Balboa was the southernmost route of the Pacific Electric Railway

Pacific Electric Railway

The Pacific Electric Railway , also known as the Red Car system, was a mass transit system in Southern California using streetcars, light rail, and buses...

, running between Downtown Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...

 and the Balboa Peninsula

Balboa Peninsula, Newport Beach, California

The Balboa Peninsula is a neighborhood of the city of Newport Beach, Orange County, California. It is named for the famous Spanish explorer, Vasco Núñez de Balboa....

 in Orange County

Orange County, California

Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...

 by way of Long Beach

Long Beach, California

Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...

, though the route was later cut back to the Newport Dock. Though ridership early on was very high, it slowly dwindled to 55,390 in 1948. Today, the beach route between Long Beach and Balboa is heavily trafficked, and plans to revive rail service along this corridor have been proposed sporadically.

List of Major Stations

Station	Major Connections	Date Opened	Date Closed	City
Balboa
Pacific Electric Building Pacific Electric Building The Pacific Electric Building opened in 1905 as the terminal for the Pacific Electric Red Car Lines running east and south of downtown Los Angeles, as well as the company's main headquarters building. It was designed by architect Thornton Fitzhugh...	Alhambra-San Gabriel Alhambra-San Gabriel (Pacific Electric) Alhambra-San Gabriel was a line operated by the Pacific Electric Railway from 1901 to 1941, running from Downtown Los Angeles to Temple City.-List of Major Stations:-Sources:... , Annandale Annandale (Pacific Electric) Annandale was a line operated by the Pacific Electric Railway from 1902 to 1928. The line from the Pacific Electric Building at 6th and Main streets in Downtown Los Angeles to the town of Annandale , specifically at the intersection of Avenue 64 and La Loma Street.There was an early plan to extend... , Fullerton Fullerton (Pacific Electric) Fullerton was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway. The route, a later addition to the system, was not originally intended for passenger service unless a connection to Orange was completed. Despite this, the route was opened for service and closed down in 1938 due to low ridership.-List of Major... , Hawthorne-El Segundo Hawthorne-El Segundo (Pacific Electric) Hawthorne-El Segundo was a route of the Pacific Electric Railway, constructed in 1914. El Segundo began as a company town for Standard Oil, and was primarily used to deliver gasoline to the Southern Pacific main line. Due to low passenger usage, revenue service ended in 1935, but freight service... , La Habra-Yorba Linda La Habra-Yorba Linda (Pacific Electric) La Habra-Yorba Linda was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway. The route, passing through one of the most sparsely populated areas of Greater Los Angeles, was not originally intended for passenger service unless a connection to Corona was completed. Despite this, the route was opened for service... , Long Beach Long Beach (Pacific Electric) Long Beach was a route of the Pacific Electric Railway, constructed in 1902. It was the first line planned by Pacific Electric and the last to shut down in 1961. By that time, the route was operated by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority. The Metro Blue Line was built along most of the... , Monrovia-Glendora Monrovia-Glendora (Pacific Electric) Monrovia-Glendora was a route on the Pacific Electric Railway until 1950. A long stretch of the route was down present-day Huntington Drive.... , Mount Lowe Mount Lowe Railway The Mount Lowe Railway was the third in a series of scenic mountain railroads in America created as a tourist attraction on Echo Mountain and Mount Lowe, north of Los Angeles, California. The railway, originally incorporated by Professor Thaddeus S. C. Lowe as the Pasadena & Mt. Wilson Railroad Co... , Pasadena Short Line Pasadena Short Line (Pacific Electric) The Pasadena Short Line was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway, running from 1902 until 1951, between Downtown Los Angeles and Downtown Pasadena, California.-List of Major Stations:... , Pasadena via Oak Knoll Pasadena via Oak Knoll (Pacific Electric) Pasadena via Oak Knoll was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway, running from 1906 until 1950, between Downtown Los Angeles and Downtown Pasadena, California, with additional service to Altadena during rush hour.... , Pomona, Redlands, Redondo via Gardena Redondo via Gardena (Pacific Electric) Redondo via Gardena was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway. One of two routes to Redondo Beach, this one was faster than Redondo Beach via Playa del Rey as a result of its routing along the Watts 4-track main line.