This branch was originally constructed by a predecessor of the Southern Pacific in the 1870s. It passed through a succession of owners, eventually becoming part of the Los Angeles Pacific and then Pacific Electric in 1911.
The line actually branched off the the Pacific Electric's southern four-track main at Amoco Junction (near the corner of Long Beach Blvd. and 25th St.), and headed generally west to Santa Monica. The term "air line" referred to a direct rail route before commercial air travel became popular.
Part of this line ran in the median of Exposition Boulevard, but there was no true "street running" except in Santa Monica. The section of line that passed between the University of Southern California and Exposition Park was used to display other rail lines' streamliner passenger trains during the 1930s.
Passenger service ended in the early 1950s, and its private right of way and freight customers helped the line survive several more decades. By the 1970s, the western end of track was at Fisher Lumber in Santa Monica. The route was later cut back further, to Palms and Culver City, and ultimately a short section that ran only a few blocks from Amoco Junction to a siding at Jefferson St. Part of the last segment is still intact, but it is out of service and grade crossing signals have been removed.
In 2003 the line is still easy to locate, though some areas are paved over. It passes through a heavily built-up area, including abandoned industrial facilities used by transients, active businesses, and a wide variety of neighborhoods from working class to upper middle class. The Palms depot still survives but has been moved off line.
The route roughly parallels the I-10 Santa Monica Freeway, which is frequently congested. Accordingly, there have been tentative plans to rebuild and reopen the rail line as part of LA's Metro or commuter rail system. Funding constraints and fierce opposition in some neighborhoods has prevented any significant progress.
The line served Amoco Junction, Nevin, Jefferson Siding, Grand Ave. Spur, University, Cienega, Airville, Sentous, Culver Jct. (site of PE xing and later SP jct.), Winslow, Palms, Winship, Home Jct., Bergamot (Santa Monica).
<< Amoco Junction facing east; track is out of service. MTA Blue Line crosses in the foreground, along with a dismantled UP freight spur (abandoned in 1990s). Blue Line is built on what was a four-track main during PE's glory days. A UP freight track passes in front of the parked trucks; it is less busy since the Alameda Corridor opened in 2002.
v v Trapped boxcar at former Sloane Furniture siding in Palms. Note full-length roof running board! The Electric Railway Historical Association (www.erha.org) had noted this car was here. The car and building were demolished in 2004; replaced by a self-storage facility.
Photos from Oct. 2003 courtesy Mike Palmer.
<< Facing east at Olympic/Cloverfield in Santa Monica. This is typical of the right-of-way, where landscaping or construction is built over the tracks, but other sections remain in place, for trains that run no more.
Photo from October 2003 courtesy Mike Palmer.
