several thousand years before these times. The remains of the gun emplacements are still visible today, but during the summer wildflower bloom, they may be covered up.

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