Sierra Madre Line facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sierra Madre |
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Sierra Madre 1908 with PE line Depot and the Hotel Shirley in background
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| Overview | |
| Owner | Southern Pacific Railroad |
| Locale | Southern California |
| Termini | Pacific Electric Building Sierra Madre, California |
| Stations | 24 |
| Service | |
| Type | Interurban |
| System | Pacific Electric |
| Operator(s) | Pacific Electric |
| Rolling stock | PE 1100 Class (last used) |
| Daily ridership | 1713 (last counted) |
| History | |
| Opened | January 1, 1906 |
| Closed | October 6, 1950 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 16.52 mi (26.59 km) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Electrification | 600 V DC Overhead lines |
The Sierra Madre Line was a Pacific Electric interurban route which ran 16.52 miles (26.59 km) from the Pacific Electric Building in Los Angeles to Sierra Madre.
History
The line opened to Pasadena on March 19, 1904 and was extended to Sierra Madre in 1906. On December 3, 1916 the routing through Downtown Los Angeles changed.
Shuttle service began for evening trips between Sierra Madre and San Marino began by March 1, 1928 with passengers changing to Monrovia–Glendora Line trains to complete the trip. Starting March 1939 the rear car of some Glendora trains were disconnected to continue to Sierra Madre. This arrangement became the line's only direct service starting February 21, 1943, as all midday service became shuttles and only rush hour cars from Monrovia trains serving the line.
Weekend and midday service was discontinued on June 11, 1948 and all trips became shuttles. A single morning outbound trip from Los Angeles was added after November 25, 1949. On October 8, 1950 service was virtually abandoned with a single round trip running Sierra Madre and San Marino; this ended on December 28, 1950. Pacific Electric continued to operate the route with motor coaches after abandonment.
Route
The Sierra Madre Line branched north from the Monrovia–Glendora Line in San Marino and its two tracks ran between the dual roadways passing Lamanda Park Junction (Colorado Street and Sierra Madre Boulevard) where it met the local East Colorado Street Line. From this point, the line continued on single track in a northerly direction along a private right of way in the center of Sierra Madre Boulevard to Michillinda Avenue. There the tracks entered into the pavement of city streets and proceeded on Central Avenue (Sierra Madre Boulevard) to Baldwin Avenue in Sierra Madre where the station was located. It then continued north one and one-half blocks via Baldwin Avenue and turned easterly onto another private right of way (between Montecito Avenue and Highland Avenue) to the end of the line of Mountain Trail Avenue, where a small storage yard was located.
List of major stations
