Angels Flight Railway is one of those wonderfully unusual Los Angeles attractions that you just have to experience. Tucked into Downtown LA, this historic little railway has been carrying passengers up and down Bunker Hill for more than a century, and it’s every bit as charming as it looks.
First opened in 1901, Angels Flight is a narrow-gauge funicular railway with two orange and black cars named Olivet and Sinai. The railway travels just 298 feet, earning it the nickname the world’s shortest railway. The two cars move in opposite directions, passing each other halfway along the steep hillside.
The ride takes about a minute, but that’s really part of the fun. There’s something great about climbing aboard a piece of Los Angeles history, hearing the machinery work, and watching the city change perspective as you make your way up or down the hill.
Located directly across from Grand Central Market, Angels Flight is an easy addition to a Downtown LA adventure. Grab lunch at the market, check out the historic railway, and enjoy one of the city’s quirkiest landmarks. It’s also appeared in movies and television shows, including La La Land, adding a little Hollywood history to the experience.
We had a great time, and while the ride is short, it’s absolutely worth doing.
