On this day on September 7, 1963, ‘The Balboa Island Punting and Sculling Society’ (a group of ‘millionaire’s and bums’), made the world’s first and only “train trip” to Catalina Island. They left Long Beach Harbor on a barge — pulled by a tug boat, and arrived in Avalon that afternoon. Consisting of one 1914 Parlor Car with 72 passengers, the jaunt was concocted by 33 writers, artists and fun-lovers that made up the Society.
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