This article is about a historical rail line in Los Angeles. For the modern light rail line, see A Line (Los Angeles Metro).
A
Streetcar
SystemLos Angeles Railway
LocaleLos Angeles
Daily ridership14,775 (1940)[1]
OpenMay 9, 1920
CloseJune 30, 1946

A refers to several streetcar routes in Los Angeles, California. The lines were operated by the Los Angeles Railway and its successor, Los Angeles Transit Lines, from 1920 to 1946.

History

1920–1932

Los Angeles Railway rerouted many lines on May 9, 1920,[2] assigning them letter designations the following year.[3][4] The A line ran along Adams; Normandie Avenue; 24th; Hoover; Burlington; 16th; Hill; 1st; Spring; North Main; Sunset; North Broadway; Lincoln Park Avenue; looping back via North Main to Plaza; thence to west terminal over above route.[5] In 1924, the lines was split in two and was given numeric designations. The 2 West Adams and North Main Street Line operated on those streets as well as a portion of the former C Griffith and Griffin Avenue Line. The 3 West Adams and Lincoln Park Line also ran on Main Street.[6] In 1926, the A-2 was rerouted to Griffin Park. The two routes were recombined in 1930 as a single A line.[7]

1932–1939

A new A line started service on June 12, 1932.[8][9][10] It was formed by the Adams Avenue segment of the former service and the Angeleno Heights segment of the G Griffith and Angeleno Heights Line. A branch at Edgeware Road opened in 1934, and the main service was rerouted on this line starting in 1938.[11]

1939–46

Cars began running through the Hill Street Tunnel in July 1939.[12] The final and longest lived routing of the A began service on September 25, 1939. It was predominantly formed from the old A line as well as Temple Street taken from the L West 11th and West Temple Street Line. Tracks on Fountain were removed from service in 1942, and the line ceased to operate on June 30, 1946.[7][13]

See also

Sources

  1. ^ Breivogel, Milton & Bate, Stuart (1942). "Mass Transit Facilities and Master Plan of Parkways". Los Angeles City Planning Commission. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Street Car Rerouting". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. May 5, 1920. p. 10. Retrieved 7 February 2022. – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "May 1: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History". Metro Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library and Archive. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved 16 February 2022. 1921: Large letter signs indicating the routes of different lines are placed on top of Los Angeles Railway streetcars.
  4. ^ "Cars To Have Letter Signs". Two Bells. Vol. 1, no. 48. Los Angeles Railway. May 2, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  5. ^
  6. ^ "Car Marks to be Changed". Los Angeles Times. December 1, 1924. p. 27. Retrieved 11 February 2022. – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "'A'". Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Spring Street Extension to be Opened This Week". Los Angeles Times. June 19, 1932. p. 17. Retrieved 17 February 2022. – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Transit Routes to Change". Los Angeles Times. 3 June 1932. p. 17. Retrieved 29 July 2022. – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "New Street Car Routes in Effect". Los Angeles Times. 13 June 1932. p. 13. Retrieved 29 July 2022. – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ H.P. Noordwal (1938). "Route Map Los Angeles Railway Electric Car and Bus Routes". Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.. Los Angeles Railway. "Alternate link". via Google
  12. ^ "Timepoints The Southern California Traction Review · Volumes 1-7". Southern California Division, Electric Railroaders' Association. 1950. p. 7.
  13. ^ "Busses Take Over A Line; Other Changes". The Los Angeles Times. July 1, 1946. p. 13. Retrieved 21 December 2022. – via Newspapers.com.