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Monrovia–Glendora Line facts for kids

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Monrovia–Glendora
Monrovia-1903.jpg
Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia, 1903
Overview
Owner Pacific Electric
Locale Southern California
Termini 6th & Main Terminal
Glendora
Stations 39
Service
Type Interurban
System Pacific Electric
Operator(s) Pacific Electric
Rolling stock varied
History
Opened 1902
Closed September 30, 1951 (1951-09-30)
Technical
Line length 26.21 mi (42.18 km)
Number of tracks varied
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) standard gauge
Electrification 600 V DC overhead lines

The Monrovia–Glendora Line was a special train route in Southern California. It was part of the Pacific Electric Railway, a big train system. This line helped people travel through the San Gabriel Valley. It ran for many years, from 1902 until 1951. It also helped new towns grow in the area.

A Look Back: The Line's History

The Monrovia–Glendora train line started in 1902. Passenger service began in Monrovia on March 1, 1903. The line was extended to Glendora in December 1907.

There was a plan to make the line longer by 4 miles. This extension would have gone from Glendora to Lone Hill. However, the state's Railroad Commission said no in March 1918. They said it was because of the wartime conditions.

The very last trains ran on this line on September 30, 1951.

Where the Trains Went: The Route

The Monrovia–Glendora Line started at the Pacific Electric Building in Downtown Los Angeles. This was a big station called the 6th and Main Terminal. From there, the trains shared tracks with another line, the Upland–San Bernardino Line. They traveled to a place called "Valley Junction."

After Valley Junction, the Monrovia–Glendora Line had its own tracks. These tracks ran next to Soto Street. They crossed over Valley Boulevard and the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks on a steel bridge. The line then continued north to Indian Village. Here, the tracks became a four-track system, meaning four tracks side-by-side.

A bit further north, the four tracks crossed Mission Road on a concrete bridge. They then continued between the two sides of Huntington Drive. At Sierra Vista, another line, the Alhambra–San Gabriel Line, branched off. But the Monrovia–Glendora Line kept going east on Huntington Drive.

At Oneonta Park, the Pasadena Short Line turned north. The Monrovia–Glendora Line continued with four tracks until "El Molino." There, it went back to two tracks. It kept going northeast along Huntington Drive. It passed Oak Knoll Avenue, where the Oak Knoll Line turned north. It also passed Sierra Madre Boulevard in San Marino. Here, the local Sierra Madre Line turned north.

SantaFeStationArcadiaCA1887 1900photo
Arcadia train station serviced by the Santa Fe Railway – the Monrovia–Glendora Line stopped adjacent to the depot

As the line went east, it passed south of Santa Anita Park. It continued northeast to St. Joseph Street in Arcadia. The tracks ran right in the street from Santa Anita. They crossed the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway tracks to 2nd Avenue. The Arcadia train station was a key stop. Here, passengers could switch to Santa Fe trains.

The line then went on its own tracks to Olive Avenue in Monrovia. It continued in the street on Olive Avenue to Shamrock Avenue. From there, the two tracks went on their own path along Olive Avenue and Royal Oaks Avenue. They then crossed open land to the San Gabriel River. The trains crossed the river on a two-track bridge. After 1938, this bridge was changed to a single track.

The line then continued across open land into Azusa. It entered city streets at 9th Street and Angelino Avenue. The two tracks became a single track at 9th Street and Pasadena Avenue. Finally, the line continued east, north of Foothill Boulevard, on its own path. It ended in Glendora at Glendora Avenue.

Main Stops Along the Way

Station Mile Major connections Date opened Date closed City
Glendora 26.21 1907 1951 Glendora
Azusa 23.40 1951 Azusa
Duarte 21.47 1951 Duarte
Monrovia 17.99 1903 1951 Monrovia
Arcadia 16.30 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway 1951 Arcadia
San Marino 11.39 1951 San Marino
El Molino 10.11 Pasadena via Oak Knoll, Sierra Madre 1902 1951
Oneonta Park 8.56 Pasadena via Oak Knoll, Mount Lowe, Pasadena Short Line, Shorb, Sierra Madre 1901 1951 South Pasadena
Sierra Vista 7.65 Alhambra–San Gabriel, Pasadena via Oak Knoll, Mount Lowe, Pasadena Short Line, Shorb, Sierra Madre 1901 1951 Alhambra
Covina Junction 3.37 Alhambra–San Gabriel, Pasadena via Oak Knoll, Mount Lowe, Pasadena Short Line, Pomona, Riverside–Rialto, Sierra Madre, Upland–San Bernardino 1901 1951 Los Angeles
Echandia Junction Alhambra–San Gabriel, Annandale, Pasadena via Oak Knoll, Mount Lowe, Pasadena Short Line, Pomona, Riverside–Rialto, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena Local, Upland–San Bernardino 1895 1951
Pacific Electric Building 0 Alhambra–San Gabriel, Annandale, Balboa, Fullerton, Hawthorne–El Segundo, La Habra–Yorba Linda, Long Beach, Pasadena via Oak Knoll, Mount Lowe, Pasadena Short Line, Pomona, Riverside–Rialto, San Pedro via Dominguez, San Pedro via Gardena, Santa Ana, Santa Monica Air Line, Sierra Madre, Soldiers' Home, South Pasadena Local, Whittier
Los Angeles Railway B, H, J, R, 7, and 8
1905 1961
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