Brush Canyon Line facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brush Canyon |
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|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Owner | Pacific Electric |
| Locale | Los Angeles |
| Termini | Franklin Avenue & Bronson Avenue Bronson Canyon |
| Stations | 2 |
| Service | |
| Type | Streetcar |
| System | Pacific Electric |
| Operator(s) | Pacific Electric |
| History | |
| Opened | 1908 |
| Closed | August 6, 1918 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 1.56 mi (2.51 km) |
| Number of tracks | 1 |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Old gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
| Electrification | 600 V DC Overhead lines |
The Brush Canyon Line was a special streetcar line that ran for a short time in Los Angeles. It was a smaller part of the much larger Pacific Electric railway system. This line was mostly used to carry important materials, not just people.
Contents
What Was the Brush Canyon Line?
The Brush Canyon Line was a "branch line." Think of it like a small side road that connects to a main highway. This streetcar line was quite short, only about 1.56 miles long. It was built to help move heavy rocks from a quarry.
Where Did the Line Go?
The Brush Canyon Line started in Los Angeles at the corner of Franklin Avenue and Bronson Avenue. From there, it went north along Bronson Avenue. Its main destination was a place called a "rock quarry." A quarry is where people dig up rocks from the ground. About one more mile of track went right into the quarry area itself.
How Was the Line Used?
Even though a few people might have ridden this line, its main job was to carry "freight." Freight means goods or materials, not passengers. The streetcars on this line hauled large amounts of rocks. These rocks were very important for building Los Angeles.
Rocks for Roads and Tracks
The rocks from the quarry were used to pave many famous streets in Los Angeles. These included Sunset Boulevard, Highland Avenue, Adams Boulevard, West 6th Street, and Wilshire Boulevard. Paving means making a smooth, hard surface for roads. The rocks were also used as "track ballast." This is the crushed stone that supports railway tracks, making them stable.
The Line's Short Life
The Brush Canyon Line was built in 1908 by a company called the Los Angeles Pacific Railroad. When it was first built, it was a "single-track railway," meaning it only had one track. It also used a "narrow gauge" track. This means the tracks were closer together than usual.
Later in 1908, the track was changed to "standard gauge." This made the tracks wider, matching most other railways. In 1911, the Pacific Electric company took over the line. They ran it as a "shuttle" service, which means it went back and forth on a short route. However, the Brush Canyon Line didn't last very long. It stopped running on August 6, 1918.
