Huntington Beach–La Bolsa Line Explained

Huntington Beach–La Bolsa
Type:Interurban
System:Pacific Electric
Locale:Orange County, California
Start:La Bolsa
End:Huntington Beach
Owner:Southern Pacific
Operator:Pacific Electric
Linelength Mi:1.7

The Santa Ana–Huntington Beach Line is a former Pacific Electric interurban railway line in Orange County, California. A single car provided a suburban service between Huntington Beach and the sugar refineries in La Bolsa.

History

The railway route served as a Southern Pacific steam railway line prior to 1911, when the section between Huntington Beach and La Bolsa was electrified by the Pacific Electric. Passenger service began that February and was utilized by workers at three sugar refineries at La Bolsa. The refineries closed starting in 1923, greatly reducing passenger demand on the line.[1] Service was discontinued after November 9, 1928.

Freight

The sugar refineries were a large source of freight revenue for the line. Traffic continued into the 1950s, long outlasting passenger service.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: La Bolsa Line . Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California . 19 January 2021.