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This postcard was carefully researched to bring its rich historical value to life. Securely package for safe arrival- that?s why MotherMaritime stands out above the others the trusted authority for specialized collectors and enthusiasts.
Before Los Angeles belonged to the automobile, visitors could step from an electric railway into an open cable car and climb the San Gabriel Mountains at a grade reaching approximately 62 percent.
This original circa 1902–1907 undivided-back postcard captures the most dramatic stage of the Mount Lowe journey: the Great Cable Incline rising nearly 1,325 vertical feet from Rubio Canyon toward Echo Mountain.
Original antique postcard showing the Great Cable Incline of the Mount Lowe Railway above Rubio Canyon near Altadena, California. A striking Pacific Electric-era view of tiered cable cars climbing toward Echo Mountain, with passengers gathered beside the incline for scale.
Highlights
* Original period postcard, not a modern reproduction
* Great Cable Incline, Mount Lowe Railway
* Pacific Electric Railway, Mount Lowe Division
* Rubio Canyon near Altadena, California
* Unposted, undivided address-only back
* Publisher: M. Rieder, Los Angeles and Dresden
* Card No. 6012; front image No. 984
* Estimated date: circa 1902–1907
* Single postcard
Historical Context
The Mount Lowe Railway carried visitors from the Pacific Electric line at Rubio Canyon up the steep mountainside to Echo Mountain. The tiered cable cars and passengers shown here convey the dramatic scale of the incline.
The Great Cable Incline extended approximately 3,000 feet and climbed about 1,325 vertical feet, reaching a maximum grade of approximately 62 percent. Echo Mountain, approximately 3,500 feet above sea level, served as a gateway to mountain hotels, trails, an observatory and the Alpine Tavern.
Opened in 1893, the Mount Lowe Railway became part of the Pacific Electric system in 1902. The incline made its final run in December 1937, with severe flooding damaging the abandoned railway the following year.
Identifying Details
* Subject: Great Cable Incline, Mount Lowe Railway
* Railroad: Pacific Electric Railway
* Division: Mount Lowe Division
* Location: Rubio Canyon near Altadena, California
* Destination: Echo Mountain
* Type: Mechanically printed photographic postcard
* Back: Undivided, address-only
* Postal status: Unposted
* Written: No
Ideal for collectors of:
* Railroad and Pacific Electric postcards
* Mount Lowe Railway and Echo Mountain history
* California and Los Angeles transportation memorabilia
* Altadena, Rubio Canyon and California tourism
* Mountain railways, engineering and scenic landscapes
Condition
Very good antique condition with a strong, detailed image.
* No stamp, cancellation or written message
* No major tear or heavy crease visible
Please examine all photographs carefully. They show the actual postcard and form part of the condition description.
Shipping
Ships protected in a postcard sleeve inside a rigid mailer.
