Route map:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Colton
Car 136 in service on 8th Street in Colton, 1910
Overview
Locale Inland Empire
Termini
  • San Bernardino
  • Colton
Service
Type Streetcar
System Pacific Electric
History
Opened1902 (1902)
ClosedFebruary 22, 1942 (1942-02-22)
Technical
Line length4.24 mi (6.82 km)
Number of tracks1
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification600 V DC Overhead lines
Route map

San Bernardino
F Street
G Street
H Street
I Street
Carter Avenue
Kendall Avenue
K Street
Santa Fe Depot
3rd Street & Mount Vernon
2nd Street
King
Rialto Avenue
Atlantic & Bellview Avenues
Pacific & Central Avenues
Walnut Street
Birch Street
Poplar Street
Oak Street
Mill Street
Esperanza
La Cadena Curve
Vandemark
La Cadena Siding
9th & La Cadena
8th & La Cadena
Pettijohn
Olive
A Street
B Street
C Street
D Street
E Street
F Street
G Street
H Street
I Street
8th & J Streets
Colton (9th & J Streets)

The Colton Line was a local streetcar line, mostly known as being a service of the Pacific Electric. It operated between Colton and San Bernardino, one of two lines in service between the two cities. [1]

History

The line was established by the San Bernardino Valley Traction Company. The first cars operated over the line on February 22, 1902, but a derailment at Third and E in San Bernardino necessitated more work on the line. [2] Initially planned to open for revenue service on August 26, 1902, the opening was eventually delayed to September 2. [3] However, the Southern Pacific Railroad opposed the new line crossing their steam line in Colton and delayed opening further. [4] The company was absorbed into the Pacific Electric in 1911. In 1913 the service was through-routed with the D Street–Highland Avenue Line. Completion of the more direct San Bernardino–Riverside Line in late 1914 greatly reduced demand on the line, with ridership reduced by more than half on the old line the following year. Despite its lesser popularity, the Colton Line outlasted the shorter route, remaining in service until February 22, 1942. [5] [6]

Route

The line started at the Colton station at 9th and J Streets near Colton Crossing where passengers interchanged with transcontinental trains. Cars ran west on J for a block before turning north on 8th Street. At Vernon Avenue, the tracks ran northward until the main line at 3rd Street where a right turn continued into San Bernardino. [5] [7]

The line connected the joint Pacific Electric and Southern Pacific stations in San Bernardino and Colton via the San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot. [8]

References

  1. ^ Pacific Electric Railway Time Table (PDF). Pacific Electric. March 26, 1932. Retrieved January 17, 2021 – via wx4's Dome of Foam.
  2. ^ "New electric line in San Bernardino". The Los Angeles Times. February 24, 1902. p. 10. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  3. ^ "Trolley Franchise". The Los Angeles Times. July 24, 1902. p. 18. Retrieved December 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  4. ^ "May come together". The San Bernardino County Sun. September 26, 1902. p. 1. Retrieved December 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  5. ^ a b Veysey, Laurence R. (June 1958). A History Of The Rail Passenger Service Operated By The Pacific Electric Railway Company Since 1911 And By Its Successors Since 1953 (PDF). LACMTA (Report). Los Angeles, California: Interurbans. pp. 64, 107. ASIN  B0007F8D84. OCLC  6565577.
  6. ^ "Trolley Gives Way to Motor Coach Service". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California. February 22, 1942. pp. 11, 19. Retrieved December 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  7. ^ "San Bernardino Local Lines". Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  8. ^ "Pacific Electric Time Tables" (PDF). wx4's Dome of Foam. Pacific Electric. September 1, 1934. p. 16. Retrieved September 1, 2021.

External links

KML is not from Wikidata