The cars were originally powered by a cable system connected to a steam engine, later converted to electricity.
The railway was featured prominently in the 2016 film La La Land.
During its first operational period, the railway carried over 100 million passengers.
The funicular was moved roughly half a block south from its original 1901 location to accommodate urban redevelopment.
The original cars were built in 1901, though they have undergone multiple structural safety overhauls.
Angels Flight is a historic 298-foot narrow-gauge funicular railway operating in the Bunker Hill district of Downtown Los Angeles. Originally opened in 1901, the system consists of two counterbalanced cars named Sinai and Olivet that travel between Hill Street and Grand Avenue. The railway utilizes a cable-driven system on a 33 percent grade, making it one of the steepest funiculars in the world. It was dismantled in 1969 for redevelopment, stored for decades, and reopened in its current location in 1996. The railway is designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The total journey time is approximately one minute.
From the bottom of the hill on Hill Street, looking up at the bright orange cars on the tracks.
Check the official website before visiting to ensure the railway is not closed for routine maintenance.
Combine your visit with a trip to the nearby Grand Central Market for dining options.
Hold onto your belongings, as the cars are open-air and the incline is significant.
Assuming it is a long-distance transit ride; it is a very short, specific historic attraction rather than a commute solution.
The railway is subject to periodic closures for safety inspections and maintenance.
