L (Los Angeles Railway)

The West 11th and Lincoln Park line began service on May 9, 1920, as a through routing of the San Pedro and W. 11th Street Line and trackage on Main Street.{{cite news |title=Street Car Rerouting |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94372445/los-angeles-evening-post-record/ |access-date=7 February 2022 |newspaper=Los Angeles Evening Post-Record |via=Newspapers.com |date=May 5, 1920 |page=10}} {{free access}} The eastern end of the route formed a large counterclockwise loop through Lincoln Heights,{{cite thesis |last1=Terrass |first1=John |title=Study and Plan of Relief of the Street Traffic Congestion in the City of Los Angeles, California |url=http://libraryarchives.metro.net/DPGTL/trafficplans/1922_study_plan_relief_street_traffic_congestion_la.pdf |access-date=29 January 2021 |publisher=University of California |date=1922}} with the complementing clockwise service through the segment routed to the West Adams and Lincoln Park line. It was given the letter designation L in 1921.{{cite web |title=May 1: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History |url=https://metroprimaryresources.info/this-date-in-los-angeles-transportation-history/may/may-1/ |website=Metro Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library and Archive |publisher=Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority |access-date=16 February 2022 |quote=1921: Large letter signs indicating the routes of different lines are placed on top of Los Angeles Railway streetcars.}}{{cite newsletter |title=Cars To Have Letter Signs |url=http://libraryarchives.metro.net/DPGTL/employeenews/Two_Bells_1921_May02.pdf |access-date=16 February 2022 |newspaper=Two Bells |publisher=Los Angeles Railway |date=May 2, 1921 |page=1 |volume=1 |number=48}} In August 1924 loop was eliminated, with line now running bi-directional on Mission Place and the A Line taking over tracks on Broadway.{{cite web| url=http://erha.org/lary_l.htm| website=Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California| title='L'|access-date=17 February 2021}} That December the west end was rerouted to Spring and Ord Streets. L service took over the branch line which was built to serve the Glendale and Montrose Railway in 1925 — O and E cars initially had served been routed along the line. Tracks between Spring and Main Streets were eliminated in April 1926 to facilitate construction of the new Los Angeles City Hall. The following July, service to the Glendale and Montrose Railway depot was discontinued and the line was rerouted downtown to terminate at Spring and Court Streets. Cars followed a detour on P line tracks at the end of 1927 and routed to Spring and Temple Streets following construction of the 1st Street Viaduct.

On June 12, 1932, the line was rerouted downtown to terminate at Fountain Avenue and Edgemont Street{{cite news |title=Spring Street Extension to be Opened This Week |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95124201/ |access-date=17 February 2022 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |via=Newspapers.com |date=June 19, 1932 |page=17}} {{free access}}{{cite news |title=Transit Routes to Change |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106557831/ |access-date=29 July 2022 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |via=Newspapers.com |date=3 June 1932 |page=17}} {{free access}}{{cite news |title=New Street Car Routes in Effect |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106557918/ |access-date=29 July 2022 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |via=Newspapers.com |date=13 June 1932 |page=13}} {{free access}}{{cite map |url=https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/50176/route-map-los-angeles-railway-electric-car-and-bus-routes-los-angeles-railway-corp |title=Route Map Los Angeles Railway Electric Car and Bus Routes |date=1938 |author=H.P. Noordwal |publisher=Los Angeles Railway |website=Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.}} {{cite map |url=https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/xlarge/50176.jpg |title=Alternate link |website=via Google}} — cars ceased running on Flower Street, 10th Street, Main Street, and Spring Street. Cars were briefly run through the new Hill Street Tunnel in 1939 before again being rerouted downtown.{{cite news |title=Timepoints The Southern California Traction Review · Volumes 1-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0W1EAAAAIAAJ |publisher=Southern California Division, Electric Railroaders' Association |date=1950 |page=7}}{{cite book |last1=Walker |first1=Jim |title=Pacific Electric Red Cars |date=2007 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-1531628581 |page=68}} The final iteration of the L line began at Olympic Boulevard and Mullen Street and ended at the Civic Center, running via 10th (which was being rebuilt as Olympic), Country Club, Victoria, Hoover, 11th, Main, and Spring. The western end of the line was cut back to Menlo Avenue in April 1940, shortly before the service was discontinued on May 26.{{cite news |title=Olympic Blvd. Coach Service to Begin Sunday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95122174/ |access-date=17 February 2022 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |via=Newspapers.com |date=May 24, 1940 |page=35}} {{free access}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.pacificelectric.org/category/los-angeles-railway/l-line/ L Line Archives] — Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society
• {{cite web| url=http://erha.org/lary.htm| website=Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California| title=Los Angeles Railway}}

{{Los Angeles Railway}}

Category:Los Angeles Railway routes

Category:Railway services introduced in 1920

Category:Railway lines closed in 1940

Category:1920 establishments in California

Category:1940 disestablishments in California