Lamanda Park Line facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lamanda Park |
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Pasadena Electric car running along Colorado Street, 1903
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| Overview | |
| Owner | Southern Pacific Railroad |
| Locale | Southern California |
| Termini | Downtown Pasadena, California Lamanda Park, Pasadena, California |
| Stations | 3 (plus additional stops) |
| Service | |
| Type | Streetcar |
| System | Pacific Electric |
| Operator(s) | Pacific Electric |
| Rolling stock | Birney 300 Class (last used) |
| History | |
| Opened | November 9, 1886 |
| Closed | January 19, 1941 |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Old gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
| Electrification | 600 V DC Overhead lines |
The Lamanda Park Line was a local streetcar route that served the city of Pasadena, California for many years. It was an important part of the Pacific Electric Railway system, which helped people travel around Southern California. This line operated until 1941, connecting different parts of Pasadena.
Contents
History of the Lamanda Park Line
The Lamanda Park Line began as a horse-drawn streetcar service. It started on November 9, 1886, and was built by the Colorado Street Railway. These early streetcars were pulled by horses and ran on tracks that were 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) wide. This is called a "narrow gauge" track.
From Horses to Electric Power
In 1894, another company called the Pasadena and Los Angeles Electric Railway bought this horsecar line. By 1903, the line was updated. The tracks were changed to a "standard gauge" of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge, which is wider. Also, the streetcars became electric, meaning they no longer needed horses. Instead, they got power from overhead wires.
Joining the Pacific Electric System
In 1911, the Pasadena Electric company, which ran the line, became part of the much larger Pacific Electric system. This was a big event known as the "Great Merger." The Lamanda Park Line continued to operate as part of this huge network of electric trains and streetcars.
The End of the Line
Over time, fewer people used streetcars, and buses became more popular. In March 1936, some parts of the Lamanda Park Line's tracks were no longer used. The very last streetcar on the Lamanda Park Line ran early in the morning on January 19, 1941. After that, the tracks were removed, and buses took over the service, offering a new way for people to travel.
The Lamanda Park Route
The Lamanda Park Line mostly ran along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. It stretched from Daisy Avenue to the main Pacific Electric station on Fair Oaks Drive.
Parade Day Challenges
One interesting challenge for the Lamanda Park Line was the annual Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day. Since the streetcars ran along Colorado Boulevard, which is the main parade route, it caused problems for the streetcar service. On parade days, buses often had to replace the streetcars to keep people moving. These are called "rail replacement bus services."
Major Stations on the Line
The Lamanda Park Line had a few main stations where people could get on and off. These stations also connected to other streetcar lines in Pasadena.
| Station | Major connections | Date opened | Date closed | City |
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| 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 | ||
