Los Angeles & Salt Lake surviving structures in California

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

News came recently that the Union Pacific has torn down the Hillgrove (City of Industry) depot in the LA Basin. This happened just a few months after they torn down the Bixby (Lakewood) depot, also in the LA Basin.

I preparred a list of what still exists on the LA&SL in Southern California.

All additions/corrections/subtractions are welcome.

(I haven’t included the joint ATSF depots, Colton, San Bernadino, Barstow).

  1. LA&SL backshops – 530 South Anderson downtown LA
  2. LA&SL new freight house – Meyers and First street downtown LA
  3. Hynes Depot – 7770 Jackson Street (renamed Paramount), Paramount CA (walled in by closing of Jackson St.)
  4. East Los Angeles – 5450 Ferguson Dr (fenced in)
  5. Riverside – 3751 Vine (restored as coffee shop)
  6. Mead – off Anaheim (freight section only), Wilmington CA @ Long Beach border
  7. Kelso – Kelbaker and Kelso Cima Road (restored, part of National Park Serivce)
  8. Nipton - Nipton Road and Nipton Moore Road (just a tool shed, not sure if it’s still standing or not)
  9. Anaheim – 100 S Atchison St, Anaheim (childcare center)
  10. Fullerton – 110 E Santa Fe, Fullerton (restaurant)
  11. La Habra – 301 South Euclid, La Habra (children’s museum)

Of course, the significant bridges in Whittier and west of Riverside still exist too, but the Whittier bridge is being turned into a walking trail.

2

I am not at all familier with the area but why is #7 Kelso part of the National Park Service?

dd

3

It’s within the Mojave National Preserve. Here’s the website.

http://www.nps.gov/archive/moja/mojahtkd.htm

4

Really nice piece of architectural preservation, especially from a railfan’s perspective.

It’s not too close to anything, except the UP main, but if you’re on I-15 or I-40 in the Mojave Desert it’s not a terribly long distance out of your way. Current roadmaps issued by AAA, etc., should direct a driver well enough. Even if you’re not a Unon Pacific fan, or don’t like the desert, it is really worth a look-see. The UP main’s not as busy as BNSF’s transcon or the old Sunset Route running east out of L.A., but there’s still plenty of action.

Kelso was a helper station for the 19-mile, 2.2% (?) eastbound grade up Cima Hill, toward Las Vegas. UP once stationed steam helpers, later an EMD TR5 cow-&-calf, at this location. During World War II, it was also the point at which a nearby iron-ore mine transferred countless truckloads to the rail.

5

Since Yermo was a crew change point I would have to think that there is something left over there from the old LA & SLCRR. I think at one time there was a RR station there as well

6

It’s been a while since I looked, but I think that UP has several modern, very utilitarian-looking small buildings there.

Yermo’s beautiful old station (similar in style to Kelso’s) got torn down back maybe around 1981.

7

Gary,

That was when they expanded the yard, right?

I remember reading something somewhere about the beanery still existing, but I’m not sure what that is, or even means.

CF

8

thanks - I had not put the Mojave high on my list of future railfan spots - but it does sound interesting.

dd

9

Right you are, 1981 was when the new classification yard was completed up there, with an eye toward reducing congestion in the Los Angeles area. (The rails aren’t SO different from our freeways.) And that was the demise of the old station facility.

I don’t know if the UP’s “beanery” (a small restaurant, often employees-only) still operates in a new building there or not.

The UP Cima Subdivision (Yermo to Las Vegas) is an often-overlooked piece of railroad here, but a favorite of mine. If you find it interesting, I suggest getting hold of a copy of The Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad by John W. Signor or Union Pacific Salt Lake Route by Mark W. Hemphill. Both are very enjoyable reading, at least for a railfan! Also, the now-defunct magazine Railroad Modeler had a seven-page article on Yermo, with lots of pictures, in its December 1978 edition.