>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

>> WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LANDMARKS IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, MOST OF US THINK OF THESE GRAND STRUCTURES, THESE BUILDINGS THAT ARE SO MUCH A PART OF OUR HISTORY.

BUILDINGS LIKE THE CENTRAL LIBRARY, DOWNTOWN.

THE LOS ANGELES CITY HALL, UNION STATION, THESE GREAT BUILDINGS THAT REALLY MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS A CITY.

WELL, TODAY WE'RE IN FOR A REAL TREAT, BECAUSE WE'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF A BUILDING THAT IS A LANDMARK, ALTHOUGH MOST PEOPLE -- I DON'T THINK MOST OF US EVEN KNOW THIS BUILDING EXISTS, MUCH LESS THINK OF IT AS A LANDMARK, BUT IT IS!

WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO INSIDE AND FIND OUT WHY IT IS, AND TO GO ON THIS LITTLE ADVENTURE WITH US, PETE, YOU'RE FROM THE LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY, AND LET'S GET IT RIGHT OFF THE TOP HERE, THIS IS IS A LANDMARK ISN'T IT?

>> INDEED IT IS A LANDMARK, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, COMPLETELY RESTORED AND ORIGINAL BUILDING FROM 1933 IN THE ART DECO STYLE WITH AN AMAZING SURPRISE INSIDE.

>> WELL, NOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT OUT HERE, IT IS THAT DECO -- IT DOES HAVE THAT ART DECO LOOK TO IT.

>> IT DOES, YOU CAN TELL MAINLY BY THE VERTICALITY OF IT, THE WAY THAT THESE STYLIZED FOUNTAINS ADORN THE FACADE OF THE BUILDING.

THESE ARE THE THINGS RIGHT HERE IN FRONT UP ON THE TOP.

PETE>> YES.

AND JUST THE LETTERING THAT USED AND THESE VERTICAL LINES, THIS IS ALL VERY MUCH AN ART DECO STYLE, THE WAY IT'S STEPPED BACK LIKE THIS, AND EVEN THE COLOR SCHEME IS VERY MUCH OF THE PERIOD.

HUELL>> THIS IS ORIGINAL COLOR SCHEME?

PETE>> WELL, YOU CAN ASK JIM ABOUT THAT.

HUELL>> JIM, YOU'RE THE SUPERINTENDENT HERE.

YOUR LAST NAME AGAIN?

>> SIEGERT.

>> OKAY, NOW YOU WORK -- YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF THIS BUILDING HERE.

>> YES, SIR, I'M THE POWER PLANT SUPERINTENDENT.

>> IT WAS BUILT IN -- >> 1933.

>> AND THERE'S A LOT OF NEAT STUFF INSIDE.

>> YEAH.

I THINK YOU'RE AUDIENCE IS GOING TO BE REAL HAPPY AND SEE WHAT WE GOT TO SHOW THEM >> I HAVE REFRAINED FROM GOING INSIDE SO FAR BECAUSE I REALLY DO WANT TO BE SURPRISED.

I'M TRUSTING YOU THAT THERE'S A BIG PAY-OFF INSIDE.

>> YOU'LL ALL BE SATISFIED.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO INSIDE AND LOOK AT THIS LANDMARK BUILDING HERE IN THE CITY OF VERNON, HERE IN LOS ANGELES.

IT IS TRULY A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING ON THE OUTSIDE.

HERE WE GO.

LOOK AT THIS.

OH WOW.

I'M NOT DISAPPOINTED.

THIS IS -- WELL, YOU KNOW I LIKE OLD THINGS.

AND THIS IS WONDERFUL.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT AN OPERATING MUSEUM.

THESE DIESELS ARE STILL ON STAND-BY ON A DAILY BASIS.

THEY WERE BUILT IN 1933, AND WE STILL USE THEM WHENEVER THE PEAK LOAD IN THE CITY GETS HIGH ENOUGH FOR US TO HAVE TO FIRE THEM UP.

>> SO THESE HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE JUST LIKE THIS SINCE 1933?

>> SINCE 1933.

THEY WERE ONLY OPERATED FULL-TIME FOR THE FIRST 5 YEARS, AND THEN THEY'VE BEEN IN A STAND-BY MODE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS THEREAFTER, AND THEN ACTUALLY IN A MOTHBALL CONDITION FOR ALMOST 30, BEFORE WE BROUGHT THEM BACK OUT OF MOTHBALLS, AND PUT THEM -- AND REBUILT THE ENGINES AND PUT THEM BACK IN SERVICE IN 1980.

>> WOW.

NOW WHAT MAKES THIS, LOOK AT THIS LUIS, THIS IS, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY, BOY YOU KIND OF HEAR -- IS THIS, WHAT IS THIS HUM WE'RE HEARING?

