1st Anniversary of Waterfront Red Car Line Features Free Rides and Visiting Historic Red Car.

SAN PEDRO, Calif. -- It is a reunion sure to be remembered. The Port of Los Angeles' historic Pacific Electric (PE) Red Car 1058 will reunite with her sister, PE Red Car 332, in commemoration of the first anniversary of the Waterfront Red Car Line. As part of the celebration on July 17 and 18, the Port will offer free rides on all of its Red Cars, including visiting Car 332, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Both Red Cars hold momentous movie star status. After her retirement in 1940, Car 332 was owned by MGM Studios and featured in major motion pictures, such as "Singin' in the Rain" in 1952. Years after the Red Car system was discontinued in 1961, Car 1058 was featured in the movie "Bound for Glory" in 1976 and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" in 1988.

An encounter of Hollywood proportions, Car 332 will be transported to San Pedro from her current home at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, Calif., and remain at the Port for the entire weekend.

The Orange Empire Railway Museum will have a display at the maintenance facility at 22nd and Miner Streets -- where riders will board Car 332 -- with information about Pacific Electric's history and its own famous collection of original Red Cars.

Although she is now painted white and green, Car 332's coloring once matched the well-recognized "Pacific Electric Red." The smaller, single-truck Birney-type car was used on PE's local streetcar lines in San Pedro in the 1920s-30s. Car 332 is a nostalgic complement to the Waterfront Red Car Line, with similar "open air" style windows and "walkover" seats for all to enjoy.

July 19, 2003, marked the inauguration of the Port's Waterfront Red Car Line -- the first time in 42 years that Red Cars have operated in Los Angeles. For more information about the first anniversary event, call the Port of Los Angeles Red Car Information Line at 310-732-3473 or visit the Port's website at www.portoflosangeles.org.