The Street Seen: Ocean Park Electric Trolley

Ocean Park

Ocean Park Loop line (LAP Car 42)

From 1896 to 1908, a single-track electric trolley, the Ocean Park Loop or South Loop line, runs from downtown Santa Monica to loop through Ocean Park.

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Santa Monica’s first¹ rail transit operation opens in 1891, with W.D. Vawter’s Santa Monica & Soldiers Home Railroad Co. bringing veterans (customers) to Santa Monica.

In 1895, the Vawters² sell the railroad³ to Sherman & Clark’s Los Angeles Pacific Railway Co (LAP).⁴  The purchase is made with LAP bonds.  As an incentive, a clause in the sale contract has the Vawters agree to return 5 bonds ($5,000) to LAP, if the Ocean Park Loop line is opened by July 1, 1896. LAP completes⁵ the electric Ocean Park Loop line just in time,⁶ and the bonds are returned.

Ocean Park Loop line Route

The Ocean Park Loop line opens July 1, 1896, and becomes a part of the LAP main line to Los Angeles – with all cars making this loop.⁷ The line goes from Ocean Ave - crossing the bridge at Colorado - then up Pico to 4^th St; south down 4^th to Hill St; then down Hill to Main St; north on Main to Pico; and then back to Ocean Ave. The rails cut across the lot on the NEC of Main and Hill (now the Mendota Block) where there is an office and a maintenance shed.

LAP Railroad Co. Depot at Main & Hill (1902 Sanborn)

In 1902, the LAP Venice Short Line (running from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica via Venice Blvd.) opens along Trolley Way (Neilson), and the Ocean Park Loop line is reduced to providing only local service between Ocean Park and Santa Monica. In 1908, the Ocean Park Loop line service is stopped altogether,⁸ and the rail lines are removed from the streets in 1910.⁹ 

1. John P. Jones’ steam-powered Los Angeles & Independence Railroad opens in 1875, with two trains running a day on 17 miles of track between Santa Monica and Los Angeles. The railroad ceases operation in 1877.

2. The Ocean Park Loop line runs past the Vawters Ocean Park real estate holdings.

3. The Santa Monica & Soldiers Home Railroad equipment sold consists of four cars, sixteen horses, two bridges, various buildings, and about six miles of track – plus the franchise rights.

4. Actually, the sale was to Pasadena & Pacific Railway Co (P&P) - a predecessor to the Los Angeles Pacific Railway (LAP). Railroads are important in Los Angeles' development and the history is very complex with extensive consolidations. We have chosen simplicity over strict accuracy. And, as always, we are using current street names.

Los Angeles Rail Road Routes (1890)

5. Single track narrow gauge (42”) street car rails are installed down Pico, 4th, and Hill St. From Ocean to Hill, the light Santa Monica & Soldiers Home Railroad horse car rails are removed and replaced by heavier narrow gauge electric street car rails. 

6. The incentive expires at midnight on June 30th, 1896. The work is delayed but on June 30th, after a day of strenuous labor on the part of the LAP, the first electric car of the Ocean Park Loop line leaves Ocean Ave at 9:55 p.m.

7. The LAP continues to operate the northern part of the horse car powered Santa Monica & Soldiers Home Railroad for 3 more years (i.e. till 1889), then abandons it for an electric line along San Vicente Blvd.

LAP Street Car (1900)

LAP Interurban Route Map (1909)

8. In 1906, the Venice Short Line is converted to standard gauge (56”) - which is incompatible with the narrow gauge (42”) Ocean Park Loop line.

9. Poorly removed rails on Hill St cause traffic problems, and LAP returns in 1914 to make repairs.