>> THIS IS AN OPERATING FACILITY, SO WHAT YOU'RE LISTENING TO IS THE POWER THAT IS GOING THROUGH THE CITY, COMES INTO THIS STRUCTURE.

AND IS DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE CITY THROUGH OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

>> ARE THESE, ARE THESE FURNACES HERE?

>> NO, THIS IS A DIESEL ENGINE.

THIS ONE UNIT IS ONE DIESEL ENGINE AND THOSE ARE CYLINDERS, AND THESE ARE THE COOLING LINES GOING INTO EACH PISTON TO COOL EACH PISTON OF THIS HUGE DIESEL ENGINE.

>> AND LOOK AT THIS DOWN HERE!

>> THIS ENGINE NO.

1, THIS IS THE ORIGINAL CONTROL BOARD HERE.

IT'S THE ORIGINAL -- EVERYTHING IS ORIGINAL AND LIKE I SAID, WE DO OPERATE FROM THIS CONTROL PANEL AND THIS IS THE WAY THESE ENGINES ARE OPERATED WHENEVER WE NEED THEM.

>> LOOK AT THIS!

THIS IS -- YOU GOT IT ALL SHINED UP!

>> OH, YEAH.

WELL, WE RECENTLY HAD A TOUR -- THE CONSERVANCY HAD A TOUR, AND WE HAD ALMOST 1,000 PEOPLE COME THROUGH ON THE TOUR.

AND THEY WERE JUST AWE-STRUCK, AND IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS IN OUR LIVES TO LET THE OUTSIDE PEOPLE SEE WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.

>> THAT GETS TO THE CONSERVANCY.

YOU DID HAVE A SELL-OUT TOUR OF THIS FACILITY AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES AROUND L.A. >> IT WAS AMAZING.

WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE GOING TO TURN OUT FOR AN INDUSTRIAL TOUR, AND WHEN WE STARTED FIRST PUBLICIZING THIS, THE PHONES WERE RINGING OFF THE HOOK.

>> I MEAN IT WAS A COMPLETE SELLOUT.

WE COULD HAVE SOLD TWICE AS MANY TICKETS AND IT'S FUNNY, BECAUSE THIS PRETTY MUCH WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE TOUR.

WHEN I FIRST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS BUILDING, WHICH WAS JUST OFF-HAND, SOMEONE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY SHOULD SEE THEN INTERIOR OF LIGHT AND POWER, AND I JUST WALKED IN AND I WAS LIKE OH, MY GOD, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, IT'S ALL ORIGINAL.

>> NOW IS THAT WHAT MAKES THIS A LANDMARK?

LOOK AT THIS, LUIS.

EACH ONE OF THESE -- WHAT DO YOU CALL THESE, TURBINES?

>> DIESEL.

>> DIESEL.

THESE ARE HAMILTON 8,000-HORSEPOWER DIESEL ENGINES.

>> EACH ONE OF THEM HAS ITS OWN -- HAS ITS OWN CONTROL BOARD.

COME ON DOWN HERE, LUIS, AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

>> YEP.

EACH ONE HAS ITS OWN CONTROL PANEL, SOME OF THE INTERESTING DEALS, THE ROUND KNOB YOU'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT THERE ON THE TOP, THAT'S AN OLD HENCHULL, JUST LIKE IN THE OLD SHIPS.

WE TALK BACK AND FORTH FROM THE ENGINE ROOM TO THE CONTROL ROOM BY HORN AND HENCHULL, TO ACTUALLY COMMUNICATE WHEN THE DIESELS ARE READY TO BE PUT ON LINE AND SHUT DOWN AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

HUELL>> NOW ARE THESE RUNNING NOW OR -- >> OH, NO, IT'S -- IT'S EAR DEAFENING HERE WHEN WE RUN THEM.

MATTER OF FACT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO US START ONE FOR YOU?

>> WELL, YEAH, IF YOU CAN.

>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE, WE HAVE -- LIKE I SAID THEY'RE ALWAYS ON STAND-BY, READY TO GO, AND IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND FIRE ONE UP FOR YOU.

>> WHAT'S THAT GOING TO SOUND LIKE?

>> VERY LOUD.

YOU AND I BETTER GET DONE WITH OUR DIALOG NOW BEFORE WE RUN A DIESEL, YES.

>> HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE TO GET ONE GOING?

>> WE CAN PUT A DIESEL ON IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES FROM TOTAL STOP TO START.

>> SO CAN WE START IT UP NOW, AND SEE?

>> SURE.

DO YOU WANNA WATCH THE GUYS?

THEY'LL GO AHEAD AND PREPARE AN ENGINE AND GET IT FIRED UP.

HUELL>> YEAH, YEAH, WHICH ONE?

JIM>> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO NO.1 ENGINE.

HUELL>> ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, HERE COME THE FELLOWS.

NOW WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?

JIM>> OKAY HUELL, YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THESE ARE ORIGINAL, 1933 DIESELS, SO EVERYTHING IS STILL DONE BY HAND.

