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.

3
Overview
Locale	Los Angeles
Termini	Larchmont Boulevard and Melrose Avenue Central Station
Stations	24
Service
Type	Streetcar
System	Los Angeles Railway
History
Opened	1924
Closed	1947
Technical
Track gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Electrification	600 V DC overhead line
Route map 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

1924 alignment

The first version of 3 was introduced in 1924, and was coterminous with the original A. 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. This route was abandoned in 1930.

1931 alignment

Following much of the original route of the R Line, the new route 3 was drastically different. 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.[1] From the start of this routing until 1935, short turns were made from 5th to 3rd and was designated as the 4 Line (distinct from that number's 1939 incarnation).[2] The route was converted to trolley bus operation in 1947,[3] eight years after Central Station closed.

Sources

1. 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.
2. "4". Electric Rail Heritage Association.
3. Walker, Jim (2007). Los Angeles Railway Yellow Cars. Arcadia Pub. p. 115.

• "Los Angeles Railway". Electric Rail Heritage Association.
• "'3' - West 6th Street And Larchmont Boulevard Line (1931-1947)". Electric Rail Heritage Association.