The company began running cars in January 1887 as the first electrified streetcar in the western United States,[1][2] but went under within a few years.

[3] The Pico and First Street Line was one of the first routes built by the new Los Angeles Railway in 1895.

In 1947, Los Angeles Railway purchased 40 PCC streetcars to replace the old rolling stock on the line.

[12] The Gold Line Eastside Extension was a project by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (successor to LARy services) to establish a light rail line to East Los Angeles.

From the previous terminus at Union Station, trains operate primarily via 1st Street to Indiana, though the majority of the line is in a tunnel.