UP Pasadena Branch

[081552]

I live in Altadena and drive the Pasadena (110) freeway several times a week. The former UP branch is visible near Avenue 52.

I just read in the Octobder '56 Tains Magainze an excursion that took the Pacific Electric from L.A. to San Pedro, rode a UP steam train from San Pedro to Pasadena, and returned to L.A. in reverse. Wow!

It's amazing to think Pasadena was once served by three railroads.

[West Coast S]

God day 081522 from Torrance

Some PE/UP/SF Pasadena history: 

PE had a private ROW along Huntington Drive and entered Pasadena via street trackage on Green Street to Colorado Blvd. through the heart of downtown Pasadena, crossing the AT&SF at grade and terminating at the carhouse at Lake and Colorado Blvd, after the demise of the PE the carhouse continued to serve buses but was severly damaged during the San Fernando quake and razed shortly thereafter.

The single track Oak Knoll Line proceeded east from Lake Ave. serving as a short line route to South Pasadena eventually rejoining the Northen District 4 tracks at Ontanta Park. The Pasadena, Oak Knoll and Northern District lines were all abandoned on October 10 1951.  

The double tracked AT&SF 3rd district was the primary pasenger route into and out of LA typically hosting 6 first class trains a day plus mail and extras, except for locals, freight operations were kept to a minium due to the severe grades and possible interferrence with passenger train schedules. AT&SF sold the 3rd district to the MTA in 1994 for light rail developement after years of limited use.   

The UP was a minor player in Passadena serving several packing houses, light industries and not much else, it did briefly offer local passenger service which ended with the depression.

How about this for a local fantrip:

Depart from 6th and Main on the PE to Beverly Hills, return on the Santa Monica Air Line to downtown continue on the PE to Huntington Beach, transfer to the SP's Huntington Branch to Santa Ana, Santa Fe's 4th district from Santa Ana to San Bernadino, return via the 3rd district to Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal. Such a trip occured in 1940 weeks before abandonment of the Beverly Hill line.

Dave