Los Angeles Funicular

Angels Flight: The World's Shortest Railway on Bunker Hill

Los Angeles, California, United States

By the Wicked Cool Places editors · Published Fri, Aug 28, 2026

Why it’s cool

This iconic Los Angeles funicular is widely considered the shortest railroad on the planet. Its two orange cars have transported millions of passengers up the steep incline of Bunker Hill since the turn of the century.

West Coast Historic

An orange and black funicular car labeled Angels Flight sits on a steep track in downtown Los Angeles.

A pair of bright orange cars glide past each other on a steep incline in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. This is Angels Flight, a narrow-gauge funicular that has served as a local landmark for over a hundred years.

While the journey only covers a few hundred feet, it remains one of the most beloved transit relics in California history.

Why It Stands Out

First established in 1901, the railway was designed to help residents navigate the formidable slope of Bunker Hill. The two wooden cars, named Sinai and Olivet, operate on a counterbalanced system where one descends as the other climbs.

Even though the entire trip lasts approximately thirty seconds, the line is often cited as having the highest passenger density per mile of any railroad ever built. The history of the funicular is marked by long periods of dormancy and relocation.

In 1969, urban redevelopment forced the line to close, and the vintage cars were moved into storage for nearly three decades. Other examples of preserved local history can be found at the Heritage Square Museum.

When it finally returned to service in 1996, the tracks were reconstructed half a block away from their original location. The railway has survived various mechanical failures and safety closures, including a significant hiatus following a 2001 accident and another brief closure in 2013.

Since its most recent reopening in 2017, the orange trolleys have once again become a permanent fixture of the downtown skyline. The nearby Stay On Main Hotel is another historic landmark in the downtown area.

Before You Go

The entrance to the lower station is located across from Grand Central Market, making it a convenient stop during a day of sightseeing. Another quirky city landmark to visit is the Chicken Boy statue.

Riding the funicular is an affordable experience, as a single trip costs only one dollar. It is a functional piece of transit history that connects Hill Street and Grand Avenue.

Visitors can choose to ride up to the top of the hill or take the cars down to the bustling food stalls below.

Questions worth answering

How much does it cost to ride?

You only need a single dollar for a one-way trip. It is one of the more affordable ways to see the city skyline.

What are the names of the two cars?

The wooden trolleys are called Sinai and Olivet. They work together on a counterbalanced track system.

Where is the best place to find the entrance?

Look for the lower station right across from Grand Central Market. The tracks connect Hill Street to the top of Grand Avenue.

Is this a long train ride?

The entire journey takes about thirty seconds from start to finish. It covers a short distance but handles a massive volume of passengers per mile.

Visit Snapshot

A single ride on the funicular costs $1 each way. The railway connects Hill Street and Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles.

Location

Los Angeles, California

Know before you go

A ride each way costs $1.

Editorial source

Angels Flight

Established in 1901, the Angels Flight railway has carried millions of Angelenos up and down the steep incline of Bunker Hill. Though the 315-foot trip only lasts thirty seconds, it is believed that Angels Flight has carried more passengers per mile than any other railway in the world, making it not only the shortest in length, but also the most traveled.

Despite its popularity, the Angels Flight line has faced its fair share of setbacks. The original railway was forced to close in 1969 as the surrounding area faced heavy commercialization.

The famous orange trolley carts were kept in storage for twenty-seven years until the line reopened in 1996 - this time, just half a block south from the original site. For the most part, the railway suffered few technical malfunctions until 2001, when a serious accident killed one passenger and seriously injured a few others.

The National Transportation Safety Board deemed a "design failure" as the cause, and the historic line remained closed for the following nine years. It reopened to much fanfare in March 2010 and then shut back down after a minor derailment in 2013.

It reopened in 2017 and the counterbalanced cars, named Olivet and Sinai, have been running ever since.

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