A Flight of Fancy

For almost 70 years, the original Angels Flight cable cars carried riders to the top of Bunker Hill, on what was touted as the world’s shortest railway. The rails were dismantled in 1969 to make way for an urban renewal project atop the hill--another L.A. landmark giving way to progress.

But, preservationists, rejoice. This weekend, half a block from its original location, Angels Flight will roll once again, with rides resuming at 10 a.m. Saturday. The original station house at the top of Bunker Hill and the Hill Street arch at the bottom have been restored with the help of the Community Redevelopment Agency, Cultural Affairs Department and L.A. Conservancy. The original cars, the Olivet and the Sinai, have also been restored on the outside, and updated on the inside with a modern operating system. The fare is 25 cents for a one-way ride.

The city will celebrate the train’s resurrection with a street fair on Hill Street between 3rd and 4th streets (closed to traffic), with music and entertainment under a tent from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. (213) 626-1901.