Redlands Line
The Redlands Line is a former Pacific Electric interurban railway line in the Inland Empire. The route provided suburban service between San Bernardino and Redlands.
Redlands | |
---|---|
Tracks and trolley wire run down the center of Third Street in San Bernardino looking west, 1905 | |
Overview | |
Locale | Inland Empire |
Termini | San Bernardino Redlands |
Service | |
Type | Interurban |
System | Pacific Electric |
History | |
Opened | March 3, 1903 |
Closed | July 19, 1938 |
Technical | |
Number of tracks | 1 |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
Electrification | 600 V DC Overhead lines |
History
Constructed by the San Bernardino Valley Traction Company starting in 1902, the line opened on March 3, 1903. Cars initially operated into San Bernardino under trackage rights via the Redlands Street Railway until the two merged in June after opening. Cars initially terminated at Urbita Springs. The San Bernardino Valley Traction Company was absorbed into Pacific Electric under the Great Merger in 1911.[1] By March 1913 the inbound terminus was changed from Urbita Springs to the San Bernardino station.[2]
By January 1916 through-routing with the San Bernardino–Riverside Line had begun, forming the Redlands–Riverside Line.[2] On November 1, 1920, through service was provided to Los Angeles for the first time, with Redlands cars appended to Upland–San Bernardino Line trains. Between April and June 1928 through-routing was discontinued with the San Bernardino–Riverside Line as part of a scheme developed by the California Railroad Commission; this was reverted after proving unsuccessful. Service ended after July 19, 1938, leaving Redlands as the largest city in the Pacific Electric system served exclusively by buses.[2]
References
- "Riverside-Redlands Line". Electric Rail Heritage Association. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- 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). pp. 65, 66. Retrieved 16 January 2021.