Employee Magazines
The current agency (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority) as well as all its predecessors has issued magazines or newsletters for their employees. The purpose of this review is to summarize them and the library’s holdings.
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority – 1993 to date.
“Metropolitan Transportation Authority NEWS “– April and May 1993. “MTA NEWS” – June 1993 to ? “Metro Family” – May 1996 to April 1998 – “MTA Report” (usually a single sheet) Aug. 5, 1998 to date (name changed to “MTA People” in July 2002 and to “Metro People” on Jan. 1, 2004. (Have also been using an intranet daily bulletin and the “MTA Report” and successor names has printed certain of these releases, which are otherwise found in “archives” on the Metro Internet website. Also issued a newsletter called “CEO Report” from Jan. 31, 1994 to Sept. 25, 1998.)
Southern California Rapid Transit District - 1964 to 1993
The first attempt at an employee appeared in 1966, entitled “Two Bells.” The second try was “RTD Flyer,” which appeared in 1970. The third try, which lasted until the end of SCRTD’s existence, was “RTD Headway,” the first issue of which is dated Dec. 21, 1973. Its last issue was in February 1993.
Los Angeles County Transportation Commission – 1976-1993
Its employee magazine was called “Inside Moves”. Published sporadically.
Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority – 1958-1964
The first issue of LAMTA’s employee magazine, the “Emblem,” is dated August 1958. Its last issue was Aug.-Sept. 1964 (when successor SCRTD took over). There may be some confusion with this agency (LAMTA) and the current agency (LACMTA) so you often will see this referred to as the “first” MTA.
Metropolitan Coach Lines – 1953-1958
Having taken over all passenger operations of Pacific Electric Railway on October 1, 1953, MCL began a bi-monthly employee magazine called “Metro Coach News.” Its first issue was Dec. 1953 and its last issue was Feb. 1958. The library has only scattered issues.
Los Angeles Transit Lines – 1945-1958
Continuing from its predecessor Los Angeles Railway, LATL published “Two Bells” on a monthly basis. The library has bound volumes for 1946, 1948 and 1949. It also has unbound (in volumes) issues of 1945 and 1947, and scattered issues after 1949. By the way, “two bells” was the signal from the conductor to the motorman on streetcars to proceed.
Los Angeles Railway – 1885-1945
The “Two Bells” employee magazine was first published on June 7, 1920 and continued to the sale of LARy to Los Angeles Transit Lines, which continued the same name and frequency. These are in the library in bound volumes, by year from 1920 to 1944 (the last issue under LARy was Dec. 1944).
Pacific Electric Railway – 1902-1965
“Pacific Electric Magazine” was begun in June 10, 1916 as an eight-page monthly and continued until the depths (in this area) of the Great Depression when, between 1932 and 1936 publication ceased. In 1937 it resumed publication, sometimes bi-monthly (six times a year) and sometimes monthly. Its last issue was October 1953 (as of Oct. 1, 1953 all passenger operation was taken over by Metropolitan Coach Lines. From 1953 until it ceased to exist in 1965, activity on the PE was reported in the “Southern Pacific Bulletin,” the employee publication of PE’s parent company. The library only has scattered issues of this publication.
February 2005
Jim Walker