Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Line (Bakersfield and Kern Electric)


The Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Line was the main line of the Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway. It operated between the Santa Fe Bakersfield Station and the Southern Pacific Bakersfield Station. It was the first line in the system, constructed in 1888. It was also the last line to close in the system, in 1942.

History

The line was originally single track, constructed of 16-pound rails. The cars used were horse drawn. In 1900, the line was electrified and upgraded. The rails were replaced with 36-pound rails and a passing section was added at 19th Street and Chester Avenue. The car barn was constructed at 19th Street and Union Avenue. In 1903, four additional lines were added. This resulted in a large number of switches being added, including the T-crossing at 19th Street and Chester Avenue.
Between 1911 and 1912, the line was again upgraded. The track was replaced with 87-pound rails. The entire length of the line was double tracked. In addition, the car barn was moved to a location on 19th Street and Oak Street. In 1915, feeder bus service started at both the Santa Fe Bakersfield Station and Southern Pacific Bakersfield Station. They would connect the streetcar system with growing areas both in the north and south of town.
In 1920, a fire burned the car barn on Oak Street down. It was rebuilt at its original location on Union Avenue. In 1930, street cars were running every 15 minutes. However, popularity of the line began to diminish. In 1942, the line was removed and converted to buses. It was combined with one of the existing bus lines which ran from the Southern Pacific Bakersfield Station.

Connections

Streetcar

Note: all service provided by the Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway

Intercity rail

Note: all service provided by the Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway