June 9: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History

Written by Kenn Bicknell

1875: The first horsecar, known as “Old No. 1,” arrives in Los Angeles to begin service on the Agricultural Park Line beginning July 1.

Main Street and Agricultural Park Street Railroad, ca. 1890 (Click for more information)

Agricultural Park is now known as Exposition Park.

The Agricultural Park Line was the second in the city, as the spring and West Sixth Street Railroad had been operating to the Washington Gardens for a year.

The Main Street and Agricultural Railroad began operating in 1875 from North Spring Street to what is now Exposition Park by way of Washington Boulevard, Figueroa Street, and Wesleyan (now University) Avenue. Click for more information.

The southerly terminal was at Washington and Main Streets. The streetcar line was purchased by Los Angeles Railway in September, 1898 and began operations on October 1 of the same year.

“Old No. 1” was later sold to Lindley Bothwell, who owned a sizeable vintage automobile and streetcar collection in Woodland Hills. The vehicles were finally auctioned off in 2017.

More information can be found in the September, 1946 issue of Two Bells, the Los Angeles Railway employee news magazine.