SDERy – Hillcrest / University Heights

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Between Balboa Park and Park Junction, the tracks roughly followed Park Blvd through the park, crossing Morley Field Dr on a large steel deck girder bridge. After the crossing, it followed a private right-of-way to Indiana St. At Robinson Ave, the tracks merged onto Park Blvd. Some traces of those tracks can still be seen today.

Retaining wall still remaining south of Myrtle Ave. Original wall is visible below the iron fencing at center.
Looking north along Indiana St from Myrtle Ave. Trackways are visible as two strips on either side of the roadway.

At Park Junction, where Park Blvd and University Ave meet, three SDERy lines used to meet. The #7 car went north on Park Blvd and turned east onto University Ave, heading to Euclid Ave in City Heights. The #11 car also ran on Park Blvd, but headed north to Adams Ave, turning east onto Adams ending in Kensington. The #1 car line ran east on University Ave, turning north onto Park and terminating there. In late 2013, the intersection was dug up for a bus lane project. Track and switches still remained underneath a few inches of asphalt paving.

View south on Park from University showing where the tracks were removed.
View south on Park from University showing where the tracks were removed.
Cut off tracks still in place on Park Blvd. Note the thick cap of paving that has been added since 1949.
Cut off tracks still in place on Park Blvd. Note the thick cap of paving that has been added since 1949.
Piles of railroad ties waiting to be removed from Park Blvd.
Piles of railroad ties waiting to be removed from Park Blvd.
A switch frog from the crossover south of University Ave.
A switch frog from the crossover south of University Ave.
Tracks between Park Blvd and Florida St on University Ave in April 2017

Along Park Blvd between University Ave and El Cajon Blvd, poles that formerly supported the wires for the streetcars still exist in the median. They have been modified somewhat but have been there since the 1919 extension to Kensington. They were removed in 2013 due to construction of a bus lane in the median of Park Blvd.

Between University Ave and Lincoln Ave.
Between University Ave and Lincoln Ave.
Park Blvd just south of Polk Ave. The rust colored lines in the paving are the tops of rails that were previously buried in the median.
Park Blvd just south of Polk Ave. The rust colored lines in the paving are the tops of rails that were previously buried in the median.
Exposed rail in the median south of Polk Ave.
Exposed rail in the median south of Polk Ave.
Park Blvd at Lincoln Ave
Between Polk Ave and Howard Ave.
Between Polk Ave and Howard Ave.
Original black chevrons showing up through the paint.
Original black chevrons showing up through the paint.
Between Howard Ave and El Cajon Blvd.
Between Howard Ave and El Cajon Blvd.
Tracks marked during utility work on Park Blvd at Normal St / El Cajon Blvd.

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