The branch line was built by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway,[2][3] opening in June 1887 from Inglewood to Port Ballona (on the site of today’s Playa del Rey).

"[6] The route was acquired by the Los Angeles Pacific Railroad on March 21, 1902,[6][7] and was shortly after electrified for service by that October.

The section east of La Cienega has been partially developed with a storage facility, but continues along the north side of Oak street as an empty strip planted with trees and grass.

[12] Continuing northwesterly, the line ran approximately one-half mile (0.8 km) before paralleling Centinela Avenue (on the south) and crossing Sepulveda Boulevard at-grade.

However a small portion of the right-of-way remains on the south side of Centinela just west of Sepulveda, as a derelict strip of dirt that interrupts the sidewalk, and support columns for the crossing are still visible in Ballona Creek.

This portion of track was subdivided for residential development, creating a long row of unusually small, narrow houses along Oxford Avenue.

[13] While the Santa Fe experienced strong initial ridership on the line, declining passenger loads contributed to the company's decision to sell the route.

[8] A survey by the California Railroad Commission for the week ending September 3, 1927 revealed that a single passenger had ridden the line in the time period; eight trips were made the entire month.