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.

This article is about a former Pacific Electric interurban railway route. For the modern commuter rail service formerly known as the Redlands Passenger Rail Project, see Arrow (commuter rail).
Redlands
Tracks and trolley wire run down the center of Third Street in San Bernardino looking west, 1905
Overview
LocaleInland Empire
TerminiSan Bernardino
Redlands
Service
TypeInterurban
SystemPacific Electric
History
OpenedMarch 3, 1903 (1903-03-03)
ClosedJuly 19, 1938 (1938-07-19)
Technical
Number of tracks1
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification600 V DC Overhead lines
Route map
Upland–San Bernardino
 San Bernardino
Arrowhead
Highland
 Tippecanoe
Santa Ana River
 La Quinta
 Crown Jewel
 Tennessee Street
Santa Fe
Southern Pacific
 Redlands
local 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] The line also supported heavy usage by freight trains transporting fruit.[3] 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;[4] this was reverted after proving unsuccessful. Service ended after July 19, 1938,[5] leaving Redlands as the largest city in the Pacific Electric system served exclusively by buses.[2]

References
  1. "Riverside-Redlands Line". Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  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. 65, 66. ASIN B0007F8D84.
  3. "Dedication of Fruit House is Held". San Bernardino County Sun. January 7, 1916. p. 6. Retrieved 14 February 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "New P.E Schedules Effective Today on All Interurban Lines". San Bernardino County Sun. April 1, 1928. p. 8. Retrieved 14 February 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Rail Service on Interurban Lines Dropped". San Bernardino County Sun. July 19, 1936. p. 13. Retrieved 4 February 2022 – via Newspapers.com.


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