Old Torrance in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Pacific Electric Railway

El Prado Bridge

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 24, 2019

1. Pacific Electric Railway Bridge Marker

Inscription. Constructed in 1913, this bridge was a part of the Pacific Electric Railway system which was designated as a Local Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Los Angeles section, in 1973. Although the bridge no longer carries rail traffic, it serves as the gateway to the City of Torrance and is hereby recognized as a Local Historic Landmark in the bridge's centennial year. The bridge will henceforth be officially known as the Pacific Electric Railway El Prado Bridge as resolved by the City of Torrance for this dedication.

Erected 2013 by American Society of Civil Engineers.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the ASCE Civil Engineering Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.

Location. 33° 50.247′ N, 118° 18.705′ W. Marker is in Torrance, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Old Torrance. It is at the intersection of Torrance Boulevard and Bow Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Torrance Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1820 Torrance Blvd, Torrance CA 90501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse

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Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Jared Sidney Torrance (approx. 0.4 miles away); Square Base Linotype Machine (approx. 1.7 miles away); Roosevelt Cemetery Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); Jose Rizal (approx. 3 miles away); Goodyear Historical Sign (approx. 3.1 miles away); The Washington Elm (approx. 3.2 miles away); Mirlo Gate Lodge Tower (approx. 3.7 miles away); St. John’s Episcopal Church (approx. 3.8 miles away).

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 24, 2019

2. Pacific Electric Railway Bridge Marker

National Register of Historic Places image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 24, 2019

3. National Register of Historic Places

Pacific Electric Railway Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 24, 2019

4. Pacific Electric Railway Bridge

Where there once was two sets of tracks, there is now one set used by Union Pacific for local freight.

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 24, 2019

5. Pacific Electric Railway Bridge

Abandoned Tracks on the Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 24, 2019

6. Abandoned Tracks on the Bridge

This is the only place Pacific Electric crossed over itself, to access a steel mill on a hill.

Under the Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 24, 2019

7. Under the Bridge

Under the Bridge at Night image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, 2013

8. Under the Bridge at Night

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 994 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on September 25, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.