The Trolley Took Us There 10.23.09

The W heading south on Figueroa Street circa 1945

This is the corner of Figueroa Street and Avenue 28 in Cypress Park, considered to be the historic gateway to Northeast Los Angeles. In 1907  Henry E. Huntington built a rail yard and power station on Avenue 28. This rail yard would become the main rail facility for the Los Angeles Railway (“Yellow car”) System, and provided the primary form of transportation between downtown Los Angeles across the river and the suburbs of Northeast Los Angeles.

The W heading south on Figueroa at Avenue 28, now in the color of 1954.

The Yellow Cars, despite being overshadowed in history by their more suburban and expansive cousin, The Pacific Electric Railroad’s “Red Cars,” were more popular at the time, serving the central core of Los Angeles. (Think Metrorail vs. Metrolink today –Metrorail in the city / Metrolink outside of the city.)

The yard and powerhouse are still in existence today. The rail yard known today as MTA Bus Yard SGV-3, is the oldest transit yard in the city of Los Angeles , operating for 24 hours since May 22, 1907. The Huron Substation, that powered the electric lines of the trolleys into Lincoln Heights, Highland Park, Cypress Park, Glassell Park, and Eagle Rock is still there. As Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #404, the Huron Substation is now used as a home and rental facility for filming and weddings.

Figueroa Street and Avenue 28 today.