THE MEN ARE GOING HAVE TO GIVE IT A PRELUBE BEFORE WE CAN ACTUALLY START IT.

HUELL>> A PRELUBE.

JIM>> THEY HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND EXTERNALLY LUBE SOME OF THE OPERATING PARTS OF THE -- OF THE DIESEL, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS IS THE INJECTION SYSTEM, THEY'RE GOING PRELUBE IT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE START IT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T HAVE PROPER OIL.

NOW ONCE THE ENGINE IS UP AND RUNNING, IT WILL PRETTY MUCH OIL ITSELF, AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS BUT ABOUT ONCE AN HOUR.

HUELL>> YEAH.

THESE THINGS, REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT OF TENDER LOVING CARE.

JIM>> THEY'RE PRETTY LABOR INTENSIVE BECAUSE THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE KIND OF LOVES OUR LIFE, AND THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY STAY THAT WAY.

HUELL>> THERE ARE NO ELECTRONIC CHIPS ANYWHERE AROUND THIS.

JIM>> NOT AT ALL, WE'RE LOOKING AT NUTS, BOLTS, AND MECHANICS AND THAT IS IT.

HUELL>> YOU'RE TURNING SOMETHING ON, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

>> THAT'S THE ALARM.

>> RIGHT HERE.

>> YES, SIR.

NOW WE'RE GOING START THE SCAVENGER BLOWER.

>> SCAVENGER BLOWER ON.

>> ENGINE WATER PUMP.

ALL YOUR WATER VALVES.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

>> NOW WE TURN ON THE MAIN FUEL.

>> NOW WHAT KIND OF FUEL IS GOING IN THERE?

>> D-2.

DIESEL FUEL.

>> BOY, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER PEOPLE AT HOME CAN HEAR IT, BUT YOU CAN JUST FEEL THIS PLACE KINDA -- >> THE HUMS ARE STARTING TO COME UP.

THIS SCAVENGING BLOWER THAT HE STARTED, THAT'S A 600-HORSEPOWER ELECTRIC-DRIVEN BLOWER WHICH IS GOING TO GET VERY LOUD HERE SHORTLY, ONCE IT GETS UP TO SPEED.

THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE LONGEST THINGS.

IT TAKES ABOUT 2 1/2 MINUTES FOR THAT HUGE BLOWER TO GET UP TO FULL SPEED.

>> NOW DO YOU ALL HAVE TO WEAR EAR PLUGS IN HERE?

>> YEAH WE DO.

THEY'RE SITTING RIGHT HERE.

>> OH, DO WE GET ANY?

>> WELL, THE NOISE LEVEL WE HAVE HERE DOES ALLOW YOU LEGALLY, YOU COULD BE IN HERE FOR AN HOUR OR WITHOUT THEM, SO.

IF YOU WANT THEIR TRUE EFFECT, LET'S NOT WEAR THE EAR PLUGS.

>> SO, LUIS AND I ARE GOING GET THE TRUE EFFECT, WE DON'T HAVE EAR PLUGS.

YOU ALL DO.

NOW WHAT'S HAPPENING?

>> WE'RE GOING TO SIGNAL THE CONTROL CENTER, LET THEM KNOW THAT WE'RE READY TO START.

>> OKAY.

[ HORN BLOWS ] >> WHAT'S THAT?

>> IT'S AN OLD LOCOMOTIVE HORN.

>> A LOCOMOTIVE HORN!

>> YES, SIR.

WELL IT GETS SO LOUD IN HERE WHEN ALL THE DIESELS ARE RUNNING, UNLESS WE HAVE IS A VERY LOUD HORN TO HEAR WHEN SOMEBODY WANTS TO COMMUNICATE YOU'D NEVER HEAR IT.

>> SO, THE HORN LETS THEM KNOW THAT -- >> WE'RE READY TO GO.

>> WE'RE READY -- BOY, YOU CAN HEAR IT.

>> THE BLOWER IS NOW STARTING TO COME UP TO SPEED.

AND YOU CAN HEAR THE POWER AS IT COMES.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A LOCOMOTIVE COMING DOWN THE TRACK!

>> YEP.

>> WHERE'S THAT NOISE COMING FROM?

>> IT'S INSIDE THIS ROOM.

SEE THE LARGE PIPES COMING IN?

THAT'S WHERE THE AIR COMES INTO THE ENGINE, FROM THAT LARGE BLOWER.

ALL RIGHT.

THEY'RE READY TO GIVE HER A START.

>> YOU MEAN IT'S NOT STARTED YET?

> NO, WE JUST GOT THE AXILLARIES GOING.

NOW THE DIESEL'S GETTING READY TO START.

THIS GENTLEMAN WILL ACTUALLY BE THE STARTER OF THE ENGINE.

>> OKAY.

YOU STARTING IT?

>> YES.

THIS IS THE STARTING AIR VALVE.

>> LOOK AT THIS, LUIS.

YOU JUST PULL THIS LEVER DOWN?

>> YES.

IT SHOOTS AIR INTO THE CYLINDER, AND THEN AFTER THE R.P.M.S GET UP HIGH ENOUGH, THE FUEL INJECTORS TAKE OVER.

HERE WE GO.

>> OH, MY GOSH!

OH, MY GOSH!

>> IT'S BEAUTIFUL, ISN'T IT?

WE GET TO DO THIS ALMOST EVERY DAY!

>> NOW IS IT FULLY CHARGED?

>> NO, IT'S ABOUT HALFWAY UP.

IT'S GOING TO GO THROUGH CRITICAL ABOUT 9O R.P.M.S >> AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING OVER HERE?

>> I'M GOING SHUT DOWN THE LUBE OIL PUMP ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

AS IT GOES THROUGH CRITICAL.

>> GET READY, HUELL.

WE'RE ABOUT READY TO GO THROUGH CRITICAL, THE WHOLE BUILDING'S GOING TO SHAKE WHEN THIS ENGINE COMES UP TO SPEED.

>> WHERE DO WE STAND TO GET THAT?

>> RIGHT THERE, YOU'RE ABOUT READY TO FEEL IT.

>> LOOK AT IT, LUIS.

>> HERE WE GO, AT ABOUT 100 R.P.M.

THE ENGINE GOES THROUGH A CRITICAL, HERE WE GO!

RIGHT ABOUT NOW!

[ LOUD POP ] >> THERE YOU GO, IT JUST WENT THROUGH CRITICAL, AND NOW IT'S COMING UP TO AN IDLING SPEED.

>> OH, MY GOSH!

>> THAT ONE LOUD POP YOU HEARD IS A RELIEF VALVE.

WHEN YOU'RE TRYING BRING IT UP, THE ENGINE'S SO SLOW THAT IF YOU DON'T -- IF YOU GIFT IT JUST A LITTLE TOO MUCH FUEL YOU'LL START RELIEVING RELIEF VALVES.

>> WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE IN HERE WHEN ALL 5 OF THEM ARE GOING?

>> IT'S TOTALLY EAR DEAFENING.

I MEAN THAT'S -- WE DO DEFINITELY HAVE TO HAVE VERY GOOD EAR PROTECTION DURING -- WHEN ALL THE DIESELS ARE ON.

>> WE JUST GOT ONE GOING NOW.

>> 1 OUT OF 5.

>> NOW I'M CLOSING THE STARTING AIR VALVE AND I'M GOING TO GO AROUND AND CHECK THE NONOPERATING SIDE OF THE UNIT.

>> WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

>> WE'RE LOOKING FOR WATER LEAKS, OIL LEAKS.

OH, LOOK, WHAT'S THIS!

>> THAT'S NORMAL THAT'S -- THAT'S HOW WE HAVE IT SET UP, THE WATER GOES RIGHT DOWN TO THE DRAIN.

>> WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE?

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TEMPERATURE ON YOUR TELESCOPIC TUBES, THERE'S ONE FOR EACH CYLINDER, WE HAVE 8 CYLINDERS HERE.

SO YOU'RE MAINLY CHECKING THE TEMPERATURE AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S NORMAL.

>> LOOK AT THIS WATER COMING OUT, THAT'S NORMAL TOO?

>> YES, SIR, THAT'S NORMAL.

>> TEMPERATURE OKAY.

>> YES, SIR.

>> NOW, DOES THIS THING GET HOT?

>> NOT REALLY, IT WILL AFTER A LONG RUN, BUT FOR A SHORT ONE IT NORMALLY DOESN'T GET THAT HOT.

>> BOY, YOU SHOULD FEEL THIS THING.

THIS WHOLE THING'S VIBRATING, ISN'T IT?

>> YES, WHEN ONE OF THESE IS RUNNING, YOU CAN FEEL THE VIBRATION OUT ON THE STREETS.

>> REALLY!

>> YES.

>> WELL I TELL YOU WHAT, I'M NOT DISAPPOINTED.

>> OKAY.

I KNEW YOU WOULDN'T BE.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 1980 AND NOBODY AROUND EVEN KNEW WE WERE IN HERE DOING THIS.

IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN THE LOVE MY LIFE FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, TO BRING THESE ENGINES OUT OF MOTHBALLS AND THEN THEY WERE REALLY A VERY INSTRUMENTAL THING THROUGH THE -- THROUGH THE LAST 15 YEARS, FOR VERNON TO ACTUALLY BRING THEM INTO THIS CENTURY AND HAVE THE MOST ECONOMICAL POWER IN THE -- IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

>> LOOK AT HIM UP THERE.

HE'S CHECKING IT OUT.

