Bunker Hill Has Its Ups and Downs
The first "flight" Monday took off at about 6:45 a.m.
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The funicular is back in the Bunker Hill District.
More than nine years after being closed because of fatal accident, a hillside track connecting Hill Street near the Grand Central Market to California Plaza on Grand Avenue reopened Monday morning.
Will from Santa Ana was one of two people waiting at about 6:15 a.m. to take the first ride. He took the bus from Orange County, making it to the Bunker Hill District in plenty of time for the 6:45 a.m. departure.
"It's something you can't resist," Will said. "It's part of history. I've done it before. It's wonderful. It's not really rational, but it's the same reason that a chicken has for crossing the road."
Angels Flight will operate from 6:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. The fare is 25 cents.
Will said he brought about 30 quarters. That's a lot of ups and downs.
It's been dubbed the "shortest railway in the world." It's short, but it provides a lift for anyone making the formidable climb.
The funicular was ruled safe by the California Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday. It took a few passengers for rides Sunday.
"This is good news for all the people who were tired walking up and down that hill," said John H. Welborne, president of the Angels Flight Railway Foundation.
Angels Flight was closed Feb. 1, 2001, after one of the railcars slid uncontrollably down the tracks and collided with a vehicle below it. The accident killed an 83-year-old man and injured seven other people.
The railcars, counterweighted against one another, operate on a single track that splits into two sections in the middle to enable them to pass.
Angels Flight was opened in 1901 to take passengers on one-minute trips up and down Bunker Hill. It was dismantled in 1969 but rebuilt and reopened in 1996, a half-block south of the original site.
The railway uses its restored, original cars from 1901, the Olivet and Sinai. Check out the Angels Flight Twitter page for an ongoing conversation involing the two.
Here's some banter from Monday morning:
Sinai Asks: Our regular hours will be from 6:45 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., right? about 5 hours ago via web
Olivet Observes: Very good, Sinai. It is so nice to be back in public service. about 5 hours ago via webSinai Asks: So, how was it Olivet? Was it good for you last night? about 5 hours ago via web
