Central Station (Los Angeles)

Central Station was the Southern Pacific Railroad's main passenger terminal in Los Angeles, California. It was formerly on Central Avenue at Fifth Street, in eastern Downtown Los Angeles.

For other places with the same name, see Central Station.
Central Station
Exterior view of the Southern Pacific Depot, ca. 1918
LocationFifth and Central
Coordinates34.0423°N 118.2394°W / 34.0423; -118.2394
Line(s)Southern Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific
History
OpenedDecember 1, 1914 (1914-12-01)[1]
ClosedAugust 22, 1956 (1956-08-22)[1]
Services
Preceding station Union Pacific Railroad Following station
Terminus Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad East Los Angeles
toward Salt Lake City

History

The Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) was the most used of the three mainline railroads that serviced Los Angeles in the early 20th century (the others being the Union Pacific Railroad and Santa Fe Railroad). In 1918, just over 50% of all passenger traffic was provided via Southern Pacific and Central Station, which opened on December 1, 1914, was built to replace the railroad's aging Arcade Depot.[1] The Union Pacific Railroad, which lost its main Los Angeles train station (built 1891) in a fire, began operating from the station in 1924.[1][2]

In addition to long distance trains, the station was well served by Los Angeles Railway Yellow streetcars. By 1938, lines D, U, and 3 stopped in front of the building on Central Avenue.[3]

Station platforms and tracks seen from the north

In 1926 voters in Los Angeles voted 51% to 49% to build a union station and all passenger services were transferred to Union Station, upon that building's completion in 1939.

The Central Station was demolished on August 22, 1956.[1]

  • Platforms at Central Station
  • Passenger underpass to the platforms
  • Station platform and yard seen from the south

References
  1. Nathan Masters (January 17, 2013). "Lost Train Depots of Los Angeles". Socal Focus. KCET. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  2. Reiring, Ron (2012-07-24), "Los Angeles, CA Union Pacific train station", flickr.com/, retrieved 2019-05-08 Flickr images: Central Station, @ www.flickr.com/photos/84263554@N00/7637098244/]
  3. H.P. Noordwal (1938). "Route Map Los Angeles Railway Electric Car and Bus Routes" (Map). Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc. Los Angeles Railway. "Alternate link" (Map). via Google.


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