3 (Los Angeles Railway)

3 was the number assigned to two distinct streetcar lines operated by the Los Angeles Railway in Los Angeles, California. Combined, they operated from 1924 to 1947.

1924 alignment

3
Overview
Locale	Los Angeles
Termini	Adams Boulevard and Alsace Avenue Lincoln Park Avenue and Eastlake Park
Service
Type	Streetcar
System	Los Angeles Railway
History
Opened	1924
Closed	1930 (1930)
Technical
Track gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Electrification	Overhead line, 600 V DC

The first version of 3 was introduced in 1924, and was coterminous with the original A line. From a terminus at Adams Boulevard and Alsace Avenue, it ran via Adams Boulevard, Normandie Avenue, 24th Street, Hoover Street, Burlington Avenue, Venice Boulevard, Hill Street, First Street, Broadway, and Lincoln Park Avenue to Eastlake Park.^[1] This route was discontinued in 1930.

1931 alignment

3
Overview
Locale	Los Angeles
Termini	Larchmont Boulevard and Melrose Avenue Central Station
Service
Type	Streetcar
System	Los Angeles Railway
History
Opened	November 1, 1931 (1931-11-01)
Closed	August 3, 1947 (1947-08-03)
Technical
Track gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Electrification	Overhead line, 600 V DC
Route map Legend 1931–1947 Larchmont and Melrose Larchmont and Beverly Larchmont and 3rd  R  Wilton and 3rd  R  6th and Western 6th and Normandie 6th and Vermont  V  6th and Commonwealth 6th and Rampart  H  6th and Park View 6th and Alvarado  D   H  5th and Beaudry 5th and Figueroa  U  5th and Flower 5th and Grand 5th and Olive 5th and Hill 5th and Broadway  P   W   5   9  5th and Spring  N   7   8  5th and Main  O  5th and Los Angeles 5th and Maple 5th and San Pedro Central Station  U  Los Angeles Railway lines Pacific Electric lines This diagram: view talk edit

Following much of the original route of the R Line, the new route 3 was drastically different.^[2] It is notable for its close parallels to Wilshire Boulevard, which never had a transit line of its own because auto traffic was too heavy. The new 3 ran from the intersection of Larchmont Boulevard and Melrose Avenue to Central Station, by way of Larchmont Boulevard (forming the backbone of the Larchmont neighborhood), 3rd Street, a private right of way running between Gramercy Place and Wilton Place, 6th Street, and 5th Street.^[3] From the start of this routing until 1935, short turns were made from 5th to 3rd and were designated as the 4 Line (distinct from that number's 1939 incarnation).^[4] The route was converted to trolley bus operation in 1947,^[5] eight years after Central Station closed.

Trolley coach and bus conversion

The service was maintained and transferred to Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority in 1958. The agency replaced trolley buses with SilverLiner coaches after March 31, 1963;^[6] the new service retained the number 3.^[7]

Sources

1. E. F. Hill (1928). "Map of Los Angeles California". Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
2. "'3' - West 6th Street And Larchmont Boulevard Line (1931-1947)". Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California.
3. H.P. Noordwal (1938). "Route Map Los Angeles Railway Electric Car and Bus Routes" (Map). Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc. Los Angeles Railway. "Alternate link" (Map). via Google.
4. "4". Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California.
5. Walker, Jim (2007). Los Angeles Railway Yellow Cars. Arcadia Pub. p. 78. ISBN 9781531629410.
6. "March 31: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History". Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library and Archive. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 18, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
7. "SilverLiners Take Over!" (PDF). The Emblem. Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority. April 1963. p. 2. Retrieved February 17, 2021.

External links

• 3 Line Archives — Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society
• "Los Angeles Railway". Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California.