Franklin Avenue

One of Los Angeles' great urban legends revolves around the city's old public transportation system. The area's Red Car and Yellow Car systems were once the envy of the world, and covered hundreds of miles, from Santa Monica to Redlands. But, the theory goes, the auto, oil and tire companies secretly did in the smokeless trolleys to promote the need for -- and sales of -- their products. According to this Sunday's "L.A. Then and Now" column in the L.A. Times, those conspiracy theorists are partially right, but the system was also a victim of changing times. The last street car was retired in 1963; forty years later, L.A. does have a small subway system to speak of. But it doesn't come close to rivaling the expanse of the Red and Yellow cars. Drive around town, and especially the valley, and you'll still find old railroad tracks in some places-- small reminders of a transit system that was a part of L.A. life for sixty years.