Los Angeles and Independence Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Los Angeles and Independence Railroad (LA&I), opened October 17, 1875, was a steam powered
rail line which travelled from a wharf North of the current Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica
along a private right-of-way to 5th and San Pedro Street in downtown Los Angeles
. Intended to eventually reach San Bernardino
and Independence
via Cajon Pass
to serve the Cerro Gordo Mines
near Panamint
, the line was never extended past downtown Los Angeles and was eventually acquired by Southern Pacific Railroad
.
The right-of-way was sold to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
in 1990 and a majority of it is now used for the Expo Line light rail line.
, John P. Jones
, Robert S. Baker
, T. N. Park, James A. Pritchard, J. S. Slauson
, and J. U. Crawford, as directors. Col. Crawford was the engineer and general manager.
The 16.67 miles (26.8 km) of track between Los Angeles
and Santa Monica
were privately built without government subsidies or land grants, all in a little over ten months - primarily using 67 Chinese laborers imported for the task. Right-of-way between Los Angeles and Santa Monica was given by local ranchers who were anxious to have access to a railroad. The line opened October 17, 1875, with two trains a day running between Santa Monica and Los Angeles; the fare was fixed at $1.00 per trip, freight at $1.00 per ton.
Opposition to continued construction East of Los Angeles by Southern Pacific Railroad
's refusal to allow crossing of their main line tracks, and the unexpected depletion and closure of the Panamint silver mine in 1877 (owned by Jones
), led to severe fiscal difficulties for the young steam line. On July 4, 1877 the Los Angeles & Independence was acquired by Southern Pacific.
New owner Southern Pacific extended the existing wharf to allow access to larger ships by 1891. The wharf allowed ship-to-shore offloading, making the line a freight and passenger hauler of growing importance.
However, the U.S. Government's 1899 decision to build a breakwater in San Pedro and create the Port of Los Angeles
, effectively doomed both natural harbors' (Redondo Beach
and Santa Monica
) use for commercial shipping traffic.
With the Port of Los Angeles
nearing completion in 1908 and Santa Monica shipping traffic ceasing, Southern Pacific leased the railroad line and Santa Monica wharf to Los Angeles Pacific (a forerunner to Pacific Electric) which electrified the portion between the long wharf and Sentous
(La Cienega) in that year. The remainder of the line was electrified by 1911 when various electric railroads merged under the Pacific Electric name. The wharf was demolished in 1913.
, providing electric freight and passenger service between Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
rail line which travelled from a wharf North of the current Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
along a private right-of-way to 5th and San Pedro Street in downtown Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Intended to eventually reach San Bernardino
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
and Independence
Independence, California
Independence is the county seat of Inyo County, California. Independence is located south-southeast of Bishop, at an elevation of 3930 feet . The population of this census-designated place was 669 at the 2010 census, up from 574 at the 2000 census....
via Cajon Pass
Cajon Pass
Cajon Pass is a moderate-elevation mountain pass between the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California in the United States. It was created by the movements of the San Andreas Fault...
to serve the Cerro Gordo Mines
Cerro Gordo Mines
The Cerro Gordo Mines were a collection of mines located in the Inyo Mountains, in Inyo County, California. Mining operations were undertaken from 1866 until 1957, producing high grade silver, lead, and zinc ore. Some ore was smelted on site, however the remote location led to larger scale...
near Panamint
Panamint City, California
Panamint City is a ghost town in the Panamint Range, near Death Valley, in Inyo County, California, USA. It is also known by the official Board of Geographic Names identity, Panamint. Panamint was a boom town founded after silver and copper were found there in 1872. By 1874, the town had a...
, the line was never extended past downtown Los Angeles and was eventually acquired by Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
.
The right-of-way was sold to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the California state-chartered regional transportation planning agency and public transportation operating agency for the County of Los Angeles formed in 1993 out of a merger of the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the...
in 1990 and a majority of it is now used for the Expo Line light rail line.
