Riverside–Rialto Line facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Riverside–Rialto |
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The former Rialto Depot, seen in 2008. The ticket window is still intact, but unused.
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| Overview | |
| Owner | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Locale | Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley, Inland Empire |
| Termini | Pacific Electric Building Downtown Riverside |
| Stations | 71 |
| Service | |
| Type | Interurban |
| System | Pacific Electric |
| Operator(s) | Pacific Electric |
| Rolling stock | 1300 class (last used) |
| History | |
| Opened | May 1, 1908 |
| Closed | November 18, 1940 |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Electrification | 600 V / 1200 V DC Overhead lines |
The Riverside–Rialto was a special train service. It was run by the Pacific Electric Railway company. This service operated from 1914 to 1940. It connected Downtown Los Angeles to Downtown Riverside.
This train line was the longest one in the Pacific Electric system. It was also unique because it used tracks owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. Most other Pacific Electric lines used tracks owned by the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Riverside–Rialto line had its most passengers when it first opened. However, it never reached that many riders again. This was partly because the Inland Empire area had fewer people back then. Also, traveling such a long distance by train was not common.
Contents
History of the Train Line
Building the First Tracks
The train line started being built in 1907. A company called Riverside Portland Cement Company built it. They wanted to connect their new factory to the main national rail network in Riverside. This way, they could easily move their products.
The train service was first called The Crescent City Railway Company. Another company, The Riverside & Arlington Railway Company, ran the trains. Regular service began on May 18, 1908. At first, the line mainly carried workers to the cement plant.
Joining Pacific Electric
Later, The Riverside & Arlington Railway Company became part of Pacific Electric. This happened during a big event called the "Great Merger." This merger brought many smaller train lines together.
The train line was extended over time. It reached Bloomington on March 11, 1911. Finally, it reached Rialto on March 25, 1914. For a while, these trains only offered local service. This meant passengers traveling from Los Angeles to Riverside had to take a longer trip and change trains in San Bernardino.
Changes in Service
On March 15, 1915, most local trips changed. They became "through trips" to the Pacific Electric Building in Downtown Los Angeles. This meant passengers could travel directly without changing trains. These trains were connected to the San Bernardino Line trains.
Between May 1921 and 1929, some local trains went further north. They traveled as far as Foothill Boulevard in Rialto. These were the only scheduled trips to that specific point.
By November 2, 1931, all trips went directly to Los Angeles. This happened because the service to the cement plant stopped. But this direct service did not last long. By 1935, almost all trips went back to being local. The direct trips to Los Angeles ended completely in 1938.
End of Service
The train service was greatly reduced by June 9, 1940. Only one trip ran between Riverside and Rialto. The Riverside–Rialto train service stopped completely on November 18, 1940.
Major Train Stations
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