Equipment: | |
1911-1930*: | 500 Class |
1930-1940: | 800 Class |
1940-1946: | 1000 Class |
1946-1949: | 1200 Class |
*Approximate date of changeover. |
WIn addition, service operated for the Southern Pacific Company(five trips daily each way as of 1927) used 1000 Class equipment.
WOn Pico Ave., Long Beach, this line served the PE-SP Long Beach freight station and numerous spurs reached from this line to all parts of the Long Beach Harbor. PE had to relocate its Pico Ave.(Water Street) tracks in 1920 due to construction of the flood control channel.
Passengers:W(Fare and Transfer) | |||
Year | Passengers | Miles | Revenue |
1913 | 534,717 | 123,616 | $51,834 |
1914 | 556,832 | 139,609 | $54,787 |
1916 | 518,864 | 139,555 | $53,150 |
1918 | 1,221,959 | 254,149 | $123,709 |
1919 | 1,848,949 | 386,908 | $184,550 |
1920 | 1,636,137 | 330,223 | $217,575 |
1922 | 1,782,652 | 341,972 | $261,861 |
1924 | 1,807,550 | 363,011 | $224,122 |
1926 | 1,495,051 | 302,640 | $196,941 |
1928 | 1,596,072 | 335,474 | $171,127 |
1930 | 1,547,872 | 313,777 | $155,132 |
1932 | 1,276,144 | 268,822 | $134,056 |
1934 | 988,522 | 223,986 | $94,726 |
1936 | 1,291,861 | 256,297 | $132,668 |
1938 | 1,116,622 | 245,886 | $125,100 |
WThe West Basin portion of this line is recalled by old-timers as being one of PE's worst maintained lines. Until 1942 the line was used only for freight switching and the inbound track was usually used to store freight cars. To such people, the renaissence of this portion of the Long Beach-San Pedro Line was well nigh incredible. To give a professional railroader's opinion of the West Basin Line as it existed as late as 1944, we quote from a letter written by Mr. R.W. Putnam of the Southern Pacific who was asked to inspect and report on the condition of the line in that year:
WThe West Basin Line did get its 90 lb. rail and the rail was much better maintained for this was the only route into San Pedro (the Gardena route joined this route) after the bascule bridge was opened for the duration and later after it was removed. However, the sharp curves still remained and severely limited train speeds.
WUntil the advent of World War II, this line's 7.82 mile length was entirely double-tracked except for approximately 1.5 miles of single track operation between Gaspur and East Wilmington Junction where it joined the San Pedro via Dominguez Line. In 1942 this stretch of trackage was double-tracked to accommodate the heavy wartime traffic increase; not only of the Long Beach-San Pedro Line, but also of the Terminal Island Line which branched from it at Island Junction. This second track entered service on January 9, 1943, greatly increasing the capacity of this line.
WThere was another very short piece of single track: from 3rd Street, Long Beach, to near Ocean Avenue (Morgan Avenue Yard). This was double tracked in 1940.
WTrolley wire was de-energized from East Wilmington Junction to 7th & Pico on 12/30/55.