Los Angeles Terminal Railway

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This page was last updated on December 23, 2017.

Overview

Los Angeles Terminal Railway was the predecessor company to the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad, and was purchased by SPLA&SL in March 1901.

Los Angeles Terminal Railway, and all of its predecessor roads were mainly passenger and tourist railroads, providing local passenger service, which was not provided by the adjacent AT&SF railroad. The 27 miles of line south from Los Angeles to San Pedro harbor was also mainly a passenger operation, providing local service to residents who wanted to spend time at the beaches and resort hotels of Rattlesnake Island (later known as Terminal Island).

Los Angeles Terminal Railway's line (north to south) was two lines from Altadena (near Pasadena) and from Verdugo Park (north of Glendale), coming together at Glendale Junction, then south for 10 miles along the east bank of the Los Angeles River, past Downey Avenue, First Street and Fourth Street, and further south to Hobart where the line crossed the river and turned south again for 25 miles to San Pedro, a total of 48.5 miles.

Main depot was located at First Street in Los Angeles
Shops were located at Fourth Street in Los Angeles
The depot and the shops were situated along the east bank of the Los Angeles River, across the river from the lines of Southern Pacific and AT&SF
(Map: John Signor, The Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad Company, Union Pacific's Historic Salt Lake Route, page 19)

Hobart As A Name

There are two conflicting stories among UP and AT&SF historians. One has it that Hobart was named for Byron F. Hobart, a director and president of the Terminal company. The other version has it that Hobart was named for the U. S. Vice President at the time, Garrett A. Hobart. The two versions come from competing daily Los Angeles newspapers, published on the same day.

From the Los Angeles Times, September 28, 1898.

"Railroad Record", page 9

"The name of Manhattan Station on the Terminal Railway has been changed to Hobart, after one of the directors of the road. The Santa Fe, which crosses the Terminal at that point, has also adopted the change."

(Read the original newspaper item)

From the Los Angeles Herald, September 28, 1898.

"Notes and Personals", page 7

"The Terminal railway is going into the business of granting immortality to great men. For example, it has, with the connivance of the Santa Fe, changed the name of Manhattan, the crossing of the two lines south of the city, to Hobart, thus making the name of the vice president of the nation permanent and unforgettable."

(Read the original newspaper item)

Byron F. Hobart was a St. Louis investor who became a director, president and treasurer of the Los Angeles Terminal Railway when it was organized on August 29, 1890. So it was natural to think that the crossing was named for one of the Terminal company's officers.

B. F. Hobart was first mentioned in Los Angeles newspapers in 1889, noting in a March 29th story that he was one of several investors in the incorporation of the Los Angeles Pasadena & Glendale Railroad. He remained as one of the majority financial backers when that road was reorganized as the Los Angeles Terminal Railway in 1890 under the control of the California Improvement Company, a group of St. Louis investors interested in the development of Southern California. By 1893, Hobart was president and director of 28 different companies, most of which were in the general region around St. Louis. Hobart removed himself from his business interests in 1917 and moved from St. Louis to San Diego. He died at his San Diego home in October 1923 after a long illness.

According to Wikipedia: Garret Augustus Hobart (June 3, 1844 – November 21, 1899) was the 24th Vice President of the United States (William McKinley was President), serving from 1897 until his death in 1899. He was the sixth American vice president to die in office.

Mike Vredenburgh wrote in an email dated December 16, 2017:

In the LA times 15 Mar 1892,Tue, page 8, the annual stockholders meeting has BF Hobart retiring as president and George E Leighton as the new president. I see a lot less of Hobart's name in the paper after 1892 in L.A.. At the time of the Hobart name change there is a lot less of Hobart showing up in the paper in L.A. and St. Louis. In 1898, the Terminal railroad still had GE Leighton as president, TE Gibbon as VP and attorney, BF Hobart and RC Kerens as directors. TE Gibbon went on to be VP and attorney for the Salt Lake Railway and president and editor of the LA Herald for a short time. TE Gibbon was also a lifelong democrat, so I don't see him changing the name for GA Hobart the VP.

RC Kerens was a lifelong Republican and a member of the Republican National committee for Missouri starting in 1884. In 1905, Kerens was trying to run as Senator for the state of Missouri but was not nominated. GA Hobart and Kerens were on the RNC at the same time - GA Hobart for the state of New Jersey starting in 1880 until his death. There is a chance Kerens would have backed GA Hobart for the name change. Oh, well. I'm still looking. I say it's BF Hobart.

(Read more about Hobart tower in Jeff Asay's article in the Winter 2006 issue of The Streamliner, published by the Union Pacific Historical Society)

Timeline

January 13, 1887
Los Angeles & Glendale Railway incorporated; constructed between Los Angeles (Downey Avenue) and Glendale, 6.5 miles (42-inches narrow gauge); completed in March 1888.

Owned and controlled by John Cross after late 1887
Known as a defunct steam "dummy" line until purchased by John Cross

February 19, 1887
Altadena Railway incorporated to build from Raymond Hotel (Raymond Station on the AT&SF), north to Altadena; reorganized as Pasadena Railway after being leased to John Cross.

March 3, 1887
Pasadena Railway incorporated to build from Raymond Hotel (Raymond Station on the AT&SF), north to Altadena; completed in March 1888; 7.25 miles.

March 30, 1889
Los Angeles Pasadena & Glendale Railway incorporated

Glendale (later Glendale Junction), 6.7 miles north to Verdugo Park (narrow gauge); completed in July 1889; converted to standard gauge during 1891
Downey Avenue, Los Angeles, north 6.4 miles to Pasadena and connection with Pasadena Railway (standard gauge); completed in March 1890

January 1, 1890
Pasadena Railway leased for operation to Los Angeles Pasadena & Glendale Railway; agreement dated November 6, 1889; lease transferred to Los Angeles Terminal Railway on January 2, 1891.

March 1890
Los Angeles Glendale & Pasadena Railway completed from Downey Avenue in Los Angeles, north to Raymond Station in Pasadena, 6.4 miles

August 29, 1890
Los Angeles Terminal Railway (1st) was incorporated; construction completed included part of 1.7 miles of line between Downey Avenue Station and First Street in Los Angeles, later the site of SPLA&SL's First Street Station.

January 2, 1891
Los Angeles Terminal Railway (2nd) was incorporated as a consolidation of the earlier Los Angeles Terminal Railway of August 1890, and two other roads: Los Angeles & Glendale Railroad and Los Angeles Pasadena & Glendale Railway. The stated purpose of this consolidation was to provide a network of railroads that could be leased "to larger systems of railways."

The Los Angeles Terminal Railway consolidation was under the control of John Cross, who later (date?) sold his interest to the California Investment Company, an syndicate owned by R. C. Kerens and T. Leighton of St. Louis, and E. F. Leonard of Springfield, Illinois.

(It was the interests of this California Investment Company that were sold to brothers William A. Clark and J. Ross Clark in August 1900, forming the basis for the later San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad)

November 1891
Los Angeles Terminal Railway completed its line from Downey Avenue in Los Angeles, south to East San Pedro, 27.11 miles.

September 2, 1892
Pasadena Railway was sold to Los Angeles Terminal Railway upon expiration of lease to Los Angeles Pasadena & Glendale Railway (LAP&G sold to LAT in January 1891).

August 21, 1900
Officials of Los Angeles Terminal Railway announced that William Andrews Clark and his associates, including his brother J. Ross Clark, had purchased an interest in the railroad.

March 20, 1901
San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad was incorporated to purchase the interests and property of the Los Angeles Terminal Railway, and to construct a line between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Construction commenced immediately, as follows:

Los Angeles (downtown) eastward to Riverside Junction (connection with AT&SF), 58.5 miles, construction commenced April 1901, completed in 1904
Trackage rights on SP, Riverside Junction to Colton Junction, 9.5 miles, lease dated June 1903
Trackage rights on AT&SF, Colton Junction to Daggett over Cajon Pass, 93.8 miles, leased dated April 1905
Daggett to California-Nevada state line, 129.2 miles, construction commenced in August 1903

Timeline for SPLA&SL purchase of Los Angeles Terminal was:

March 5, 1901 -- LAT sold and conveyed by deed to SPLA&SL
March 20, 1901 -- SPLA&SL incorporated in Utah
April 1, 1901 -- Effective date of sale; SPLA&SL took over all operations of LAT
April 20, 1901 -- San Pedro Los Angeles & Salt Lake took formal possession of Los Angeles Terminal Railway; all the standard gauge locomotives were included in the sale.

(SPLA&SL and LA&SL timeline continues)

Locomotives

Los Angeles Pasadena & Glendale Railway Locomotives

42-inches Narrow Gauge:

Road Number	Type	Cylinders	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	Date To LAT Ry	Notes
LAP&G 1	0-4-2ST	9x14	Porter	892	Nov 1887	10 Mar 1889	1

General Notes:

ST denotes "Saddle Tank"

Notes:

LAP&G number 1 was was built in 1887 for John Cross, Los Angeles, California as 36-inches narrow gauge; converted to 42-inches narrow gauge upon arrival for use on Los Angeles & Glendale Railway number 1; to Los Angeles Pasadena & Glendale Railway number 1; to LAT Ry number 1 in 1891.

Standard Gauge:

Road Number	Type	Wheels	Cylinders	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	Notes
LAP&G 1	0-4-4RT	42	12x16	Rhode Island	2252	Dec 1889
LAP&G 2	0-4-4RT	42	12x16	Rhode Island	2253	Dec 1889
LAP&G 3	2-4-2ST	44	12x18	Porter	840	Jun 1887	1

General Notes:

All three locomotives to Los Angeles Terminal Railway in January 1891
RT denotes "Rear Tank"; ST denotes "Saddle Tank"

Notes:

LAP&G number 3 was built as Pasadena Ry number 1 in 1887 (operated under lease by Los Angeles Pasadena & Glendale Ry after January 1890); to Los Angeles Terminal Ry number 3 in August 1890

Los Angeles Terminal Railway Locomotives

42-inches Narrow Gauge:

Road Number	Date To LAT	Type	Cylinders	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	Date Retired
LAT 1	10 Mar 1889	0-4-2ST	9x14	Porter	892	Nov 1887	20 Dec 1890

General Notes:

LAT number 1 was was built in 1887 for John Cross, Los Angeles, California as 36-inches narrow gauge; converted to 42-inches narrow gauge upon arrival for use on Los Angeles & Glendale number 1; to Los Angeles Pasadena & Glendale number 1; to LAT number 1 in 1889
LAT number 1 was retired on 20 December 1890 when the Glendale Branch was converted to standard gauge; later disposition not known (likely "broken up" at Fourth Street shops)
ST denotes "Saddle Tank"

Standard Gauge:

Road Number	Previous Number	Date To LAT Ry	Type	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	Notes
LAT 1	LAP&G 1	Aug 1890	2-4-4RT	Rhode Island	2252	Dec 1889	1
LAT 2	LAP&G 2	Aug 1890	2-4-4RT	Rhode Island	2253	Dec 1889	2
LAT 3	LAP&G 3	Aug 1890	2-4-2ST	Porter	840	Jun 1887	3
LAT 4			4-4-0	Baldwin	11866	May 1891	4
LAT 5			4-6-0	Baldwin	11867	May 1891	5
LAT 6			4-4-0	Baldwin	12141	Aug 1891	6
LAT 7			4-6-0	Baldwin	12204	Sep 1891	7
LAT 8			4-4-0	Schenectady	6065	Apr 1901	8

General Notes:

The Los Angeles Terminal Railway was sold to the San Pedro Los Angeles & Salt Lake on April 20, 1901, and all the standard gauge locomotives were included in the sale.
RT denotes "Rear Tank"; ST denotes "Saddle Tank"
Individual locomotive specifications:

Road Number	Type	Driving Wheels	Cylinders	Weight	Weight On Drivers	Tractive Effort
LAT 1	2-4-4RT	42	12x16	56500
LAT 2	2-4-4RT	42	12x16	56500
LAT 3	2-4-2ST	44	12x18	54475	39450	6259
LAT 4	4-4-0	56	18x24	84000	53650	14458
LAT 5	4-6-0	54	18x24	92000	58000	16600
LAT 6	4-4-0	56	18x24	84000	53650	14458
LAT 7	4-6-0	54	18x24	99330	71870	12288
LAT 8	4-4-0	70	19x24	120000	92000	19989

Notes:

Built as Los Angeles Pasadena & Glendale Ry number 1 (0-4-4RT) in 1889; converted to 2-4-4RT; to Los Angeles Terminal Ry number 1
Built as Los Angeles Pasadena & Glendale Ry number 2 (0-4-4RT) in 1889; converted to 2-4-4RT; to Los Angeles Terminal Ry number 2
Built as Pasadena Ry number 1 in 1887 (operated under lease by Los Angeles Pasadena & Glendale Ry after January 1890); to Los Angeles Terminal Ry number 3 in August 1890
Purchased new
Purchased new
Purchased new
Purchased new
Delivered as Los Angeles Terminal Ry number 8; renumbered to SPLA&SL number 8 before entering service (Builder date was April 1901, delivery date to SPLA&SL was May 1901; SPLA&SL took possession of LAT on April 20, 1901)

Sources

Hemphill, Mark. Union Pacific Salt Lake Route (Boston Mills Press, 1995)

San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad. Corporate History of San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad Company, As of June 30, 1914

Signor, John. The Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad Company, Union Pacific's Historic Salt Lake Route (Golden West, 1988)

Trottman, Nelson. History of the Union Pacific (Augustus M. Kelley, 1923, reprinted 1966)

Wood, J. W. Pasadena, California, History and Personal (J. W. Wood, 1917; Google Books)

Locomotive roster based on research by P. Allen Copeland, previously published in John Signor's "The Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad Company, Union Pacific's Historic Salt Lake Route" (Golden West, 1988).

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