The Mount Lowe Preservation Society was bequeathed the Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society collection by its founder Jack Finn upon his passing some years ago.

In 2009, the Society funded the development of an online image archive based on the PERyHS collection as assembled by Jack Finn, and began to solicit additional contributions from the PE and LARy historical community.

Since that time, PERyHS.org / PacificElectric.org has grown to become the leading online image repository for Pacific Electric and Los Angeles Railway (and its corporate descendants).

With steadily growing traffic and a wealth of knowledgeable contributors and commenters, PERyHS.org continues its rapid growth phase well into its third year.

Click the Donate button to make a donation via PayPal to the Mount Lowe Preservation Society Inc. and support our ongoing endeavors researching, documenting and sharing information about the Mount Lowe Railway, Pacific Electric, Los Angeles Railway, and publishing through Golden West Books.

From the site’s about page:

Formed in 1999, the Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society was founded by Jack Finn (here in 1979 at Orange Empire Railway Museum, Perris, California), Walter Abbenseth, Craig Rasmussen and Jed Hughes. Eventually Jeffery Moreau and Michael Patris were added to the board.

Sadly, in July of 2006, Jack Finn passed away following a prolonged illness. According to long time friend Alan Weeks, Jack lived very close to the Pacific Electric Railway Glendale Line and it is here where his love of the system began. Also, according to Weeks, they both operated rail cars at the Orange Empire Railway Museum (OERM) for many years. Alan was badge #54 and Jack was badge #74.

Jack Finn conducted several interviews of many people who rode on or worked for the Pacific Electric Railway and published eight monographs which contained these interviews and images to enhance the text. Eventually, we would like to reprint those monographs and make them available via this website. Please see our monograph page.

Also, according to Alan Weeks, speaking of Jack, “His research and knowledge of the P.E. was quite extraordinary in my opinion. He was a stickler for accuracy. But, in the long run, I will remember Jack for being the kind and caring person who looked after many ill people who had no one else to help them. He did this quietly and without fanfare.”

Upon Jack’s passing, the archives of the Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society were bequeathed to the Mount Lowe Preservation Society, Inc. The goal has been to expand the MLPSI archives to include the PERYHS collection and further enhance the sharing of history, images, text and artifacts of these operations. Also, to further make available the monographs already produced as well as assemble from notes and tapes the monographs that were in the works at the time of Jack’s passing.

Here is the original Mission Statement for the PERYHS:

The Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society (PERYHS) is a non-profit association dedicated to the preservation of the memory of the Pacific Electric Railway. The goals of the PERYHS are: to preserve and maintain historical documents, visual images, oral histories, and historical studies; to make these materials available to the general public via publications (monographs), presentations and displays to non-profit groups and organizations and to assist other non-profit organizations in their efforts to preserve the legacy of the Pacific Electric Railway.

Our goal is to keep Jack Finn’s dream alive and continue his work for all to enjoy. The Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society will operate under the 501 (c) 3 non-profit educational foundation of the Mount Lowe Preservation Society, Inc.

Michael Patris
President, MLPSI

We welcome your inquiry regarding the Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society. Please complete the form below and we will reply as soon as possible.

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