Colton Line

Colton
File:Eighth Street, Colton late 1910s.jpg Car 136 in service on 8th Street in Colton, 1910
Overview
Locale	Inland Empire
Termini	San Bernardino Colton
Service
Type	Streetcar
System	Pacific Electric
History
Opened	1902 (1902)
Closed	February 22, 1942 (1942-02-22)
Technical
Line length	4.24 mi (6.82 km)
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead line, 600 V DC
Route map File:BSicon uCONTg.svg Highland Arrowhead Error creating thumbnail: File:BSicon udBHFq.svg File:BSicon udLSTRq.svg San Bernardino File:BSicon uHST.svg F Street File:BSicon uHST.svg G Street File:BSicon uHST.svg H Street File:BSicon uHST.svg I Street File:BSicon uHST.svg Carter Avenue File:BSicon STR+l.svg File:BSicon umKRZ.svg File:BSicon CONTfq.svg ATSF File:BSicon STR.svg File:BSicon uHST.svg Kendall Avenue File:BSicon STR.svg File:BSicon uHST.svg K Street File:BSicon HUBaq.svg File:BSicon INT.svg File:BSicon HUBeq.svg File:BSicon uHST.svg Santa Fe Depot File:BSicon CONTf.svg File:BSicon uHST.svg 3rd Street & Mount Vernon File:BSicon uHST.svg 2nd Street File:BSicon uHST.svg King File:BSicon uCONTgq.svg File:BSicon uHST.svg File:BSicon uSTRq.svg File:BSicon uLSTRq.svg Rialto Avenue Upland–San Bernardino File:BSicon uHST.svg Atlantic & Bellview Avenues File:BSicon uHST.svg Pacific & Central Avenues File:BSicon uHST.svg Walnut Street File:BSicon uHST.svg Birch Street File:BSicon uHST.svg Poplar Street File:BSicon uHST.svg Oak Street File:BSicon uHST.svg Mill Street File:BSicon uHST.svg Esperanza File:BSicon uHST.svg La Cadena Curve File:BSicon uHST.svg Vandemark File:BSicon uHST.svg La Cadena Siding File:BSicon uHST.svg 9th & La Cadena File:BSicon uHST.svg 8th & La Cadena File:BSicon uHST.svg Pettijohn File:BSicon uHST.svg Olive File:BSicon uHST.svg A Street File:BSicon uHST.svg B Street File:BSicon uHST.svg C Street File:BSicon uHST.svg D Street File:BSicon uHST.svg E Street File:BSicon uHST.svg F Street File:BSicon uHST.svg G Street File:BSicon uHST.svg H Street File:BSicon uHST.svg I Street File:BSicon uHST.svg 8th & J Streets File:BSicon uCONTgq.svg File:BSicon uKBHFe.svg File:BSicon uSTRq.svg File:BSicon uLSTRq.svg Colton (9th & J Streets) San Bernardino–Riverside

The Colton Line was a local streetcar line, mostly known as being a service of the Pacific Electric. It operated between Colton and San Bernardino, one of two lines in service between the two cities.

History

The line was established by the San Bernardino Valley Traction Company. The first cars operated over the line on February 22, 1902, but a derailment at Third and E in San Bernardino necessitated more work on the line. Initially planned to open for revenue service on August 26, 1902, the opening was eventually delayed to September 2. However, the Southern Pacific Railroad opposed the new line crossing their steam line in Colton and delayed opening further. The company was absorbed into the Pacific Electric in 1911. In 1913 the service was through-routed with the D Street–Highland Avenue Line. Completion of the more direct San Bernardino–Riverside Line in late 1914 greatly reduced demand on the line, with ridership reduced by more than half on the old line the following year. Despite its lesser popularity, the Colton Line outlasted the shorter route, remaining in service until February 22, 1942.

Route

The line started at the Colton station at 9th and J Streets near Colton Crossing where passengers interchanged with transcontinental trains. Cars ran west on J for a block before turning north on 8th Street. At Vernon Avenue, the tracks ran northward until the main line at 3rd Street where a right turn continued into San Bernardino.

The line connected the joint Pacific Electric and Southern Pacific stations in San Bernardino and Colton via the San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot.