{{short description|Los Angeles transit line (1920–1958)}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Multiple issues| {{Notability|date=January 2021}} {{Third-party|date=January 2021}} }} {{Infobox rail line |name = Catalina Dock |image = |image_width = |color = {{rcr|Pacific Electric|Catalina Dock}} |linenumber = 8 |type = Interurban |system = Pacific Electric |locale = Los Angeles County, California |start = Los Angeles |end = Catalina Dock<br />Terminal Island (1942–1945) |stations = |routes = |ridership2 = |open = |close = |owner = |operator = Pacific Electric (1920–1953)<hr />Metropolitan Coach Lines (1953–1957)<hr />Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (1958) |character = |stock = |linelength_mi = |tracklength = |tracks = |gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}} |electrification = {{600 V DC|conductor=overhead}} |speed = |elevation = |map = }} The '''Catalina Dock Line''' is a former Pacific Electric interurban railway line in Los Angeles County, California. The service began primarily for holiday travel but was expanded to serve dock workers during World War II. It ran between Downtown Los Angeles and Terminal Island.
==History== While the San Pedro via Dominguez Line had previously served Catalina Island steamships, the establishment of a new terminal at Wilmington necessitated a new service.<ref name=1958History>{{Veysey-PE-1958 |pages=9, 10, 31, 35, 44}}</ref> The Catalina Dock Line opened in March 1920 along with the dock.<ref name=erhaCDL>{{cite web |title=Catalina Dock Line |url=https://www.erha.org/pescdl.htm |publisher=Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California |accessdate=19 January 2021}}</ref> Service was largely seasonal, with a single daily round trip most of the year, increased to several Los Angeles departures in the summer months. A separate service to Long Beach began in February 1928. Direct independent service from Pasadena was provided during the 1930 and 1931 summer seasons.<ref name=1958History />
Catalina Dock Line service was discontinued on December 23, 1941.<ref name=1958History /> However the company soon found it necessary to transport shipbuilders to the California Shipbuilding Corporation yard on Terminal Island.<ref name=erhaTIL>{{cite web |title=Terminal Island Line |url=https://www.erha.org/pesti.htm |publisher=Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California |accessdate=19 January 2021}}</ref> The '''Terminal Island Line''' began operating over the same route as the former Catalina Dock Line on February 4, 1942 along with a new service from Long Beach.<ref name=1958History /> The Terminal Island railway was hastily constructed later that year, opening the following March to eliminate the ferry transfer to the island. The service had ceased by September 13, 1945, having fulfilled its wartime role (the Long Beach trip lasted a few more days). The Terminal Island Railway was removed.<ref name=erhaTIL />
Pre-war service was restored on March 6, 1946, returning to a single round trip to Catalina Dock with seasonal increases and a Long Beach trip. The Long Beach run was discontinued after April 29, 1949. The service was commuted to Metropolitan Coach Lines on October 1, 1953. Regular service was discontinued after Halloween 1955, but the line continued to see use in the summer. The final season of 1958 would see the line operated by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority,<ref name=1958History /> with the last train running October 12.<ref name=erhaCDL /><ref name=LACMTA>{{cite news |title=October 12: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History |url=https://metroprimaryresources.info/this-date-in-los-angeles-transportation-history/october/october-12/ |access-date=19 January 2021 |agency=Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority |website=Metro Dorothty Peyton Gray Transportation Library and Archive}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Pacific Electric Railway}}
Category:Pacific Electric routes Category:Light rail in California Category:Railway lines opened in 1887 Category:1887 establishments in California Category:Railway lines closed in 1930 Category:1930 disestablishments in California Category:Closed railway lines in the United States