Colton Line

Last updated

Colton
Eighth Street, Colton late 1910s.jpg
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 gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification Overhead line,  600 V DC
Route map

Contents

BSicon uCONTg.svg
BSicon uABZgl+l.svg
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BSicon udLSTRq.svg
San Bernardino
BSicon uHST.svg
F Street
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G Street
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H Street
BSicon uHST.svg
I Street
BSicon uHST.svg
Carter Avenue
BSicon STR+l.svg
BSicon umKRZ.svg
BSicon CONTfq.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon uHST.svg
Kendall Avenue
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon uHST.svg
K Street
BSicon HUBaq.svg
BSicon INT.svg
BSicon HUBeq.svg
BSicon uHST.svg
Santa Fe Depot
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BSicon uHST.svg
3rd Street & Mount Vernon
BSicon uHST.svg
2nd Street
BSicon uHST.svg
King
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BSicon uHST.svg
BSicon uSTRq.svg
BSicon uLSTRq.svg
Rialto Avenue
BSicon uHST.svg
Atlantic & Bellview Avenues
BSicon uHST.svg
Pacific & Central Avenues
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Walnut Street
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Birch Street
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Poplar Street
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Oak Street
BSicon uHST.svg
Mill Street
BSicon uHST.svg
Esperanza
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La Cadena Curve
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Vandemark
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La Cadena Siding
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9th & La Cadena
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8th & La Cadena
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Pettijohn
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Olive
BSicon uHST.svg
A Street
BSicon uHST.svg
B Street
BSicon uHST.svg
C Street
BSicon uHST.svg
D Street
BSicon uHST.svg
E Street
BSicon uHST.svg
F Street
BSicon uHST.svg
G Street
BSicon uHST.svg
H Street
BSicon uHST.svg
I Street
BSicon uHST.svg
8th & J Streets
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BSicon uSTRq.svg
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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]

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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. Lock-green.svg
  3. "Trolley Franchise". The Los Angeles Times . July 24, 1902. p. 18. Retrieved December 12, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  4. "May come together". The San Bernardino County Sun. September 26, 1902. p. 1. Retrieved December 12, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  5. 1 2 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. Lock-green.svg
  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.
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