Angels Flight is a historic narrow justice funicular railway located inwards the Bunker Hill district of downtown Los Angeles , California. Dubbed the “shortest railway inwards the world” , Angels Flight opened inwards 1901 inwards what was 1 of the around stylish neighborhoods inwards the city. Its 2 funicular cars named Sinai in addition to Olivet ferried prominent citizens upwards in addition to downwards the steep gradient betwixt Hill in addition to Olive streets. Though the journeying was brusk —only 315 feet— in addition to lasted solely 1 infinitesimal , it is believed that Angels Flight carried to a greater extent than passengers per mile than whatever other railway inwards the world. Over a hundred meg passengers rode the cars inwards its outset 50 years.
Photo credit: Allie_Caulfield/Flickr
Angels Flight suffered its outset setback inwards 1969 when the Bunker Hill expanse underwent major urbanization amongst old houses getting razed in addition to replaced past times high-rise commercial buildings. The funicular was dismantled in addition to its cars were hauled off to storage for what everyone believed would live “a few” years earlier the railway reopens. But the 2 cars sat inwards a nighttime warehouse for the following 20 7 years. Finally , later on a lot of local assay in addition to bureaucratic hassles , Angels Flight was reopened inwards 1996 , instantly one-half a block from the master copy site.
Angels Flight suffered its instant setback inwards 2001 , this fourth dimension due to an accident resulting inwards the conk of a rider in addition to injury to several others. Operation of the funicular was suspended on grounds of improper blueprint , nonconformance to security standards in addition to pathetic maintenance. The funicular remained unopen for the following ix years patch it was repaired in addition to the old induce in addition to security organization was replaced. It went dorsum into functioning inwards 2010.
In 2013 , at that spot was about other accident where 1 machine derailed. Although at that spot were no injuries , dry reason regulators are instantly reluctant to permit Angels Flight to reopen until all security issues are resolved , including the edifice of an evacuation walkway following to the tracks should the cars stall halfway up. The board besides wants the operators to submit a invention detailing how they volition operate along passengers safe.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s requirements accept non been implemented soundless , in addition to every bit such , the futurity of Angels Flight is currently uncertain. Today , the orange-and-black cars of Angels Flight sits motionless halfway upwards the funicular’s ramp covered amongst trash in addition to graffiti.
Angels Flight at its old location. Photo credit: whitewall buick/Flickr
Photo credit: Paul Narvaez/Flickr
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Photo credit: Luke H. Gordon/Flickr
Photo credit: Luke H. Gordon/Flickr
Photo credit: Bradley Huchteman/Flickr
Sources: Wikipedia / LA Times / www.publicartinla.com