McKeen cars, or “submarine cars,” were a distinct feature of the La Jolla Pacific Beach Railway. The gasoline-powered cars were designed by William R. McKeen, superintendent of the motive power of the Union Pacific Railroad, and the earlier models were built by the Union Pacific in their Omaha shops. As more orders for the cars came, McKeen resigned and formed the McKeen Motor Car company.
The Los Angeles & San Diego Beach Railway purchased two of these cars from Omaha. They were 55 feet in length, seating 54 passengers and were powered by a 200-horsepower distillate, six-cylinder engine. The cars were streamlined with a pointed front end, round “port hole” windows and a center entrance door for passengers.
Because of the shape and color they were soon nicknamed “submarines” or “red devils”. All McKeen cars were powered on one axle only, which restricted tractive effort and limited them to pulling one trailer. The engine was mounted on the power truck and drove the 42-inch driving wheels by means of a drive-chain, a two-speed gear box and an air operated clutch. They would average about three miles to a gallon of fuel.
The first cars were lighted by acetylene, but were later equipped with electric lights and batteries charged from a chain-driven generator fastened to the engine frame.
For more history of the La Jolla Pacific Beach Railway, visit the San Diego History Center.
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