Southern California Railway facts for kids
The Southern California Railway was a railroad company that helped connect different parts of Southern California. It was first created on November 7, 1889. This happened when three smaller railway companies joined together: the California Southern Railroad, the California Central Railway, and the Redondo Beach Railway.
Later, on June 27, 1892, the Southern California Railway became even bigger. It joined with two more companies: the Santa Fe and Santa Monica Railway and the San Bernardino & Eastern Railway.
On May 1, 1899, the Southern California Railway also took over the Elsinore, Pomona and Los Angeles Railway. Finally, on January 17, 1906, all the railway lines that belonged to the Southern California Railway were given to a much larger company, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.
San Bernardino and Eastern Railway
The San Bernardino and Eastern Railway was started on August 11, 1890. Its goal was to build a railway line from the city of San Bernardino, California through Highland, California. This new line would connect with the Southern California Railway's main line near San Bernardino.
It was planned to connect at Mentone, California. This connection would use existing tracks that were built in 1887 by the San Bernardino Valley Railway Company.
Santa Fe and Santa Monica Railway
The Santa Fe and Santa Monica Railway Company was created to build a line from a place called "Mesmer Station." This station was on the Southern California Railway's line, located between Inglewood, California and Port Ballona (which is now Playa del Rey, Los Angeles). The new line would go all the way to Santa Monica, California.
This railway line and its right to operate were sold on March 21, 1902. They were bought by the Los Angeles Pacific Railroad Company. This sale included the railway line from Inglewood to near Mesmer Station, which had been built by the Los Angeles and Santa Monica Railroad Company.
Elsinore, Pomona and Los Angeles Railway
The Elsinore, Pomona and Los Angeles Railway Company was started on December 6, 1895. It planned to build a railway line starting from Lake Elsinore, California, in Riverside County. The line would go northwest through Pomona to Azusa, which is in Los Angeles County. There was also a plan for a branch line from Pomona to Lordsburg College.
However, only a small part of this railway was actually built. Construction was completed for just 7.8 miles. This section went from Elsinore Junction, where it connected with the Southern California Railway, to Alberhill. This short railway line was then given to the Southern California Railway Company on May 1, 1899.
