Of course, the last post was tongue-in-cheek: as environmentalists we have no enthusiasm about millions of cars releasing emissions into the air, although we have to say that the L.A. atmosphere is a lot cleaner today than it used to be a few decades ago thanks to California’s tough vehicle emissions standards, which NZ has yet to match.

The L.A. Metro system now offers electric railways around much of the region and their coverage is being steadily extended: in a couple of weeks the latest extension — of the Expo line as far as Santa Monica beach — opens, and there are more projects underway.

The passengers tend to be (shall we say) an idiosyncratic ethnic lot, particularly on trains that go through South Central, but it’s so cheap that you shrug that off.  A one way ticket from anywhere to anywhere is just $1.75 or you can get a day pass for $7 and a week is just $25.

The passenger carriages are what is called light rail: tighter dimensions than with heavy rail which includes the seating, which is unfortunate particularly in America as people are often large.

at the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station – in the heart of da hood!

The Union Station is a focus for a lot of public transport services and this is one of our favourite buildings in the city, built just before World War 2 in Spanish Revival style and is a pleasant place to visit.

two of the courtyard gardens

passengers are welcome to play this piano

part of a large fish tank in the station

Where the Harbor Freeway meets I-105 in Los Angeles — this should appeal to those who share Steven Joyce’s enthusiasm for motorways like Otaki MP Nathan Guy.

A picture of what it looks like from the air is here, but being right in the heart of it is more exciting!

We noticed a row of pohutukawa shrubs in the El Segundo Plaza shopping center in Los Angeles (which is on Sepulveda Boulevard).   There are a lot of welded metal sculpture artworks around the area too, presumably paid for by the mall owners.

In fact not only in private strip malls, here is a sculpture at a station on the L.A. Metro Green Line of a hand holding a paper dart – presumably paid for by the city.

We’ve noticed this on the Destination Waikanae Facebook page — we know nothing about it, or who is behind it, although we have a good idea.

In fact, while a town centre makeover can’t be neglected, we see a reservoir on the Waikanae River and an underpass to replace the Elizabeth Street level crossing as more important.

The overnight train is seen on the railway overbridge above SH1, just south of the Waikanae River.  Look how clean the bridge was then!

A pic from the Goodmans Contractors website which are based in Waikanae just on the east side of the railway line close to the river.  This was obviously taken some decades ago, as there are no sidings for goods traffic at Waikanae now. That pale blue building was probably a shed for goods traffic.

Goodmans has, needless to say, been a major beneficiary of the Expressway works.