Why was the Angels Flight built?

Col. J.W. Eddy opened this funicular railway in 1901 to climb steep Bunker Hill in Downtown Los Angeles, CA, joining the once wealthy residential district at the top of hill with the business district below. Two cars of the line served 38 passengers at a time.



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The funicular has operated on two different sites, using the same cars and station elements. The original Angels Flight location, with trackage along the side of Third Street Tunnel and connecting Hill Street and Olive Street, operated from 1901 until it was closed in 1969, when its site was cleared for redevelopment.

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1901 Col. J.W. Eddy and the Creation of Angels Flight®

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Angel Flight Central Pilots donate their time, fuel expense and an airplane to provide this unique service. They receive no monetary compensation whatsoever for their generosity.

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Angels Flight operates from 6:45 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, 365 days a year, including holidays. 350 S Grand Ave.

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Our service is absolutely FREE! We are a non-profit organization with over 450+ volunteer pilots who provide transportation in their private aircraft as well as commercial aviation partners – JetBlue & Cape Air.

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Angels Flight® was closed in 2013 after one of the cars derailed, leaving passengers stranded. Several improvements have been made since the incident. Actors Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling rode in one of the railroad cars in a scene in the 2016 movie “La La Land.”

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The railway was built by Colornel J. W. Eddy; who was a Lawyer, Engineer and even a friend of President Lincoln. The arch at the bottom has the words Angel's Flight written on it, and this is where the railway obtained its formal name, back in 1912, when the Funding Company of California purchased the railway.

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Angel Flight is financially supported primarily by our pilots who fly the missions (by donating the use of their airplanes and operating expenses) and by contributions from individuals, service clubs, social and religious groups and corporations. We receive no financial aid from any government entity.

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Patients must be medically stable, ambulatory and capable of sitting upright and wearing a seat belt for the duration of the flight. There must be either a demonstrated financial need or reason why public transportation cannot be utilized.

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This benefit varies from airline to airline. Family members may fly free when space is available or at discounted rates. Flying stand-by is a common benefit, but it can be challenging when there is a group. Some airlines provide “buddy passes” to pilots to share with friends and families.

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