Redlands
Branch - Southern Pacific
Thanks
to Mike Palmer for the information and pictures on this page.
This was the most noticable landmark on the SP Redlands branch -- the truss
bridge near the interection of Redlands Blvd. and Texas Street. Tracks appeared
to be "out of service" in June 1984 when this photo was taken.
The picture below was taken April 2003.
This branch line was originally constructed in the 1880s. The branch left the
SP main line at Bryn Mawr, also known as Redlands Jct. and headed north for
about a mile, parallel to what is now California Ave. It then turned east,
parallel to Citrus Ave. It then made a broad S-curve across Redlands Blvd. into
downtown Redlands. Just east of downtown it ran parallel to the Santa
Fe's Redlands Branch for a mile or so and then headed east to Crafton, where
the SP line ended. Most customers were orange growers' packinghouses.
The line was gradually cut back starting in the 1960s. By 1984, the tracks ended
just past the Orange Ave. grade crossing in downtown Redlands, but the entire
line appeared to be out of service by then. As of 2003, some parts of
the right-of-way were still traceable. The area near Redlands Jct. is
being graded for a housing development.
Two abandoned lines in one photo: the out-of-service section of the BNSF (Santa
Fe) Redlands branch is at left. The SP Redlands branch r-o-w is at right,
note the cement bridge supports. This location is at Lincoln Ave. and
Sylvan Dr. facing east. Mt. San Gorgonio appears over the BNSF crossbuck.
April 2003.
Remnant
of track at the end of the Redlands branch. This is at Crafton, facing
west, near the intersection of Crafton Ave. and Colton Ave. This segment of
track is in a driveway for an irrigation supply business. April 2003.