Redlands Central Railway Company Car Barn
Also known as: Pacific Electric Railway (Secondary or Auxiliary) Redlands C
Why it's listed
Built in 1907 at 746 East Citrus Avenue, this brick car barn in Redlands was designed to shelter the cars of the Redlands Central Railway Company, a short-lived local electric street railway founded by the Fisher family. The building is about 50 by 130 feet, with an open interior, steel roof trusses, a corrugated iron roof and a scalloped Mission Revival parapet over the arched front doorways where tracks once entered. John H. Fisher drew the plans, and Taylor Bros. Brick Co. built it for an estimated $7,000. The company was bought by Henry E. Huntington in 1908 and its operations later passed to the Pacific Electric Railway, which retired the barn around 1926. Later uses included trucking, cabinetmaking and tile businesses. It was listed because it is the only surviving Redlands building tied to the electric railway era and the last known Pacific Electric car barn. The building retains most of its original character despite some altered openings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that it is the only remaining building in Redlands that represents the electric railways that contributed to the city's development from 1899 into the 1920s. It later became part of the Pacific Electric Railway and is described as the last known Pacific Electric car barn still standing. The form also claims broader regional and statewide significance.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90002119, listed January 3, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 746 E. Citrus Ave., Redlands |
|---|---|
| County | San Bernardino County |
| Listed | January 3, 1991 |
| Reference number | 90002119 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1907-1926 |
| Architect / builder | Fisher, John H. (architect); contractor Taylor Bros. Brick Co. |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant/not in use; the building was in nearly continuous use until a few years before the nomination, and decay and vandalism have not significantly impaired integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.05674, -117.17549 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90002119.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19877453
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.