Nostalgia & History > SP Kodachrome taking the SP Side to the LA Harbor

Before the Alameda Corridor SP had two routes to the LA/Long Beach Harbor complex.Here from March of 1987 SP9331 is leaving the "J"Yard and beginning her trip down the SP Side along Alameda StreetThe other side was called the PE side which now has the Blue Line next to it.The trench occupies this location today.Bill Webb

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The former PE side you're referring to was named the Wilmington Branch after the 1965 merger. Prior to '65 it had
no name since it was PE's 'main track' going south out of L.A. The SP side had for many years been 
called the San Pedro Branch and remained so. Lots of memories here, Bill.

Charlie

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/19 08:27 by cewherry.

Your photo certainly says "Los Angeles." Thanks for posting.

I believe he's on the oldest RR in the Los Angeles area, Phinias Banning's Los Angeles and San Pedro, built before the SP was out of Bakersfield.
Over the decades and centuries that right of way morphed from the RR to Alameda St. on each side to Alameda St paved over the tracks in downtown to the downtown area by-passed for through freights via the UP to much of the "south branches" traffic diverted to the Puente line and Santa Ana branch to abandonment of the downtown part when industrial spurs went away to consolidation of all RR traffic from J Yard south in the corridor, all grade separated.
Yes this is an interesting place and likely to remain a vital part of the network for the next century.

King_Coal Wrote:
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> Your photo certainly says "Los Angeles." Thanks
> for posting.

Yes, thanks for posting this example. I missed all of this, my few visits to the area were after the Trench was in operation.

As a kid, when it  was electrified, I remember it being called Butte St. Yard. Lots of freight motors working freight there for the Western and Southern Districts of the PE.

Earlier this year at Perris, we have uncovered an early PE site map of Butte St. yard showing a balloon track on the southwest corner of it, close to the Clemet Junction tower on Alameda St. Maybe it never got out of the planning stage, but plainly shows the balloon track there.

Back in  the 50s, I remember big old wood buildings in that area of a lumber yard in that area. Just across the PE lead racks was a recycling business that burned old tin cans, that were loaded in gons.  The top end of Butte St yard were the RIP tracks. Crews there were friendly to us kids.

Watts local

Great look back at grungy LA railroading. Been by that spot MANY times!
JB

While we are on the subject a little further south at Vernon Ave (44th st) and Long Beach Blvd in 1961.
Alameda was a few blocks east of here.

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1,2,3 and 4, source of it's name.

Out

No, six tracks, you forgot the narrow gauge LA lines.