Since Mount Lowe Railway's abandonment in 1936, millions of hikers, mountain bikers, and railfans have followed the long-deserted rail beds to glimpse the scenic grandeur of what was once the "Earth's Grandest Mountain Ride." Now, readers can enjoy local history and fabulous vistas without the effort of a day's hike. Authors Michael A. Patris and Steve Crise serve on the board of the Mount Lowe Preservation Society, which provided most of the images in this book from its archives.

Promotional brochure for the Mount Lowe Railway, one of four versions by George Wharton James, public relations director for the Railway. The booklet begins with background on the origin of the railway, first envisioned by Thaddeus Lowe in 1892 as a way to make the beauty of the San Gabriel mountains and valleys accessible to all. Included is description of each segment of the railway: an electric railway from the terminus near Altadena up to Rubio Canyon; the cable incline railroad from Rubio Canyon to the summit of Echo Mountain, where Lowe built two hotels, The Chalet, and Echo Mountain House; from the hotel, tourists may walk up to the Observatory on a slope above Echo Mountain; the final portion of electric railroad takes visitors from Echo Mountain to Ye Alpine Tavern, a distance of five miles. James describes the beauty of the landscape and views, activities available to the tourist, such as horseback riding, and the health benefits of mountain climbing. The booklet concludes with brief descriptions of other picturesques accessible by Pacific Electric Railway, such as Long Beach, Whittier, San Gabriel Mission, and Monrovia and Baldwin's Ranch.

Tucked away in Southern California's San Gabriel Mountains, the Mount Lowe Railway was an internationally renowned tourist destination, serving nearly four million passengers between 1893 and 1936. Few riders of "The Railway to the Clouds" are around to relate their experiences now, but postcards and photographs remarkably reflect the history of this amazing attraction. Virtually nothing of the once-famous landmark remains on the mountain today, except a few timeworn foundations and part of the original right-of-way, which has become a hiking trail into the Angeles National Forest.