Model Railroader – October 2019

52 http://www.ModelRailroader.com

elaborate exposed beam-and-truss ceil-

ing and wrought-iron chandeliers com-

plete with winged dragons.

The East L.A. Station and its motor

coach connections remained in continu-

ous service on the UP’s Salt Lake Route

for 42 years. During that time, many

prestigious UP passenger trains stopped

at the station, including the Los Angeles

Limited, the Challenger, and the Gold

Coast Limited. The station also served

famous streamliners, including the City

of Los Angeles, City of St. Louis, and

City of Las Vegas.

Film buffs may recognize the station

as a featured location in the 1946 movie

The Postman Always Rings Twice.

The beginning of Amtrak operations

in 1971 marked the end of scheduled

passenger service on the UP and the end

of East Los Angeles as a working passen-

ger station. The UP maintained the

building and grounds for other purposes

in the 1970s and 1980s.

Following its merger with the SP in

1996, UP moved its East L.A. offices to

Colton and sold the station and neigh-

boring office building. As of this writing

the station still stands, but it’s boarded

up and derelict. The wrought iron win-

dow grills have been removed.

The station suffered damage from

the 1994 Northridge earthquake and is

now fenced off. Too small for commer-

cial use, the East L.A. Station’s future

is uncertain.

Making the plans

In 1984, when the UP still owned the

station, I contacted the railroad’s public

relations department and obtained per-

mission to photograph the station inte-

rior as well as the original blueprints.

I used this research to produce the draw-

ings on page 51.

In 1941, the railroad extended the

baggage room by 40 feet. My drawings

reflect the structure as it was built in

1929, including the original, smaller bag-

gage room.

Modeling challenges

I think one of the biggest challenges

in modeling the structure will be creat-

ing the symmetrical relief details, such

as that above the doors and windows.

Other buildings by Gilbert

Stanley Underwood

In addition to 19 other depots

built for the Union Pacific RR

between 1924 and 1930, architect

Gilbert Stanley Sullivan designed

several other famous structures

listed below. Each structure name is

followed by its location and year

built. – Bruce Briggs

Old Faithful Lodge, Yellowstone

National Park – 1923

Bryce Canyon Lodge, Bryce Canyon

National Park – 1925

The Ahwahnee Lodge, Yellowstone

National Park – 1926

Union Station, Omaha, Neb. – 1931

U.S. Post Office, Terminal Annex,

Los Angeles – 1940

U.S. State Department (renamed

the Harry S. Truman Building in

2000), Washington, D.C. – 1940

U.S. Federal Courthouse, Los

Angeles – 1940

U.S. Mint, San Francisco – 1947

Another view from the 1970s shows the covered outdoor waiting area on the east side of the station. When the station was

still in use, there would have been long benches under the portico. Bruce Briggs photo