Central Station (Los Angeles) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Los Angeles
Central Station |
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Exterior view of the Southern Pacific Depot, c. 1918
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| Location | Fifth and Central Los Angeles, California United States |
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| Coordinates | 34°02′32″N 118°14′22″W / 34.0423°N 118.2394°W | |
| Line(s) | Southern Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific | |
| History | ||
| Opened | December 1, 1914 | |
| Closed | 1939 (passengers) August 22, 1956 (demolished) |
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| Services | ||
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Central Station was a very important train station in Los Angeles, California. It was the main place for the Southern Pacific Railroad to pick up and drop off passengers. You could find it on Central Avenue at Fifth Street in downtown Los Angeles.
Many famous trains used this station. These included the Sunset Limited, Coast Daylight, and Golden State. Central Station took over from an older station called Arcade Depot. People sometimes still called it by the old name.
Contents
Welcome to Central Station!
A Busy Hub in Los Angeles
In the early 1900s, the Southern Pacific Railroad was one of the biggest train companies in Los Angeles. It brought many people to the city. Central Station became its main passenger hub.
Why a New Station Was Needed
The Southern Pacific's old station, Arcade Depot, was getting old and needed repairs by 1913. Los Angeles expected many more visitors in 1915. This was because San Francisco and San Diego were hosting big events called expositions. So, a new, modern station was needed to welcome everyone.
Trains and Trolleys Arrive
New train tracks at Central Station opened on December 1, 1914. The main station building welcomed its first passengers on May 2, 1915. By 1918, more than half of all train travelers in Los Angeles used Central Station.
Another big train company, the Union Pacific Railroad, also started using Central Station in 1924. Their own station had been damaged by a fire.
Local electric trains, known as Pacific Electric Red Cars, also stopped here. Passengers could travel to places like Pasadena and Long Beach. By 1938, Los Angeles Railway Yellow streetcar lines also had stops right outside the station.
The End of an Era
In 1926, people in Los Angeles voted to build one big, new train station for everyone. This new station was called Los Angeles Union Station. When it opened in 1939, all long-distance passenger trains moved there.
Pacific Electric Red Cars continued to use Central Station for a short time. They stopped running from Central Station in September 1940. The Central Station building was eventually taken down on August 22, 1956.
What Made Central Station Special?
Smart Design for Travelers
The station was designed by a company called Parkinson & Bergstrom. They thought about many things to make it work well. For example, they made sure people walking and trains on tracks were kept separate. This made it safer for everyone.
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They also designed the station to separate people arriving from those leaving. This helped keep things organized. There were comfortable waiting areas and good places for luggage. It also had an easy-to-use ticket office and an information desk. The station even had its own power plant and a kitchen!