-List of Major Stations:... , Riverside-Rialto Riverside-Rialto (Pacific Electric) Riverside-Rialto was a line operated by the Pacific Electric Railway from 1914 to 1940, running from Downtown Los Angeles to Downtown Riverside. This was the longest line in the Pacific Electric, and the only line to have exclusive trackage owned by the Union Pacific instead of the Southern Pacific... , San Pedro via Dominguez San Pedro via Dominguez (Pacific Electric) -List of Major Stations:... , San Pedro via Gardena San Pedro via Gardena (Pacific Electric) San Pedro via Gardena San Pedro via Gardena San Pedro via Gardena (also known as San Pedro via Torrance was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway. This was the original route to San Pedro, built by the Los Angeles Interurban Railway in 1903 and Pacific Electric assumed control in 1911. The line... , Santa Ana Santa Ana (Pacific Electric) Santa Ana was a route of the Pacific Electric Railway, constructed in 1905 and bought by Pacific Electric in 1911, running from the Pacific Electric Building in Los Angeles to the Southern Pacific depot in Santa Ana, California. Santa Ana's location as the premier city of Orange County allowed the... , Santa Monica Air Line, Sierra Madre Sierra Madre (Pacific Electric) The Sierra Madre was a Pacific Electric interurban line which ran from the Pacific Electric Building in Los Angeles to Sierra Madre. The line opened to Pasadena on March 19, 1904, and was extended to Sierra Madre in 1906; it closed on October 6, 1950.... , Soldiers' Home Soldiers' Home The Soldiers' Home is an Italianate style house in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The Soldiers' House is located at 739 E. 35th St. The house was built in a series of phases from 1864 to 1923 by William W. Boyington and other various architects. It was designated a Chicago Landmark on April 16,... , South Pasadena Local South Pasadena Local (Pacific Electric) South Pasadena Local was an interurban line operated by the Pacific Electric Railway between Downtown Los Angeles and Downtown Pasadena, California by way of the Arroyo Seco Route. This line was originally built in 1895 as the Pasadena and Los Angeles Railway. In 1928 this line, as well as the... , Upland-San Bernardino Upland-San Bernardino (Pacific Electric) Upland-San Bernardino was an interurban line operated by the Pacific Electric Railway between Downtown Los Angeles and San Bernardino, California. This line also had shorter service that terminated before the end of the line at Baldwin Park, Covina, and San Dimas... , Whittier Whittier (Pacific Electric) The Whittier line was a line on the Pacific Electric Railway that operated between 1904 and 1935. The line served Downtown Los Angeles and Whittier via Huntington Park, Rivera, and Los Nietos. Due to its roundabout route, the line quickly lost out to bus and automobile service along Whittier... , LAR Routes B, H, J, R, 7, and 8 Los Angeles Railway The Los Angeles Railway was a system of streetcars that operated in central Los Angeles, California and the immediate surrounding neighborhoods between from 1901 and 1963. Except for two short funicular railways it operated on tracks...	1905	1961	Los Angeles
Amoco	Fullerton Fullerton (Pacific Electric) Fullerton was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway. The route, a later addition to the system, was not originally intended for passenger service unless a connection to Orange was completed. Despite this, the route was opened for service and closed down in 1938 due to low ridership.-List of Major... , Hawthorne-El Segundo Hawthorne-El Segundo (Pacific Electric) Hawthorne-El Segundo was a route of the Pacific Electric Railway, constructed in 1914. El Segundo began as a company town for Standard Oil, and was primarily used to deliver gasoline to the Southern Pacific main line. Due to low passenger usage, revenue service ended in 1935, but freight service... , La Habra-Yorba Linda La Habra-Yorba Linda (Pacific Electric) La Habra-Yorba Linda was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway. The route, passing through one of the most sparsely populated areas of Greater Los Angeles, was not originally intended for passenger service unless a connection to Corona was completed. Despite this, the route was opened for service... , Long Beach Long Beach (Pacific Electric) Long Beach was a route of the Pacific Electric Railway, constructed in 1902. It was the first line planned by Pacific Electric and the last to shut down in 1961. By that time, the route was operated by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority. The Metro Blue Line was built along most of the... , Redondo via Gardena Redondo via Gardena (Pacific Electric) Redondo via Gardena was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway. One of two routes to Redondo Beach, this one was faster than Redondo Beach via Playa del Rey as a result of its routing along the Watts 4-track main line.