top of page
Writer's picture@highlyangie

Angel's Flight Railway

Did you know that in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles there's an active railway that is over 120 years old? Come with me to take a ride on Angel's Flight Railway.

picture with text overlay

Lately I've been craving more travel, but due to lack of budget and babysitters, I spend most of my time at home in Los Angeles. Luckily this city is a sprawling metropolis with more nooks and crannies than an English muffin, so adventure isn't too hard to find!


In an effort to unearth new experiences I decided to play tourist in my own city so I put together a list of places that I could explore on those days when I'm feeling restless. At the top of the list was Angel's Flight Railway. The reason a 100+ year old rail car was a natural choice for me is not only because I love historical things, but also because it's fun to ride trains! I’m a big fan of taking edibles and then riding the train to an adventure. I don’t have to drive or worry about parking, and I can daydream while watching the city go by…doesn’t that sound divine?!


Another bonus about the Angel’s Flight location is its proximity to Grand Central Market food hall, which gave me a reason to get baked, ride a train and then eat my face off :)

historical marker plaque

It also gave me a reason to come up with a vintage inspired ensemble, as I simply cannot ride in a historic train car while wearing modern garments! It's no secret that I love a historical moment, there's a kind of magic in historic places and vintage items that I'm fascinated by. Who knows how many people have visited that same spot or had a special moment there. And even though it's plopped in the middle of a very modern downtown Los Angeles, it was still such a cute lil slice of history to experience.

author in front of angels flight railway

The bold orange and black color scheme of the Angel’s Glight station was a surprising choice for a historical location, but apparently those were the original colors. When the railway was restored in 1996 they wanted to make sure that it looked exactly like it did when it was in use 100 years ago, so they opted for the original look.

interior railway car

The interior of the rail cars truly capture the vintage vibes so it feels like you’re walking into history. They kept some of the chipped paint and dings so that the train could exude the same charm as it did in days of yore. The wood slats and slight arch at the roof of the car are a few of the little details that really transport you back to when this funicular was in its heyday.

author inside train car

If you fancy history and fun outings, then be sure to add the Angel’s Flight Railway to your list of things to do in downtown Los Angeles. It’s not time consuming and can be paired with visits to other attractions in the area. It’s also a great spot to take some pics in your best vintage lewks, which was my fave part of this outing. Have you ever taken a ride on the Angel’s Flight? Let me know what your favorite part was!


Happy Travels!

1 view0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments

Rated 0 out of 5 stars.
No ratings yet

Add a rating
bottom of page