"Can I have my Hobart Tower well done, please?" The local transients of Los Angeles were happy to abided this order, unfortunately, as seen in blacked-interior and blown out windows of the once proud Hobart Tower that caught fire on April 12, 2019. The 1927-built structure, 92-years-old this year, was placed to protect the crossing of Santa Fe Railway and Union Pacific at the diamond located here. While it was physically built by the LA&SL, the ATSF payed 50% of the cost and therefore owned 50% of the tower. The cost of operation and maintenance was shared, with the UP actually doing all the physical maintenance and operation of the tower. Despite the ATSF pitching in for the cost...more often than not the railroad's trains might find themselves waiting a little longer than those painted yellow.
