PROFESSOR THADDEUS LOWE
MOUNT LOWE RAILWAY
With the completion of the Pasadena & Los Angeles Electric Railway in 1895, Professor Lowe had a direct connection between Altadena and Los Angeles. Mount Lowe trains used this line (later to become Pacific Electric's South Pasadena Line) until after Henry Huntington completed his route to Monrovia and Glendora in 1902-1903. At Oneonta Park, a straight extension was made to downtown Pasadena. This became known as the Pasadena Short Line. Mount Lowe trains used this route on the return trip, although as early as 1924 certain evening outbound trains (canyon bound) operated over the Short Line. On January 2, 1924, both in and outbound Mount Lowe trains used the Short Line. It ran from the 6th and Main Street Terminal to Valley Junction (3.13 miles). From Valley Junction the line followed along a double-track system to Indian Village (4.49 miles), where a four-track system began, continuing through Sierra Vista (7.92 miles) to Oneonta Park (8.31 miles). At this junction the Short Line turned north to downtown Pasadena (9.45 miles). Mount Lowe trains continued up Fair Oaks Avenue to Mariposa, swung east to Lake Avenue (17.74 miles), then north on Lake to Newkirk, then onto private right-of-way to Rubio (19.51 miles). Mount Lowe, Railway in the Clouds, p. 153.
Railway & Incline Construction
Millard Canyon - Horse Shoe Curve
Locomotive Engineers Journal - 1896
Opening Day - July 4, 1893
(Webmaster Collection)
(Webmaster Collection)