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U.S. NEWS Friday 1 September 2017

American Living:

LA’s popular Angels Flight reaching for the heavens again

By JOHN ROGERS ward, dismissing concerns
Associated Press of a couple first-time riders
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Angels that the old railroad cars
Flight, the beloved little rail- seemed to shake and shim-
road that’s almost as much my unnervingly, especially
a symbol of Los Angeles as as they passed each other.
the Hollywood Sign, began A veteran rider, Garcetti
pulling people toward the noted the train’s two cars
heavens and back down have always done that,
again Thursday after four particularly when they pass
years of idleness triggered on a three-track section of
by a 2013 derailment. railway in the middle.
Mayor Eric Garcetti and “Those are just a couple of
other supporters and ad- historic bumps,” he add-
mirers of the funky little ed with a grin. “Don’t be
funicular turned out on a alarmed.”
blazingly hot downtown Earlier he’d assured peo-
morning to see the train’s ple the railroad, ordered
two wooden antique cars, closed by the state after
Olivet and Sinai, officially the 2013 derailment, had
return to service. been restored to the high-
“This is a railway that al- est safety standards.
ways had a little engine A funicular, Angels Flight
that could,” Garcetti said operates by using the This Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, photo shows Gordon Pattison holds a photo his father took of the
of the 116-year-old railway counterbalancing weights original Angels Flight railroad in downtown Los Angeles. Pattison, who like countless other Los
that stretches only 298 feet of its cars to pull one up Angeles natives has countless childhood memories of taking a scenic ride along the 298-foot
(90 meters) up downtown’s while the other descends. railway’s narrow-gauge track. “I think the first time I rode it was in my mother’s arms. In 1946,” said
stunningly steep Bunker Hill. When the two cars pass Pattison, who plans to ride it again when it reopens on Thursday, Aug. 31.
“It is one of the last relics of they are no more than an (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
Victorian Los Angeles, an inch or two apart, adding natives has countless child- 50-cent discount for those in 1996 it was added to the
iconic LA landmark and to the excitement of the hood memories of taking a who pay with a transit card. National Register of Historic
it’s right up there with the ride. scenic ride up and down It was a must-take ride for Places. It was closed again
Griffith Park Observatory Angels Flight was still closed the railway. tourists and locals alike in 2001, however, after a
and the Hollywood Sign.” when Gosling and Stone “I think the first time I rode when it closed in 1969 for a failure of the counterbal-
He added that just like rode it in “La La Land” last it was in my mother’s arms. decades-long redevelop- ancing system caused a
those landmarks it’s made year, to the surprise of the In 1946,” said Pattison, who ment project that saw Bun- crash that killed one rider
frequent cameo appear- public and state officials. rode it again Thursday. ker Hill’s mansions replaced and injured several others.
ances in movies, including While it was idled its cars Roundtrips cost a penny by high-rise office buildings, The railway finally reopened
last year’s Oscar-nominat- were badly scarred by graf- when Angels Flight opened hotels, luxury apartments in 2010, only to be closed
ed film “La La Land” when fiti in 2015, prompting thou- in 1901. and museums. three years later after riders
Emma Stone and Ryan sands to petition the mayor They cost $1 now with a Four years after it reopened had to be rescued.q
Gosling climbed aboard for to get it back in service but
a romantic ride. something else happened.
Later, with a thumb’s up, They were spruced up and
Garcetti led a small dele- freshly repainted for Thurs-
gation of officials and long- day’s run.
time riders onto the train “I’m thrilled to see it back
and up the hill. again,” said 71-year-old
A few minutes later he re- Los Angeles periodontist
turned in the other car. Gordon Pattison, who like
“It was great,” he said after- countless other Los Angeles