History
The Los Angeles and Independence Railroad Company was incorporated in January, 1875 with Francisco P. TempleFrancisco P. Temple
Francisco P. Temple served on the first Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in 1852.-Biography:...
, John P. Jones
John P. Jones
John Percival Jones was an American politician who served for 30 years as a Republican United States Senator from Nevada. He made a fortune in silver mining and was a co-founder of the town of Santa Monica, California....
, Robert S. Baker
Robert S. Baker
Robert Sidney Baker was a British film and television producer, who at times was also a cinematographer and director.- Movie career :...
, T. N. Park, James A. Pritchard, J. S. Slauson
J. S. Slauson
Jonathan Sayre Slauson was a land developer who founded the town of Azusa, California in 1887. He was elected to the Los Angeles Board of Education on December 5, 1904 for a two year term. However, Slauson resigned on September 23, 1905. His resignation was accepted a week later when Wilson...
, and J. U. Crawford, as directors. Col. Crawford was the engineer and general manager.
The 16.67 miles (26.8 km) of track between Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and Santa Monica
Santa Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
were privately built without government subsidies or land grants, all in a little over ten months - primarily using 67 Chinese laborers imported for the task. Right-of-way between Los Angeles and Santa Monica was given by local ranchers who were anxious to have access to a railroad. The line opened October 17, 1875, with two trains a day running between Santa Monica and Los Angeles; the fare was fixed at $1.00 per trip, freight at $1.00 per ton.
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
's refusal to allow crossing of their main line tracks, and the unexpected depletion and closure of the Panamint silver mine in 1877 (owned by Jones
John P. Jones
John Percival Jones was an American politician who served for 30 years as a Republican United States Senator from Nevada. He made a fortune in silver mining and was a co-founder of the town of Santa Monica, California....
), led to severe fiscal difficulties for the young steam line. On July 4, 1877 the Los Angeles & Independence was acquired by Southern Pacific.
New owner Southern Pacific extended the existing wharf to allow access to larger ships by 1891. The wharf allowed ship-to-shore offloading, making the line a freight and passenger hauler of growing importance.
However, the U.S. Government's 1899 decision to build a breakwater in San Pedro and create the Port of Los Angeles
Port of Los Angeles
The Port of Los Angeles, also called Los Angeles Harbor and WORLDPORT L.A, is a port complex that occupies of land and water along of waterfront. The port is located on San Pedro Bay in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles, approximately south of downtown...
, effectively doomed both natural harbors' (Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach may refer to:*Redondo Beach, California, USA*Redondo Beach, Washington, USA, a small board-walk beach in Des Moines, Washington*Redondo Beach , by Patti Smith and covered by Morrissey*Redonda Beach, a similarly named place in Portugal...
and Santa Monica
Santa Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
) use for commercial shipping traffic.
With the Port of Los Angeles
Port of Los Angeles
The Port of Los Angeles, also called Los Angeles Harbor and WORLDPORT L.A, is a port complex that occupies of land and water along of waterfront. The port is located on San Pedro Bay in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles, approximately south of downtown...
nearing completion in 1908 and Santa Monica shipping traffic ceasing, Southern Pacific leased the railroad line and Santa Monica wharf to Los Angeles Pacific (a forerunner to Pacific Electric) which electrified the portion between the long wharf and Sentous
La Cienega/Jefferson (Los Angeles Metro station)
La Cienega/Jefferson Station is a future elevated light rail station in the Los Angeles County Metro Rail system. It will be located at the intersection of La Cienega Boulevard and Jefferson Boulevard in Los Angeles. When it opens, this station will be served by the Expo Line. This station is...
(La Cienega) in that year. The remainder of the line was electrified by 1911 when various electric railroads merged under the Pacific Electric name. The wharf was demolished in 1913.
Santa Monica Air Line
By 1920 the line was well known as the Santa Monica Air Line of the Pacific Electric RailwayPacific 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...
, providing electric freight and passenger service between Los Angeles and Santa Monica.