North Chester Line (Bakersfield and Kern Electric)

The North Chester Line was a line of the Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway. The route originated at the intersection of 19th Street and Chester Avenue, and traveled north on Chester. For most of its life, the line was combined with the West 19th Street Line. The line was constructed in 1903, as part of the original expansion plan. It closed in 1933.[1]

North Chester Line
Overview
Status	Abandoned
Locale	Bakersfield, California
Termini	19th St / Chester Ave Southern Pacific Chester Station
Service
Type	Streetcar
System	Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway
Depot(s)	19th St / Union Ave Car barn (1903-1912, 1920-1933) 19th St / Oak St Car barn (1912-1920)
History
Opened	1903
Closed	July 24, 1933
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	550-volt DC Overhead lines
Route map South Chester Line 19th St / Chester Ave Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Line 21st St / Chester Ave 24th St / Chester Ave 26th St / Chester Ave 28th St / Chester Ave 30th St / Chester Ave Southern Pacific Chester Station SP 34th St / Chester Ave Route in 1915

The line was originally single track, constructed with 36-pound rails.[2] It would run on Chester Avenue, until 24th Street. It would then, turn east for one block. The line would then turn north again, on K Street. It would continue north and terminate at the Southern Pacific railroad tracks.[3]

In 1911, the line would see two major changes. The K Street section would be realigned to Chester Avenue (terminate at the Southern Pacific Chester Station), making the route straight. Although the franchise, granted to the company, allowed the line to be constructed to 34th Street, it was not constructed north of 32nd Street. This was most likely because of the cost involved in crossing the Southern Pacific tracks. The line was also double tracked and replaced with 87-pound rails.[1]

The 1930 timetable showed trains running every 20 minutes. However, revenue for the streetcar line was declining. On July 24, 1933, the line was abandoned. It would also remove the obstacle to the construction of Garces Circle (which is just south of the Southern Pacific tracks).[1]

Connections

• Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Line (B&KE)
• Southern Pacific Chester Station - with connections to Southern Pacific local routes serving California.

B&KE = Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway

References

1. Bergman, John. The Southern San Joaquin Valley: A Railroad History. Jostens Printing and Publishing Company. Visalia, California: 2009. ISBN 978-0-615-25105-9. Page 139-140.
2. Lynch, George. The Streetcars, Gone but not Forgotten Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine. The Bakersfield Californian. March 11, 2008. Accessed: 05-09-2011.
3. Bergman, John. The Southern San Joaquin Valley: A Railroad History. Jostens Printing and Publishing Company. Visalia, California: 2009. ISBN 978-0-615-25105-9. Page 136-137.