San Bernardino, California

The Redlands Loop

Picture Point of Interest

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A picture of the Redlands passenger depot. Picture submitted by John Acosta.

This loop was originally constructed in the late 1800s, and served the orange growers and other farmers in the area, along with a few industries. While rail traffic was steady through the 1950s, the orange groves were replaced with residences over time, and the need for trains decreased. The segment between Highland Junction and Del Rosa was abandoned in the 1950s, with a further cut back to Patton in the 1970s. After a long pile trestle over the Santa Ana River (between Mentone and Patton) was damaged by floodwaters, the line was cut from Patton back to Mentone. Until the 1980s, Mentone had a separate industrial spur northeast of town, but the industries later closed and only small sections of track remain.

Only the Redlands to San Bernardino via Nevada segment is still active in early 2004. Redlands station still stands but is not used by BNSF. As of January 2004 the track ends near Wabash Avenue on the Redlands city limit, but there are no customers on the last two miles of track. The right-of-way through Del Rosa is used for CA Route 30, and other parts of it are still open in West Highland and Patton, as the neighborhoods were built while track was still in place. In East Highland the ROW has been obliterated by recent housing developments.

Heading clockwise, the single track line left the Santa Fe main at Highland Jct. in San Bernardino. It then passed through Arrowhead (PE crossing), Del Rosa, West Highland, Patton, Highland, East Highland, Aplin, Mentone, Craf[ton], Redlands, and Nevada, and rejoined the Santa Fe mainline just east of the San Bernardino depot.

ICC Abandonment Filings

ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE RAILWAY
Docket Number: 19173 Date: 12/12/1955 Section: 1(18)
App. of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company for permission to abandon and remove a portion of its line of railroad known as the Redland Loop, in San Bernardino County, California, 3.9 miles, between its connection with the applicant's main line at Highland Junction and the Station of Del Rosa.
Length: 3.9 miles Citation: 295 ICC 814  
ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE RAILWAY
Docket Number: 24317 Date: 9/12/1966 Section: 1(18)
App. and ret. to quest. for auth. to aband. a portion of its Redlands Dist, branch line of rr. known as the Redlands District, in San Bernardino County, Calif., approx. 1.61 mi. from the station at Patton to the end of the track at the Station of Del Rosa.
Length: 1.61 miles Citation:  

I enjoyed your post. I live in East Highland and vivadly recall the complete loop. In the early 70's my older brothers used to frequent the Gold Buckle Packing House (now stands the new Stater Bros store at Greenspot and Church St.)There were several derailled passenger train cars there for years. I still have several original Gold Buckle Orange Crate labels from the Burned Down GB Packing house. I would dearly love to see a post with any historic photos of this area!!

Norm Lavoie
Highland, CA
2/11/2009

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like your pictures,like doing these things to,i took pictures of railtown,ca from my trip this last summer.do you have maps from the old trolly lines?also the bridge off of mt view,what about it? thanks barb

barb
san bernardino, CA
11/8/2009

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I was born and raised in Highland. We lived on Palm ave. for years and years. My grandfather had a citrus ranch called Cliff side ranch near the present day East Highlands Ranch developement in 1881. My dad grew oranges all his life in Highland and East Highlands.Anyway I remember the Highland depot very well and played around it quite abit, waiting for the train to come by and blow its whistle. I also remember the pacific-electric rail car come to Highland on Pacfic ave.

thanks for the memories

doug frank
Powderhorn, CO
12/3/2009

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Does anyone know of a Menton Inn or Menton Spa that this rail line served?

Paris Nattboy
Mentone, CA
5/29/2011

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I will try to email you a corrected version of your map, which is correct up to where the 259 segment curves southward from I210 to intersect with I215. This segment was originally opened in 1967 as State Route 30 and only went as far as the E St. exit. The Redlands loop ROW was used for this segment. The Loop diverged from the ATSF main right where 259 does currently, and occupied the exact route of 259 to where it intersects I210. I have early childhood memories of the nightly local passing at the end of the cul-de-sac where I lived. I also remember the last passenger operation, a railfan special, around the summer of 1956. This may have been the very last through train on the intact loop.

Gary Hunter
San Bernardino (born there), CA
6/9/2011

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Great photos John and Mike!

Kevin M. Smith
Cicero, NY
6/28/2011

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For those interested, check out this link for history of Highland and the Kite Shaped Track. http://highlandhistory.org/The%20Kite%20Shaped%20Track.php. If you have a chance, pick-up the pictoral book Bill Calvert put together, great photos of old Highland. Also, there is info on a booklet that Mark Landis put together on the Kite Shape Track. He did excellent research on the eastern loop of the kite track. Mark also held a walking tour of the Eastern portion of the loop several years ago that was well done. Visited several sites of existing and former depots along the way. Norm, I remember the abandonned passenger cars you speak of. The kids from Highland referred to them as "The Trains" and were known as a party spot and because it was considered out in the boonies you generally didnt get hassled by the police too much. Doug, the Pacific Electric cars stopped right across the street from the Highland Depot at Pacific and Palm. The rails are still there, buried under the asphalt street. Thanks for posting everybody!

Allan
Highland, CA
3/10/2012

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Do you have any pictures or information about The Redlands Loop? Please . You will get credit for anything you contribute.