>> HE NOW HAS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT AFTER WE START, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, WE CHECK THAT EVERYTHING'S FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.

ONCE THEY GO AROUND THE WHOLE ENGINE AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, THEY WILL SIGNAL THE CONTROL CENTER TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE BREAKER, WHICH WILL ACTUALLY START GENERATING POWER.

RIGHT NOW THE ENGINE IS JUST LIKE IDLING LIKE IN YOUR CAR, WAITING TO TO WARM UP.

IT'S GETS A LITTLE LOUDER WHEN IT LOADS UP.

>> WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?

>> I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN IT OPERATING AFTER ABOUT 10 TIMES COMING HERE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE GREAT THRILLS OF MY LIFE, AND I'M JUST OVERWHELMED.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

>> NOW YOU DON'T LOOK -- YOU DON'T LOOK THAT EXCITED.

> OH, YEAH, WE ARE.

WE ARE.

>> I MEAN, DOES IT GIVE YOU A GOOD FEELING TO GET THIS THING UP?

>> EVERY TIME SHE STARTS.

WE KNOW SHE'S GOING.

SHE'S GOING TO GO REAL GOOD.

>> THIS IS THE WAY THEY USED TO DO IT BACK IN THE 30'S!

>> YEP, IT IS, IT IS.

>> HASN'T CHANGED A BIT.

>> SAME OPERATIONS.

WE KNOW THEY'RE GOING START.

>> NOW WE'VE COME TO THE VERY TOP OF THE DIESEL, THE VERY TOP OF THIS LARGE DIESEL ENGINE, UP HERE WHERE YOU SEE YOU'VE GOT YOUR CYLINDER HEADS AND YOUR INJECTORS, THIS IS WHERE ALL THE BUSINESS IS TAKING PLACE, WHERE ALL THE FIRING AND -- HUELL>> AND YOU WERE KINDA HOLDING ON, BECAUSE THIS IS SHAKING!

>> SHAKING, YEAH, IT SURE IS, IT'S PRETTY HIGH UP HERE TOO, YOU'RE ABOUT 3 LEVELS UP, 3 STORIES, BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING UP HERE IS WE'RE CHECKING THE WATER TEMPERATURE AGAIN, WE'RE ALSO CHECKING THE FLOW OF THE FUEL THROUGH THESE FUEL LINES RIGHT HERE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE.

HUELL>> OH, WE'LL GET LUIS HERE IN A MINUTE, HOW DO YOU LEARN HOW TO DO ALL THIS, FROM OLD TIMERS?

>> YES.

BASICALLY, A FEW OLD TIMERS FROM EDISON TAUGHT US A LOT OF THE ROPES, AND BASICALLY ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, WE WENT TO THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS A WHILE, BUT AFTER A FEW YEARS WE PRETTY MUCH MASTERED IT, I'D SAY.

HUELL>> WELL I'M GOING GET LUIS TO COME UP HERE IN A MINUTE, LUIS, THIS IS NOT ONLY AMAZING UP HERE, BUT JUST WALKING -- BY THESE THINGS AND WATCHING THEM -- YOU GOT TO COME UP HERE AND SEE THIS, THIS IS WONDERFUL.

>> THESE ARE THE LUBRICATORS FOR EACH CYLINDER.

THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHERE ONE PISTON AND CYLINDER IS.

ONE PISTON WEIGHS 3 1/2 TONS.

IT'S 2 FOOT IN DIAMETER, AND 3 FOOT LONG, AND IT'S RIGHT BEHIND THE WALL HERE FIRING UP AND DOWN AND THESE ARE THE LUBRICATORS THAT ARE FEEDING ALL THAT LUBRICATION TO PROTECT THAT PISTON.

HUELL>> AND WHAT'S HE MONITORING DOWN HERE?

>> ON THESE LUBRICATORS, THEY'RE ADJUSTABLE, AND HE'S ADJUSTED -- SEE THE -- >> LOOK AT THE OIL HERE, LUIS.

THIS IS AMAZING.

LOOK AT IT GOING UP.

>> HE HAS TO COUNT THOSE AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S JUST ENOUGH OIL GOING IN SO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE LUBRICATORS HAS TO BE LOOKED AT ONCE AN HOUR TO MAKE SURE IT'S FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.

>> WOW.

>> OKAY.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW?

>> WELL, IF YOU WANT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PUT POWER TO IT, LOAD IT UP AND START MAKE ELECTRICITY.

THERE GOES THE HORN.

THEY'RE GETTING READY TO CLOSE THE BRAKER AND PUT THIS THING ON LOAD.

RIGHT NOW, WE'VE ONLY BEEN EXPERIENCING AN IDLE.

WAIT TILL YOU FEEL THE POWER COME UP WHEN IT STARTS ACTUALLY PRODUCING ENERGY.

HUELL>> WE'VE BEEN ON IDLE?