-List of Major Stations:... , San Pedro via Dominguez San Pedro via Dominguez (Pacific Electric) -List of Major Stations:... , San Pedro via Gardena San Pedro via Gardena (Pacific Electric) San Pedro via Gardena San Pedro via Gardena San Pedro via Gardena (also known as San Pedro via Torrance was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway. This was the original route to San Pedro, built by the Los Angeles Interurban Railway in 1903 and Pacific Electric assumed control in 1911. The line... , Santa Ana Santa Ana (Pacific Electric) Santa Ana was a route of the Pacific Electric Railway, constructed in 1905 and bought by Pacific Electric in 1911, running from the Pacific Electric Building in Los Angeles to the Southern Pacific depot in Santa Ana, California. Santa Ana's location as the premier city of Orange County allowed the... , Santa Monica Air Line, Soldiers' Home Soldiers' Home The Soldiers' Home is an Italianate style house in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The Soldiers' House is located at 739 E. 35th St. The house was built in a series of phases from 1864 to 1923 by William W. Boyington and other various architects. It was designated a Chicago Landmark on April 16,... , Whittier Whittier (Pacific Electric) The Whittier line was a line on the Pacific Electric Railway that operated between 1904 and 1935. The line served Downtown Los Angeles and Whittier via Huntington Park, Rivera, and Los Nietos. Due to its roundabout route, the line quickly lost out to bus and automobile service along Whittier...	1902	1961
Slauson Junction Slauson (LACMTA Station) Slauson is a station on the Los Angeles County Metro Blue Line. It consists of one island platform on the elevated Blue Line right-of-way over Slauson Avenue in the unincorporated community of Florence.-Metro Rail service:...	Fullerton Fullerton (Pacific Electric) Fullerton was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway. The route, a later addition to the system, was not originally intended for passenger service unless a connection to Orange was completed. Despite this, the route was opened for service and closed down in 1938 due to low ridership.-List of Major... , Hawthorne-El Segundo Hawthorne-El Segundo (Pacific Electric) Hawthorne-El Segundo was a route of the Pacific Electric Railway, constructed in 1914. El Segundo began as a company town for Standard Oil, and was primarily used to deliver gasoline to the Southern Pacific main line. Due to low passenger usage, revenue service ended in 1935, but freight service... , La Habra-Yorba Linda La Habra-Yorba Linda (Pacific Electric) La Habra-Yorba Linda was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway. The route, passing through one of the most sparsely populated areas of Greater Los Angeles, was not originally intended for passenger service unless a connection to Corona was completed. Despite this, the route was opened for service... , Long Beach Long Beach (Pacific Electric) Long Beach was a route of the Pacific Electric Railway, constructed in 1902. It was the first line planned by Pacific Electric and the last to shut down in 1961. By that time, the route was operated by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority. The Metro Blue Line was built along most of the... , Redondo via Gardena Redondo via Gardena (Pacific Electric) Redondo via Gardena was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway. One of two routes to Redondo Beach, this one was faster than Redondo Beach via Playa del Rey as a result of its routing along the Watts 4-track main line.-List of Major Stations:... , San Pedro via Dominguez San Pedro via Dominguez (Pacific Electric) -List of Major Stations:... , San Pedro via Gardena San Pedro via Gardena (Pacific Electric) San Pedro via Gardena San Pedro via Gardena San Pedro via Gardena (also known as San Pedro via Torrance was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway. This was the original route to San Pedro, built by the Los Angeles Interurban Railway in 1903 and Pacific Electric assumed control in 1911. The line... , Santa Ana Santa Ana (Pacific Electric) Santa Ana was a route of the Pacific Electric Railway, constructed in 1905 and bought by Pacific Electric in 1911, running from the Pacific Electric Building in Los Angeles to the Southern Pacific depot in Santa Ana, California. Santa Ana's location as the premier city of Orange County allowed the... , Whittier Whittier (Pacific Electric) The Whittier line was a line on the Pacific Electric Railway that operated between 1904 and 1935. The line served Downtown Los Angeles and Whittier via Huntington Park, Rivera, and Los Nietos. Due to its roundabout route, the line quickly lost out to bus and automobile service along Whittier...	1902	1961
