1123 at the San Gabriel River in Irwindale
Alan Weeks Photo, Alan Weeks Collection
Pacific Electric interurban no. 1123 rolls westbound across the San Gabriel River in Irwindale on March 6, 1951.
Alan Weeks Photo
Alan Weeks Collection
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I used to live within walking distance of this spot. Some years after the track was removed, I took my daughters for a walk along the line, crossing the bridge and going as far as the west side of Azusa. Today the bridge is fenced and set up as part of a hike and bike trail. 1123 would be out of service in a few weeks, and the two-man Hollywood cars 732-759 would take over.
So this is the lone standing train bridge that connects Encanto Parkway in northeast Duarte with the San Gabriel bike-trail to the east in northwest Azusa? This is north of Huntington Drive? This isn’t the track that runs along Duarte Road in Duarte across the street from the City of Hope?
Mike,
This is the bridge that carried the former PE Glendora line. Passenger service was discontinued in September of 1951, and freight service on a long “island” continued into the 60s. It has shortened up over the years, and only about a mile of the original double track remains in service, which can be seen crossing Todd Ave in Azusa. It is served by a North-South line which was built from Orange Ave Jct on the San Bernardino Line, North to Azusa in about 1950 to serve all of the remaining industry on the Glendora Line when the tracks were taken out between the intersection of Soto St & Huntington Drive in LA, and Arcadia. Considerable industry sprung up along this “new” track, which is still served today. The East-West track you describe is the former AT&SF “Santa Fe” Second District main line from LA to San Bernardino. It was bought by Metrolink, and the Western portion has become the Gold Line as far as East Pasadena. Work has just begun on continuing it further East.
George,
Thank you for that great reply. Didn’t realize that people were paying attention. Thanks. I grew up in the Fish Canyon neighborhood of Duarte, and we used to hear an occasional train on the tracks that ran past the city dump, right past the Banana factory, but then didn’t go too far on Royal Oaks Dr. This was before Royal Oaks Park was built, long before the Hearthstone homes were built. I used to walk to Immaculate Conception in the 2nd grade and I remember hopping from one railroad tie to the next. Great memories.
Regarding the Santa Fe track along Duarte Rd., it is now out of service, with an end-of-track “bumper” near the east bank of the San Gabriel River. Track removal has started in Arcadia and a crew is working on the removal of the bridge over Colorado Blvd. west of Santa Anita Ave. The new bridge over the 210 Fwy is being built under a separate contract; concrete pouring should begin before the end of June.
One of the high points of last month (Dec. 2014) was seeing the Gold Line Foothill Extension test train running along the former Santa Fe route between Monrovia and Duarte. Metro 731 was the test car, and for the first week it was propelled by a diesel “HiRail” truck, then, on Dec. 16, it ran on trolley power from the Duarte and/or GLOC substations! 2015 will see completion of the construction and the start of live testing for the entire line.