The Lamanda Park Line, also known as the Colorado Street Line, was a local streetcar line in Pasadena, California. For most of its operational history, Pacific Electric Railway streetcars ran over the line with service ending in 1941.

Lamanda Park
Pasadena Electric car running along Colorado Street, 1903
Overview
OwnerColorado Street Railway (1886–1894)
Pasadena and Los Angeles Electric Railway (1894–1902)
Pasadena Electric (1902–1911)
Southern Pacific Railroad (1911–1941)
LocaleSouthern California
Termini
Stations3 (plus additional stops)
Service
TypeStreetcar
SystemPacific Electric
Operator(s)Pacific Electric (1911–1941)
Rolling stockBirney 300 Class (last used)
History
OpenedNovember 9, 1886 (1886-11-09)
ClosedJanuary 19, 1941 (1941-01-19)
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Old gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
ElectrificationOverhead line600 V DC
Route map

Lamanda Park
Colorado and San Gabriel
Colorado and Altadena
Lamanda Park Junction
Colorado and Craig
Colorado and San Marino
Colorado and Allen
Colorado and Bonnie
Colorado and Marion
Colorado and Harkness
Colorado and Hill
Colorado and Michigan
Colorado and Wilson
Colorado and Catalina
Colorado and Mentor
Colorado and Lake
Colorado and Hudson
Colorado and Oak Knoll
Colorado and El Molino
Colorado and Madison
Colorado and Oakland
Colorado and Los Robles
Colorado and Euclid
Colorado and Garfield
Colorado and Marengo
Colorado and Arroyo
Colorado and Raymond
Pasadena
multiple lines
 

History

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The original 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) horsecar line was established by the Colorado Street Railway on November 9, 1886.[1] Along with other Pasadena horsecar lines, it was purchased by the Pasadena and Los Angeles Electric Railway in 1894 and electrified.[2] Pasadena Electric succeeded the Pasadena and Los Angeles in 1902 and was converted to standard gauge the following year.[2] The line was extended from Hill Avenue to Lamanda Park on March 1, 1904.[3][4]

 
A horsecar (left of center) runs on Colorado near the intersection of Oakland Avenue, 1890.

The Pasadena Electric was absorbed into the Pacific Electric in 1911 under terms of the Great Merger.[2] In March 1936, the tracks east of Lamanda Park Junction were abandoned. The final local car ran over the line early in the morning of January 19, 1941,[5] but a portion of the route would continue to see Pasadena via Oak Knoll Line trains until 1950.[5][6] The service was sold to Pasadena City Lines, a subsidiary of National City Lines, which ran buses over the route.[2]

Route

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The line operated on Colorado Boulevard between Daisy Avenue and the Pasadena Pacific Electric station on Fair Oaks Drive. Services throughout the line's life were through routed to other Pasadena local lines or terminated in Downtown Pasadena. Running along the route of the Tournament of Roses Parade caused annual operational issues on New Year's Day, usually resulting in rail replacement bus services.[5]

List of major stops

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Station Major connections Date opened Date closed City
Pasadena East California, East Orange Grove, East Washington, Lincoln, Mount Lowe, North Fair Oaks, North Lake, Pasadena Short Line, Pasadena via Oak Knoll, South Pasadena Local, West California, West Colorado and Orange Grove 1895 1951 Pasadena
Lamanda Park Junction Sierra Madre 1902 1941
Lamanda Park 1902 1936

References

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  1. ^ "Our Neighbors". Los Angeles Times. November 10, 1886. p. 2. Retrieved February 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ a b c d "Pasadena Local Lines". Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "The Pacific Electric Railway..." Press-Telegram. January 16, 1903. p. 5. Retrieved December 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ "Briefs of news". The Los Angeles Times. March 1, 1904. p. 19. Retrieved December 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ a b c 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. 45–46. ASIN B0007F8D84. OCLC 6565577.
  6. ^ "New Bus Lines Start Today". The Pasadena Post. Pasadena, California. January 19, 1941. p. 15. Retrieved December 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.