Inglewood station

The Inglewood depot in Inglewood, California, was built by Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in September 1887.[1][2] From 1902 to 1928 it was used for the Venice–Inglewood Line of the Los Angeles Railroad Pacific Electric Railway Depot, and then for Southern Pacific freight cars until the 1970s when the line was abandoned. The depot appeared in a 1920 Buster Keaton short called One Week[3] and it remained a popular filming location for decades.[4][5]

Inglewood
Inglewood Depot, photographed by Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company, late 1800s
General information
LocationUnited States
Coordinates33.9662°N 118.3589°W / 33.9662; -118.3589
History
OpenedSeptember 15, 1887 (1887-09-15)
Closed1928 (passengers)
c. 1972–1974
Services
Preceding station Pacific Electric Following station
Mesmer
towards Ocean Park
 Venice–Inglewood Terminus
Location

According to a long-time station agent, before World War II, freight cars left the Inglewood depot carrying beans, bean straw and “loads of stoves, chemicals and fertilizers.”[4]

During World War II, the depot handled war matériel and enabled transportation of personnel.[4] A 1943 Associated Press story noted that rail transport was used so extensively during the war that it was affecting the local film industry: "In spite of wartime obstacles, all studios are making train scenes whenever it is necessary to the film plot. Now, it’s no longer possible to take a troupe over to Glendale, Pasadena, Inglewood or Alhambra for that purpose. Station platforms and trains are full. Once quiet spots along the main line are now seeing a train pass every 15 minutes, whether a film director likes it or not."[6]

Post-war, the station handled household goods, missile parts, toys, furniture and “tank car products.”[4]

The depot survived until the 1970s when it was irreparably damaged in an arson fire and demolished in 1972.[5] (Another source says the fire was in 1972 and the demolition was 1974.[1])

See also

References
  1. Reiring, Ron (1969-01-01), Inglewood, CA train station, archived from the original on 2022-10-20, retrieved 2022-10-20
  2. "SANTA FE MIC". www.snowcrest.net. Archived from the original on 2022-10-20. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  3. Bengtson, John (October 4, 2011). "Buster's Trains – One Week to Speak Easily". Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  4. Bastajian, Lee (January 15, 1967). "Railroader Recalls when Prairie Ave. was Prairie". Los Angeles Times. pp. 2–cs1 – via Newspapers.com. icon of an open green padlock
  5. "Railroad and Trolley Linking Santa Monica to Inglewood". Los Angeles Times. September 16, 1981. pp. 2–m1 – via Newspapers.com. (Second Part) icon of an open green padlock
  6. "San Pedro News Pilot 31 July 1943 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
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