Watts Watts Station Watts Station is a train station built in 1904 in Watts, Los Angeles, California. It was one of the first buildings in Watts and, for many years, it was a major stop for the Pacific Electric Railway's "Red Car" service between Los Angeles and Long Beach. It was the only structure that remained...	Hawthorne-El Segundo Hawthorne-El Segundo (Pacific Electric) Hawthorne-El Segundo was a route of the Pacific Electric Railway, constructed in 1914. El Segundo began as a company town for Standard Oil, and was primarily used to deliver gasoline to the Southern Pacific main line. Due to low passenger usage, revenue service ended in 1935, but freight service... , Long Beach Long Beach (Pacific Electric) Long Beach was a route of the Pacific Electric Railway, constructed in 1902. It was the first line planned by Pacific Electric and the last to shut down in 1961. By that time, the route was operated by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority. The Metro Blue Line was built along most of the... , Redondo via Gardena Redondo via Gardena (Pacific Electric) Redondo via Gardena was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway. One of two routes to Redondo Beach, this one was faster than Redondo Beach via Playa del Rey as a result of its routing along the Watts 4-track main line.-List of Major Stations:... , San Pedro via Dominguez San Pedro via Dominguez (Pacific Electric) -List of Major Stations:... , San Pedro via Gardena San Pedro via Gardena (Pacific Electric) San Pedro via Gardena San Pedro via Gardena San Pedro via Gardena (also known as San Pedro via Torrance was a line of the Pacific Electric Railway. This was the original route to San Pedro, built by the Los Angeles Interurban Railway in 1903 and Pacific Electric assumed control in 1911. The line... , Santa Ana Santa Ana (Pacific Electric) Santa Ana was a route of the Pacific Electric Railway, constructed in 1905 and bought by Pacific Electric in 1911, running from the Pacific Electric Building in Los Angeles to the Southern Pacific depot in Santa Ana, California. Santa Ana's location as the premier city of Orange County allowed the...	1902	1961
Compton Compton (LACMTA Station) Compton is a station on the Los Angeles County Metro Blue Line. It has an island platform, and is located in the median of Willowbrook Avenue at Compton Boulevard roughly in the center of Compton, California...	Long Beach Long Beach (Pacific Electric) Long Beach was a route of the Pacific Electric Railway, constructed in 1902. It was the first line planned by Pacific Electric and the last to shut down in 1961. By that time, the route was operated by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority. The Metro Blue Line was built along most of the... , San Pedro via Dominguez San Pedro via Dominguez (Pacific Electric) -List of Major Stations:...	1902	1961	Compton Compton, California Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
Dominguez Junction	Long Beach Long Beach (Pacific Electric) Long Beach was a route of the Pacific Electric Railway, constructed in 1902. It was the first line planned by Pacific Electric and the last to shut down in 1961. By that time, the route was operated by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority. The Metro Blue Line was built along most of the... , San Pedro via Dominguez San Pedro via Dominguez (Pacific Electric) -List of Major Stations:...	1902	1961	Rancho Dominguez Rancho Dominguez, California Rancho Dominguez is a former settlement, now an unincorporated community, in Los Angeles County, California. It was located near East Rancho Dominguez. Rancho Dominguez is located between Long Beach, California and Carson, California....
Willowville Willow (LACMTA Station) Willow is a station on the Los Angeles County Metro Blue Line. It has an island platform, and is adjacent to Long Beach Boulevard near the intersection of Willow Street in the city of Long Beach, California...	Long Beach Long Beach (Pacific Electric) Long Beach was a route of the Pacific Electric Railway, constructed in 1902. It was the first line planned by Pacific Electric and the last to shut down in 1961. By that time, the route was operated by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority. The Metro Blue Line was built along most of the...	1902	1961	Long Beach Long Beach, California Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
Zaferia		1904	1950
Alamitos Heights	Alamitos Heights	1904	1950
Naples		1904	1950
Seal Beach	Alamitos Bay	1904	1950	Seal Beach Seal Beach, California -Neighborhoods:Seal Beach encompasses the Leisure World retirement gated community with roughly 9,000 residents. This was the first major planned retirement community of its type in the U.S...
Sunset Beach		1904	1950	Huntington Beach Huntington Beach, California Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County in Southern California. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 189,992; making it the largest beach city in Orange County in terms of population...
Huntington Beach	Huntington Beach-La Bolsa, Santa Ana-Huntington Beach	1904	1950
Newport Beach		1905	1950	Newport Beach Newport Beach, California Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
Balboa		1906	1940

Sources

• Electric Rail Heritage Association