San Dimas Line facts for kids

The San Dimas Line was a special train route run by the Pacific Electric company. These trains were called "interurban" lines. This means they connected cities and towns that were a bit far apart. The San Dimas Line carried passengers between Downtown Los Angeles and San Dimas. It ran for about 14 years, from 1910 to 1924.

Journey of the San Dimas Line

The San Dimas Line started its journey in Downtown Los Angeles. It began at the 6th and Main Street station. From there, the trains moved onto an elevated track. This track went over the city streets. It helped the trains avoid traffic below.

Leaving Downtown Los Angeles

The trains then reached San Pedro Street. Here, the tracks were on the ground, right in the street. Two tracks ran side-by-side. They went north on San Pedro Street. Then they turned east onto Aliso Street. The line passed near Union Station. It then crossed the Los Angeles River and Mission Road. This crossing happened on a special bridge called the Aliso Street Viaduct.

Traveling Eastward

After crossing Mission Road, the tracks entered a "private right-of-way." This means the trains had their own special path. It was separate from regular roads. This path went east, then north. It passed under the Brooklyn Avenue Bridge. The tracks followed along a road called Ramona Boulevard. This road is now part of the I-10 Freeway.

The line continued past the Macy Carhouse. This was a place where trains were stored. It reached a spot called Enchandia Junction. Here, another train line, the South Pasadena Local, branched off. From this junction, the San Dimas Line headed east. It still followed Ramona Boulevard.

Through Many Towns

The tracks went through the State Street Yard. This was another area for trains. Then they arrived at Valley Junction. Here, the Pasadena Short Line and Monrovia–Glendora Line also branched off. From Valley Junction, the two tracks continued east. They were still on their private path. This path ran alongside Ramona Boulevard.

The line passed through many towns. These included City Terrace, Monterey Park, Alhambra, San Gabriel, and Rosemead. It continued until it reached Baldwin Avenue in El Monte.

River Crossings

From El Monte, the line kept going east on its private path. It crossed the Rio Hondo river. For this crossing, the line became a single track. It used a strong steel bridge. After the river, it went back to two tracks. It continued east, still next to Ramona Boulevard. The line crossed Valley Boulevard and Peck Road. It reached the eastern edge of El Monte at the San Gabriel River.

Again, the line became a single track to cross this river. It used a long wooden bridge. Once across, it returned to two tracks.

Reaching Covina and San Dimas

From the San Gabriel River, the line continued east. It stayed on its private path next to Ramona Boulevard. It reached Badillo Street in Baldwin Park. The two tracks then ran along Badillo Street. They went as far as Grand Avenue in Covina.

At Grand Avenue, the line became a single track. It ran on a private path along the north side of Badillo Street. This continued to Banna Avenue in Covina. Here, the line turned northeast. It ran on a private path that sometimes became Ruddock Street, Badillo Street, or Stratford Lane.

At Stratford Lane and Lone Hill Avenue, the main line turned east toward Pomona. But a special branch line continued northeast. This single track branch went right into San Dimas.

History of the San Dimas Line

The Pacific Electric trains first reached Covina in 1907. The line was then extended to San Dimas. The first trains arrived in San Dimas on October 26, 1910.

Changes Over Time

The Pacific Electric company focused on extending the main line to San Bernardino. Because of this, the San Dimas Line became mostly a "shuttle service." This means it mainly carried passengers back and forth between Lone Hill and San Dimas. This change happened after July 11, 1914.

Some trains still went all the way from San Dimas to Los Angeles. But this through-service stopped in 1916. Passenger service on the San Dimas Line ended completely by July 3, 1924. Even though passengers no longer rode the trains, the tracks were kept. They were used to carry farm freight, like crops, for some time after.