Angels Flight Cars Back on Track

By Eric Richardson
Published: Saturday, November 01, 2008, at 12:49PM

Eric Richardson [Flickr]

Angels Flight looks significantly less forlorn today, as its pair of bright orange cars are returned to the track.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Olivet and Sinai are back by Bunker Hill today, returned to their Angels Flight home via flatbed trailer. The two cars were trucked over from the Arts District this morning, where they had been stored at Metro's Red Line yard. The cars' return marks the first visible sign that service might resume by the end of 2008.

A massive crane lifted the first car onto the track a little after 9am. Because the funicular features a single track at the top and bottom, with a passing section in the middle, the cabling must be hooked up and the car lifted up the track before the second car could be placed. It sat on a trailer nearby.

Once the cars are in place, testing can commence. The railway must pass inspections by the California Public Utilities Commission before it can return to passenger service.

Update (Sunday): The Times covers the cars' return this morning, and includes a great photo gallery.

Elusive Angels Flight Set to Get Its Rail Cars
October 30, 2008
Angels Flight Tells MTA: Thanks, but Stay Away
February 08, 2007
Angels Flight Announcement Nice to Hear, but Doesn't Give Any Answers
January 25, 2007

Eric Richardson

The second Angels Flight car awaits its turn to be placed onto the track.

Eric Richardson

A worker strings a cable down the Angels Flight track.

Comments

JM writes:

Wow!! How did this happen? I’ve been waiting for this for years.

# on Nov.01.2008 AT 04:00 PM

Ken H writes:

Woo Hoo!!…This is great news!!!….Eric, do you or anyone know how long the testing phase of the cars installation will take? Could Angels Flight be back up and running before Christmas???…What a great Christmas present to downtown that would make.

Very exciting news indeed. Everyone should be very happy about this. This news makes my day!

# on Nov.01.2008 AT 11:55 PM

steve byars writes:

I live in Dallas–love LA and especially downtown and all the old close-in neighborhoods. Have dreamed of the day Angels Flight and the streetcars were back in operation. We have one revived streetcar line in operation in Dallas and a second and third line in the planning stage. LA is a great city–keeep going!

# on Nov.02.2008 AT 06:59 AM

Eric Richardson writes:

Ken: I don’t think it would be fair to put a set window on how long the testing will take. My understanding is that they need to get the PUC to sign off on the system, and any time you’re dealing with inspections you could pass right away, or it could take a couple times around.

We’ve waited long enough that I think we can just enjoy the fact that it’s moving forward.

# on Nov.02.2008 AT 08:42 AM

Alan Fishel writes:

Lets all hope that the technology will be more like the original 1900 design than the last “modern high tech” design used on the recreation that failed as we all new it would. A single cable attached to each car around a single “bull wheel” is a must plus a back up safety cable would also help. Is this is what is now in place or is some other high tech design now to be used?

# on Nov.02.2008 AT 01:25 PM

Eric Richardson writes:

Alan: I believe that the design now used is basically the same as the original design, plus some new redundancy. By all accounts, the design that was put in place in the 1980s was a huge step backward for safety. It’s funny how often the old way really was the best way.

# on Nov.02.2008 AT 08:44 PM

nanorich writes:

This is so exciting…!!!

maybe, if we are lucky, they will begin service in another year or so.

# on Nov.03.2008 AT 06:01 AM

Paul Leo Politi writes:

Please check out www.leopoliti2008centennial.org Thank you for all that you are doing for Los Angeles...We linked up to you with reference to Angels Flight.. On the centennial website there are quite a few paintings that my father painted that relates to Downtown Los Angeles...Thank You again, keep up the important work.... Sincerely Paul Leo Politi and the Leo Politi Family

# on Nov.03.2008 AT 03:46 PM