S (Los Angeles Railway)

S was a streetcar line in Los Angeles, California. It was operated by the Los Angeles Railway from 1895 to 1958, and by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority from 1958 to 1963. The route was very popular due to its proximity to Hollywood as well as the sizable manufacturing district in South Los Angeles.

S
Overview
OwnerLos Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority
LocaleLos Angeles
Termini
Stations67
Service
TypeStreetcar
SystemLos Angeles Railway, Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority
Rolling stockPCC streetcars
Daily ridership21,230 (1940)[1]
History
Opened1895
ClosedMarch 31, 1963 (1963-03-31)
Technical
Line length12.41 mi (19.97 km)
Track gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
ElectrificationOverhead line600 V DC
Route map

1950–1963
8th and Western
8th and Serrano
8th and Harvard
8th and Irolo
8th and Mariposa
8th and Catalina
8th and Vermont
 V 
7th and Vermont
 V 
7th and Westmoreland
7th and Magnolia
7th and Hoover
7th and Coronado
7th and Park View
7th and Alvarado
7th and Union
7th and Valencia
7th and Witmer
7th and Garland
7th and Bixel
7th and Francisco
7th and Figueroa
7th and Flower
7th and Grand
 J 
7th and Olive
7th and Hill
7th and Broadway
 P   5 
7th and Spring
7th and Main
7th and Los Angeles
7th and Maple
7th and San Pedro
 R 
San Pedro and 9th
San Pedro and 11th
San Pedro and Pico
San Pedro and 14th
San Pedro and 16th
San Pedro and Washington
San Pedro and 21st
San Pedro and 16th
San Pedro and 23rd
San Pedro and Adams
San Pedro and 30th
San Pedro and Jefferson
Avalon and Santa Barbara
Avalon and 41st
Avalon and 42nd
Avalon and Vernon
 J   V 
Avalon and 46th
Avalon and 48th
Avalon and 51st
Avalon and 54th
Avalon and 56th
Avalon and Slauson
Avalon and 59th
Avalon and 61st
Avalon and Gage
Gage and McKinley
Gage and Central
Central and 68th
Central and Florence
Central and 75th
Central and 77th
Central and 79th
Central and Nadeau
Central and 81st
Central and 83rd
Central and Manchester

History

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San Pedro Line (1895–1911)

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The original San Pedro line began at an uncertain point in Downtown Los Angeles and reached the South Side of the city by way of Fourth Street, San Pedro Street, Park Avenue (present-day Avalon Boulevard), Gage Avenue, and South Central Avenue to 68th Street.[2]

S Line (1911–1963)

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Following the Great Merger of 1911, the tracks on Fourth Street were removed, and the San Pedro line now ran from San Pedro Street to Seventh Street from Downtown to the outskirts of Westlake. Here, the route took advantage of an old LAIU track on Hoover, Wilshire, and Commonwealth to continue northwest via Sixth Street, Vermont Avenue, Third Street, and Western Avenue to Santa Monica Boulevard on the southern edge of Hollywood. In 1921, the route was given the letter designation "S."[3][4]

During the LARy and LATL eras, further route changes were made. The LAIU shortcut to Sixth Street was eliminated and the route ran straight on 7th between San Pedro and Vermont, while the route's southern terminus was extended 1.25 miles (2.01 km) further south to the intersection of Avalon and Firestone Boulevard.[5] When the N line was decommissioned in 1950, S was re-routed to fill in its route along 8th street.[2]

Operation of the line passed to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority in 1958. Streetcar service ended on March 31, 1963,[6] by which time the southern terminus had become Central and Manchester Avenue.[7]

Rolling stock

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After 1955, PCC streetcars replaced the old rolling stock on the line.[8]

Sources

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  1. ^ Breivogel, Milton; Bate, Stuart (1942). "Mass Transit Facilities and Master Plan of Parkways" (PDF). Los Angeles City Planning Commission. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "'S'". Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  3. ^ "May 1: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History". Metro Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library and Archive. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved February 16, 2022. 1921: Large letter signs indicating the routes of different lines are placed on top of Los Angeles Railway streetcars.
  4. ^ "Cars To Have Letter Signs" (PDF). Two Bells. Vol. 1, no. 48. Los Angeles Railway. May 2, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "March 31: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History". Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library and Archive. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  7. ^ Walker, Jim (2007). Los Angeles Railway Yellow Cars. Arcadia Pub. p. 107. ISBN 9781531629410.
  8. ^ "No.1080 Los Angeles Transit Lines". Market Street Railway. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
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