Redondo Junction, California facts for kids
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Redondo Junction, California is a very important place for trains! It's where Amtrak trains get fixed and prepared for their long journeys. This busy train hub is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) south of Los Angeles Union Station. It's located southwest of Boyle Heights, close to Washington Boulevard and the Los Angeles River.
Redondo Junction helps keep many of Amtrak's long-distance trains running smoothly. These include the Southwest Chief, Coast Starlight, Sunset Limited, and Texas Eagle. It also services the regional train, the Pacific Surfliner.
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History of Redondo Junction
Redondo Junction has a long and interesting history with trains. It has been a key spot for railways in Southern California for over a hundred years.
Early Railways and Connections
The California Central Railway built a 13-mile (21 km) train line. It ran from Port Ballona (which is now Playa del Rey, Los Angeles) to Redondo Junction. This line opened in September 1887. Soon after, Redondo Junction became a major place for fixing and maintaining trains. The California Central Railway also had a line from Redondo Junction to Los Angeles's La Grande Station.
Another important railway, the Redondo Beach Railway, also connected to Redondo Junction. This railway started in April 1888. A famous businessman named Henry E. Huntington owned a lot of it. The Redondo Beach Railway began operating on September 1, 1888. This line stretched 11 miles (18 km) from Redondo Beach to Inglewood, California.
Redondo Beach and Tourism
The train lines helped make Redondo Beach a popular spot for tourists. In 1890, the Hotel Redondo opened, attracting many visitors. The very first train from Inglewood to downtown Los Angeles ran on April 16, 1888. It used the California Central Railway tracks, passing right through Redondo Junction.
The California Central Railway also finished a line that went south. This line started at Redondo Junction and went to Orange. It then continued to Anaheim, San Juan Capistrano, Oceanside, and finally to San Diego. Today, the Pacific Surfliner train still uses parts of this historic line from San Diego to Santa Ana.
Santa Fe Railway and the Roundhouse
On November 7, 1889, the California Central Railway joined with the Southern California Railway Company. This company had started operating in 1888 as part of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. In 1914, Santa Fe built a large roundhouse at Redondo Junction. This roundhouse had 25 tracks and was used to service trains. It also had a huge railway turntable that was 120 feet (37 m) long.
A Serious Train Accident
On January 22, 1956, a serious train accident happened at Redondo Junction. It involved Santa Fe trains and was a very difficult event for the city. It was one of the first major disasters in Los Angeles to be shown live on television. The accident happened when two trains, called RDCs, went off the tracks on a sharp curve.
Amtrak Takes Over
Redondo Junction was sold to Amtrak in January 1977. In May 1999, Amtrak built new buildings and facilities just north of where the old 1914 roundhouse stood. The old roundhouse was taken down in August 2000 to make room for future train servicing areas. However, the large railway turntable from the old roundhouse is still at the site today.
Redondo Junction Project
A big improvement project at Redondo Junction was finished in 2002. This project was very important for train safety and traffic. It helped separate passenger trains from freight trains. This means that Amtrak and Metrolink passenger train lines now go over the Alameda Corridor in Los Angeles. This way, passenger trains don't have to wait for slower freight trains, making travel smoother and safer.
