One of Manley Oil Company's jack-line oilfields was located on a hillside north of downtown Los Angeles and just west of Chinatown. When I took these photos in June 1970, the jack-line oil wells were still in operation, pumping crude oil as they had for decades. Los Angeles city hall appears in the background of the first two pictures showing just how close to downtown this obsolescent operation was.

The powerhouse for this operation is the building on the hill to the right of the picture. The jack-line cable from the power house to the well in the distance can be clearly seen. The collected oil was taken away by trucks which loaded from the pipe just to the left of the well. The jack-line that comes from the left side of the power house crossed a public street to reach its well, so it is suspended from a second cable by ropes to keep it from sagging.

This is a close-up of another well in this oilfield. This one was located to the north of the power house at the end of the "catenary" jack-line. This little operation was located in a residential neighborhood which included the modest home in the background. For additional pictures of the Manley oilfield, see Bruce's photos on his California Oil Fields in Color page.

At Burbank, a GP20 and a GP9 provide the power for this Coast Line, Local, heading eastbound towards Taylor Yard. Also seen in the picture is the Burbank Blvd. overpass where in the background the Junction Tower was. Left side of the picture is Burbank Branches south leg of the wye connected with a short siding to the north leg of the wye. This was used as a runaround for the branch line engine.(1971)

The Saugus Local #3405, GP9 diesel, speeds past the Glendale Depot freight dock heading west for the afternoon and eveings work.

The 3405 has passed Burbank Junction and on the Valley Line just crossing the Buena Vista Street road crossing. The Sun Valley siding is another mile down the line where the local will drop off its empty ballast hopper cars to be set out at the gravel pit there. Go to see operations at the Con-Rock Sand & Gravel Pit.

Further west at San Fernando more switching is done before nightfall with the #3405, at the time (July 1972), was one of the last Black Widow painted diesels left on the system.

Back at Glendale we see another Espee Coast Route westbound that was typical of the early 1970's power . A GP20, #4052 leading the pack with a U-25, GP9, GP35 and U-25 in order.

At Burbank, an SD45, #8947, leads three GE diesels on this westbound sugar beet train heading towards the Coast Line, May,1976.

A New SD45T-2, #9262 with a reefer block makes a stop on its westbound journey on the Coast Line at Van Nuys, March 1973.