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
LocaleInland Empire
Termini
  • San Bernardino
  • Redlands
Service
TypeInterurban
SystemPacific Electric
History
OpenedMarch 10, 1903 (1903-03-10)
ClosedJuly 19, 1936 (1936-07-19)
Technical
Number of tracks1
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line600 V DC
Route map

0.0
San Bernardino
0.5
3rd & A Streets
0.8
Allen Street
1.0
2nd Street
1.1
Waterman Avenue
1.3
Martin's Gate
1.8
Mill Street
2.1
Race Track
2.3
Tippecanoe
3.0
Escuelda
3.3
Gravel Pit Spur
4.3
La Quinta
4.7
Marigold
5.2
California
5.7
Nevada
5.9
Shepherd's Ranch
6.3
Crown Jewel
6.5
Green Station
6.7
Tennessee
7.0
Williams
7.2
Texas
7.5
Ohio
7.6
Clay Street
7.7
Washington
7.8
Orange & San Bernardino Aves.
7.9
Walton
8.0
Penn Avenue
8.1
Delaware
8.2
Lugonia
8.4
Western
8.5
Brockton Avenue
8.6
Union Street
8.7
Sun Street
8.8
Colton Avenue
8.9
High Street
9.0
Stewart
9.0
Redlands Santa Fe Depot
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
9.1
Redlands Southern Pacific Depot
Southern Pacific Transportation Company
9.2
Central Avenue
9.2
State Street
9.3
Redlands (Citrus Avenue)

History

edit

Constructed by the San Bernardino Valley Traction Company starting in 1902, the line began regular service on March 10, 1903.[1] 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.[2] By March 1913 the inbound terminus was changed from Urbita Springs to the San Bernardino station.[3]

By January 1916 through-routing with the San Bernardino–Riverside Line had begun, forming the Redlands–Riverside Line.[3] The line also supported heavy usage by freight trains transporting fruit.[4] 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. The 2 hour 50 minute journey was the longest single service ever offered by the Pacific Electric.[5] 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;[6] this was reverted after proving unsuccessful. Service ended after July 19, 1936,[7] leaving Redlands as the largest city in the Pacific Electric system served exclusively by buses.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Shake! Redlands ain't you glad?". The San Bernardino County Sun. March 10, 1903. p. 1. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ "Riverside-Redlands Line". Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Veysey 1958, p. 65-66
  4. ^ "Dedication of Fruit House is Held". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino County Sun. January 7, 1916. p. 6. Retrieved February 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Veysey 1958, p. 66
  6. ^ "New P.E Schedules Effective Today on All Interurban Lines". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino County Sun. April 1, 1928. p. 8. Retrieved February 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ "Rail Service on Interurban Lines Dropped". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino County Sun. July 19, 1936. p. 13. Retrieved February 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  

Bibliography

edit
edit