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 (originally the Sumner Station and later the Kern City 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.[1]

Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Line
Overview
Status	Abandoned
Locale	Bakersfield, California
Termini	Santa Fe Bakersfield Station Southern Pacific Bakersfield Station
Service
Type	Streetcar
System	Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway
Depot(s)	19th St / Union Ave Car barn (1903-1912, 1920-1942) 19th St / Oak St Car barn (1912-1920)
History
Opened	May 1888
Closed	February 12, 1942
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	550-volt DC Overhead lines
Route map F Street and H Street Loop Santa Fe Bakersfield Station 17th St / F St West 19th Street Line 19th St / F St 19th St / H St F Street and H Street Loop North Chester Line/South Chester Line 19th St / Chester Ave 19th St / L St 19th St / N St 19th St / Q St Kern Island Canal 19th St / V St 19th St / Union Ave 19th St / Union Ave Car barn Grove St / Tulare St Grove St / Baker St Southern Pacific Bakersfield Station Route in 1915

History

The line was originally single track, constructed of 16-pound rails (previously used in a mine). 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.[2] 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.[2] 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 (which was on the West 19th Street Line). 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.[3]

In 1920, a fire burned the car barn on Oak Street down. It was rebuilt at its original location on Union Avenue.[4] 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.[1]

Connections

Streetcar

• F Street and H Street Loop
• North Chester Line
• South Chester Line
• West 19th Street Line

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

Intercity rail

• Santa Fe Bakersfield Station - with connections to Santa Fe express routes serving the San Joaquin Valley.
• Southern Pacific Bakersfield Station - with connections to Southern Pacific express routes serving California.

Bus service

• East Niles Bus Line - Starting at the Southern Pacific Bakersfield Station and travel east on Niles Street to Brown Street.[4]
• North Baker Bus Line - Starting at the Southern Pacific Bakersfield Station and travel north on Bakers Street to the waterworks at Garces Street.[4]
• Westpark Bus Line - Starting at the Santa Fe Bakersfield Station and serve the areas to the southwest.[4]

Note: all service provided by the 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.
2. Lynch, George. The Streetcars, Gone but not Forgotten Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine. The Bakersfield Californian. March 11, 2008. Accessed: 05-11-2011.
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 126-127.
4. 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 127.