>> WE'VE BEEN ON IDLE.

WE'VE LET IT WARM UP A LITTLE BIT AND NOW WE'RE GETTING READY TO ACTUALLY START PRODUCING UP TO 4 1/2 MEGAWATTS OF POWER OUT OF THIS ONE DIESEL.

>> BOY.

YOU CAN REALLY FEEL IT.

>> CAN YOU IMAGINE ALL THESE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 65 YEARS.

THAT JUST STILL AMAZES ME THAT BACK IN 1933 THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT HAS LASTED THIS LONG.

>> OKAY FELLOWS, YOU'VE SHUT IT DOWN, IT'S QUIET IN HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 10 MINUTES.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOUR NAME IS?

>> RICHARD RECANO >> JOE PERERA.

>> DON QUIROZ.

>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THESE ARE THE GUYS WHO BROUGHT IT UP TO SPEED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU KIND OF ENJOYED THAT TOO, DIDN'T YOU?

>> EVERY TIME WE START THEM.

>> DOES IT EVER GET OLD?

>> NEVER.

WE'RE ALWAYS HERE FOR THE STAND-BY, FOR AN EMERGENCY, WHATEVER.

>> YEAH.

>> AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN TOO, ISN'T IT?

>> IT SURE IS.

IT'S GREAT.

>> WELL, IT WAS FUN FOR US, I KNOW IT WAS FUN FOR YOU, WE LOST THIS GUY.

YOU WERE JUST RUNNING AROUND TAKING PICTURES AND GETTING EXCITED.

>> YOU DON'T EXPERIENCE THIS ANYWHERE ANY MORE, I MEAN AN ACTUAL ENGINE, RUNNING LIKE THIS SO YOU'RE FEELING IN YOUR BONES, JUST VIBRATING, IT'S BEAUTIFUL, I LOVE IT.

>> YOU ALL MADE THIS GUY'S DAY, YOU MADE HIS DAY RIGHT HERE.

AND, COME ON, WE'VE STILL GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE TO SEE.

AND AS WE WALK INTO THE -- >> CONTROL CENTER.

>> CONTROL CENTER, WE CAN GET ONE MORE WONDERFUL SHOT OF THIS HUGE FACILITY.

>> YES, IT'S -- WELL, YOU KNOW, IN 1933 THIS WAS THE LARGEST DIESEL POWER PLANT IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> YOU'RE KIDDING!

>> NO, AND THESE WERE ALSO THE LARGEST DIESEL ENGINES EVER BUILT IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1933.

>> THESE DIESELS RIGHT HERE.

>> RIGHT HERE.

THESE WERE THE LARGEST ENGINES EVER BUILT AT THAT TIME, AND THEN WHEN THE POWER PLANT WAS COMMISSIONED IN '33 IT WAS THE LARGEST DIESEL POWER PLANT IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> NOW IS THAT WHY THIS IS A LANDMARK?

>> IT'S A LANDMARK FOR THOSE REASONS, IT'S A LANDMARK BECAUSE IT STILL EXISTS, AND IT'S IN PERFECT RUNNING CONDITION, THAT IT'S A COMPLETE ART DECO "PALACE," IN MY MIND, THAT IS UNPARALLELED ANYWHERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA >> NOW HOW DID THIS A PLACE SURVIVE MODERNIZATION OVER THE YEARS?

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WAS MOTHBALLED, IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE TO TAKE ALL THIS EQUIPMENT OUT AND TEAR THE BUILDING DOWN SO THEY'VE JUST LET IT SIT.

>> WOW.

THAT'S AMAZING IN ITSELF THAT IT SURVIVED.

>> WELL, AND THEN FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND IN THE EARLY '80'S THAT IT PROBABLY COULD BE A ECONOMIC WINDFALL FOR VERNON AGAIN, AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT IT BACK IN SERVICE AND IT'S BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB FOR VERNON EVER SINCE.

>> AND THIS SUPPLIES ELECTRICITY FOR ALL THE INDUSTRIALIZATION THAT GOES ON HERE IN THE CITY OF VERNON?

>> YEAH, WELL WHAT WE USE IT NOW FOR, WE CALL IT "EMERGENCY STAND-BY AND PEAKING."

WE ARE NOW PURCHASING OUR POWER FROM PRETTY MUCH ALL THE WESTERN STATES AND BRINGING IT IN ON TRANSMISSION LINES, BECAUSE WE CAN GET IT CHEAPER, AND WE WANT TO KEEP OUR RATES DOWN FOR THE INDUSTRY OF VERNON.

BUT THIS IS STILL HERE, SO IF ONE OF THOSE POWER LINES GOES DOWN, WHICH JUST HAPPENED LAST WEDNESDAY, WE HAD A POWER LINE GO DOWN, WE HAD TO PUT 2 DIESELS AND 2 TURBINES ON, TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE HERE FOR, FOR RELIABILITY OF THE POWER.

>> BOY, THEY JUST CUT IT OFF, IT'S SO QUIET IN HERE, ALL OF THE SUDDEN, WE'VE BEEN YELLING THE LAST 20 MINUTES.

>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE STAND-BY PIECES OF EQUIPMENT RIGHT THERE.

>> LET'S GO IN BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE IN HERE.

THIS IS ANOTHER WONDERFUL PART OF THE PLACE.

>> JUST BEFORE WE GO IN.

I'LL BRING YOU UP TO SPEED ON ONE THING, THIS FACILITY WAS ACTUALLY OPERATED BY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON, FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS IN THE NAME OF VERNON.

VERNON OWNED IT, BUT LET EDISON OPERATE IT, AND AT THAT TIME THEY HAD MODERNIZED THE CONTROL ROOM.

THEY HAD A DROP CEILING.

WE HAD NO IDEA WHEN WE CAME IN HERE IN THE 80'S THAT THERE WAS THIS BEAUTIFUL CONTROL ROOM.

WE OPENED IT ALL UP AND NOW YOU'LL SEE WHAT WAS THERE.

>> WELL YOU'RE BUILDING THE SUSPENSE FOR OUR VIEWERS AGAIN.

YOU SHOULD GO INTO TELEVISION.

YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.

>> DOING A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN YOU'D EXPECT FOR A PLANT SUPERINTENDENT.

>> OKAY.

COME ON, LUIS, LET'S GO INSIDE.

OH, WOW.

ONCE AGAIN.

THIS IS -- OH, WOW.

LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS WONDERFUL.

>> THIS IS, AGAIN, THE ORIGINAL 1933 CONTROL PANEL.

AND NOW ONLY REPRESENTS A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE CITY BECAUSE THE CITY WAS A LOT SMALLER THEN, AND WE NOW HAVE A LOT OF OTHER GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS THAT ARE CONTROLLED BY COMPUTERS, AND A LOT OF MODERN THINGS.

>> AH, SO THIS FELLOW'S SITTING OVER -- YOU'RE THE MODERN GUY SITTING HERE WITH A COMPUTER.

>> YES, I CONTROL THE REALTIME OPERATIONS FOR THE WATER AND ELECTRIC SYSTEMS FOR THE CITY OF VERNON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NOW STAND UP FOR JUST A MINUTE.

CAN YOU LEAVE YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN FOR A SECOND?

>> YEAH.

>> WHY YOU ARE LAUGHING BACK THERE?

YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF IT FOR HIM WHILE HE'S -- YOU GOT YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN OVER HERE, BUT THEN OVER HERE WE'VE GOT THIS STEPPING-BACK-IN-TIME BOARD OVER HERE, HOW DOES IT -- HOW DO THE 2 INTERACT OFF OF EACH OTHER?

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS STUFF OVER HERE, THIS IS REALLY NICE STUFF, AND ACTUALLY IT'S STILL ALL VERY FUNCTIONAL, AND WE STILL USE IT AS A BACKUP, WE DO OPERATE IT -- WE DO OPERATE IT FROM S.C.A.D.A.

FIRST, BUT IF S.C.A.D.A.

WERE TO GO DOWN, THIS IS STILL AN EXCELLENT BACKUP.

>> S.C.A.D.A.

MEANS YOUR COMPUTER?

>> RIGHT.

OUR COMPUTER, RIGHT.

>> YOU'RE USING TECHNICAL TERMS ON ME.

>> SORRY, I'M SORRY.

>> WELL YOU'VE STILL GOT ALL THE LIGHTS GOING HERE.

>> WE'VE GOT THE LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING, RIGHT.

RED MEANS THAT THE CIRCUIT IS CLOSED, AND THAT WE DO, THIS IS THE LOAD THAT'S ACTUALLY ON THIS CIRCUIT OUT THERE WITH OUR CUSTOMERS ON IT.

HUELL>> AND IT TAKES 3 OF YOU HERE?

>> WELL I'M -- >> WHO'S THIS FELLOW HERE?

>> THAT'S MY SUPERVISOR.

>> OH, OKAY.

HUELL HOWSER.

>> HI.

>> YOUR NAME?

>> CARLOS FANDINO >> AND ARE YOU SUPERVISING?

>> I BASICALLY SUPERVISE ALL THE ACTIVITIES IN THE CONTROL ROOM, REALTIME.

>> IS IT USUALLY PRETTY SLOW IN HERE?

IT'S KIND OF JUST A MONITORING SITUATION?

>> AT TIMES IT CAN GET PRETTY HECTIC, BUT RIGHT NOW, FRIDAYS, THE CITY DROPS OFF A LITTLE BIT, ON THE WEEKENDS WE GET A LIGHTER -- LIGHTER ACTIVITIES, BUT COME MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE HECTIC.

