Echo Park Avenue Line facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Echo Park Avenue |
|
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Owner | Pacific Electric |
| Locale | Los Angeles |
| Termini | 11th & Hill Streets Cerro Gordo Street |
| Stations | 1 |
| Service | |
| Type | Streetcar |
| System | Pacific Electric |
| Operator(s) | Pacific Electric |
| History | |
| Opened | 1899 |
| Closed | December 28, 1950 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 4.56 mi (7.34 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 Echo Park Avenue Line was a special streetcar line in Los Angeles. It was operated by a company called Pacific Electric. This streetcar line helped people travel around the city.
The streetcars started their journey at 11th and Hill Streets in downtown Los Angeles. They traveled along the Hollywood Line until Sunset Boulevard. Then, they turned right and went north along Echo Park Avenue. The line ended at Cerro Gordo Street.
Contents
History of the Echo Park Streetcar
This section tells you about the history of the Echo Park Avenue Line. It covers when it started and how it changed over time.
Early Days: Horse-Drawn Cars
The Echo Park Avenue streetcar line first opened in 1899. Back then, it wasn't an electric streetcar. It was a horsecar line, meaning horses pulled the cars!
Becoming Electric and Number 32
Later, the line became part of the Pacific Electric system. Pacific Electric gave this service the number 32. In 1911, there was a big event called the "Great Merger." After this, the Echo Park line mostly ran as a short shuttle. It only went along Echo Park Avenue between Sunset and Cerrito Gordo.
Connecting Downtown
In 1912, the streetcars started going all the way downtown. They connected with another line called the Venice Boulevard Line. This meant people could travel further without changing cars.
Changes to the Downtown Stop
The downtown end of the line changed a few times. In 1916, it stopped at 9th and Hill Streets. Then, between July and September 1926, it was extended to 11th and Hill Streets.
Temporary Shuttle Service
In 1924, there were some power problems. Because of this, the route had to go back to being a short shuttle for a few months. It only ran on Echo Park Avenue. But by November, the full service was back.
Final Years of Service
From 1932 until 1950, the Echo Park line continued to connect with the Venice line. This made it easy for people to travel.
Switching to Buses
In 1939, the streetcar service on evenings and Sundays changed to buses. However, during World War II in 1942, the streetcars were brought back for all services. This was to help with wartime transportation.
The End of the Line
The Echo Park Avenue Line stopped running completely on December 28, 1950. Before that, on October 1, 1950, service was greatly reduced. This marked the end of an era for this historic streetcar line in Los Angeles.
