{"id":24574,"date":"2020-07-10T15:29:54","date_gmt":"2020-07-10T19:29:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/?p=24574"},"modified":"2024-05-31T02:11:58","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T02:11:58","slug":"angels-flight-railway-in-la-what-to-expect-from-your-ride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/angels-flight-railway-in-la-what-to-expect-from-your-ride\/","title":{"rendered":"Angels Flight Railway in LA: What to Expect From Your Ride"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Yes, the world\u2019s shortest railway is tucked in the middle of downtown Los Angeles, a city not exactly known for its trains and rails. Angels Flight Railway is a historic funicular that goes up (and down) one of downtown\u2019s steepest hills in an area of the city called Bunker Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, I\u2019ll cover all you need to know about the railway, from its history and claims to fame to what it\u2019s like to ride and fun things to do nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The World\u2019s Shortest Railway<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Angels<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Angels Flight Railway may be short, running just shy of 300 feet (298 feet, to be exact) on an incline, but it\u2019s got a long history and a bit of a film career, too. It\u2019s also been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a little more Angels Flight history, including a few pop culture appearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Angels Flight Through the Years<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, Angels Flight Railway was originally built in 1901. But it was actually at another location half a block away, connecting Hill Street and Olive Street in Bunker Hill, a high-end residential neighborhood at the time. The railway operated there until 1969 when the site was cleared for redevelopment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current site, which connects Hill Street and California Plaza, opened in 1996. It has the original tracks and cars, which were restored and upgraded after sitting in a warehouse for 27 years. It\u2019s mainly a tourist attraction, although it\u2019s also used by some downtown workers. The railway reopened again, rather recently in 2017, after some added safety enhancements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Famous Railway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Angels Flight\u2019s film cameos started back in 1920 with a one-reel show. Since then, it\u2019s been used in classics such as Fritz Lang\u2019s \u201cM\u201d and even \u201cThe Muppets.\u201d The fourth season of \u201cBosch\u201d is based on Michael Connelly\u2019s book, \u201cAngels Flight,\u201d and of course, also features this railway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps most famously, Angels Flight was featured in the 2016 Oscar-winning movie, \u201cLa La Land.\u201d The railway was closed at the time and not supposed to be used<\/a> for any filming. But in true LA-style, the secret filming brought some Hollywood fame to the railway and helped its reopening the following year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What It\u2019s Like to Ride Angels Flight<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Waiting<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

First off, you need to understand how the ride works. Angels Flight is a funicular, which means that it uses two counterbalanced cars attached to two ends of a cable \u2014 like a pulley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this case, the two cars have names: Olivet and Sinai. They’re named after mountains in the Bible \u2014 keeping with the angel theme. They\u2019re orange and black wooden cars with 16 seats in each car. The car is slanted to fit onto the steep tracks, so the seats are built into different levels, like stairs, so everyone can still sit straight. Grab the bottom seats to get the best view down the hill as you ride up. The cars travel continuously and each one-way ride lasts less than a minute, so you just need to wait for them to gather passengers to get on the next ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the whole system has been refurbished and upgraded for safety, the cars still look mostly like they did more than a century ago with their wooden interiors. The ride can be a little bumpy and noisy \u2014 it\u2019s an old railway, after all \u2014 but it\u2019s short, fun, and an easy landmark to check off your LA bucket list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Angels Flight FAQs for Your Ride and Visit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Angels Flight Railway may be a short trip, but there\u2019s plenty in the area to bookend your ride with. Here\u2019s what you need to know to plan your exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What restaurants are near Angels Flight Railway?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A post shared by Fiona Chandra (@gourmetpigs)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>