>> WELL, IT'S QUIET IN HERE, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT THERE WITH US A MINUTE AGO.

>> OH, I CAN BET.

>> YEAH YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE OUT THERE, AND THIS GUY OVER HERE, PLAYING ON THE COMPUTER, NOW, WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

>> MY NAME IS PAT.

>> AND WHAT'S YOUR JOB?

>> WELL, WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW IS I'M MONITORING THE SYSTEM, WHAT YOU'LL SEE -- WHAT YOU'RE HEARING RIGHT NOW IS AN AUDIBLE ALARM, AND WHAT I'M DOING IS I JUST SILENCE THAT ALARM AND I CAN CHECK MY SYSTEM, EITHER WATER, POWER OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON AND TURN IT OFF.

>> HOW DID THEY DO THIS, COME ON, STAND UP HERE, BECAUSE I WANT TO UNDERSTAND FROM THIS BOARD, YOU KNOW, I LIKE THIS OLD STUFF, HOW DID THEY DO THIS IN THE DAYS BEFORE THEY HAD COMPUTERS, THEY JUST USED THIS RIGHT HERE, DIDN'T THEY.

>> THAT'S THE AMAZING THING ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING IS THAT THEY TOOK THE 1930'S ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY AND IT'S STILL APPLICABLE TODAY, WE STILL USE IT AND IT'S JUST, IT'S AWESOME.

EVERYTHING.

EVERY DAY I WORK, I LOOK AT THAT, AND OTHER SYSTEMS THAT WE GO TO ALSO, IT'S THE SAME THING, IT'S STILL WORKING TODAY.

>> YEAH, WELL THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

>> EXACTLY.

THEY BUILT IT TO LAST.

>> WELL IT LASTED.

GO BACK TO WORK.

COME ON OVER HERE FELLOWS, LET'S STAND OVER HERE AND KIND OF SAY GOODBYE, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL, I UNDERSTAND NOW WHY THIS IS CALLED -- THESE ARE CALLED LANDMARKS.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, OUR INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE IS AS IMPORTANT TO OUR OWN PERSONAL HISTORY AS IS, YOU KNOW, CIVIC STRUCTURES, HOUSES, I MEAN THIS IS WHAT MADE OUR MODERN, MIDDLE-CLASS LIVES POSSIBLE.

AND THE FACT THAT IT'S STILL HERE, STILL OPERATING, IS JUST MIND BLOWING.

>> AND BACK IN THE OLDER, THE PAST HISTORY OF OUR CITY, THEY USED TO MAKE THESE STRUCTURES TO LAST, AND THEY PUT SOME THOUGHT AND SOME ARCHITECTURE AND SOME DESIGN IN THEM, THEY JUST WEREN'T SQUARE BUILDINGS.

>> YEP.

WELL, I HAD MADE A QUOTE HERE A FEW DAYS AGO FOR ANOTHER PUBLICATION AND THE QUOTE BASICALLY WAS THAT 65 YEARS AGO THEY MADE THINGS TO LAST, TODAY PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING IS MANUFACTURED TO LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS AND THROW IT AWAY.

AND THIS IS OBVIOUS EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MAKE TO LAST.

IT'S HERE FOR ETERNITY, BASICALLY.

IT'S JUST WONDERFUL.

>> WELL, THEY MADE IT LAST AND IT LASTED, AND IT IS PART OF OUR INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE STILL IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.

WE'RE GOING PUT THE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR THE LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY UP ON THE SCREEN BECAUSE ACTUALLY, THE CONSERVANCY'S TOUR OF INDUSTRIAL LOS ANGELES VISITED MANY DIFFERENT INDUSTRIAL SITES AROUND THE CITY, THIS IS JUST ONE OF THEM, WE WERE GOING GO TO MORE OF THEM, BUT WE GO SO CARRIED AWAY HERE, THIS IS OUR WHOLE SHOW, BUT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT OUR INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE YOU CAN CONTACT THE GOOD PEOPLE AT THE LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY AND IF YOU WANT A TOUR OF THIS FACILITY WE'RE GOING PUT YOUR HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER UP ON THE SCREEN.

>> DON'T DO THAT ONE, HUELL, THAT WON'T WORK.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WELL, THEY CAN ENJOY IT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, AND I'M ENJOYING IT, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANKS FELLOWS.

THANK THE FELLOWS OUTSIDE TOO, THE WHOLE GROUP HERE HAS JUST SHOWN US A WONDERFUL DAY, THIS IS A WONDERFUL AND AN UNEXPECTED PART OF OUR HERITAGE HERE IN LOS ANGELES.

>> LOOK AT THIS, LISTEN TO THEM!

[ CLACKING ] CAPTIONING EQUIPMENT DONATED BY LLOYD RIGLER AND PERFORMED BY RAPIDTEXT, NEWPORT BEACH, CA.

VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.