While Angels Flight is LA’s most famous funicular, it wasn’t its only one. Court Flight began operating on September 24, 1905 on a hillside between Broadway and Hill St, between Temple and First. It was even more needed than Angels Flight because the 180-foot hillside had a 42 percent grade, making it longer and steeper than Angels Flight. Back then, the area was home to the wealthy residents of Bunker Hill who loved the view and cooling breezes that came from living so high, but understandably they hated the stairs they had to take. For the price of a nickel, they could ride Court Flight in ease and comfort. And even better, the ride down was free! The funicular ran until a fire on October 20, 1943 put it out of business.
Illustration showing the location of Court Flight, circa 1924 (from John Bengston at silentlocations.com:
See also Court Flight funicular.
This is what you now see when you stand on Broadway and look toward Hill St. Shaving off the top of Bunker Hill means no more diabolically steep hillsides to climb. This image is from May 2024.
What a shame they destroyed that mode of transportation. Looks like it would have been fun to ride.
Actually, fire from a carelessly discarded cigarette is what destroyed it. Otherwise it probably would have still been in operation until Bunker Hill was redeveloped in the 60s.
Hey Martin-
Just to remind you, I’m the guy with the Angel’s Flight postcard collection.
Just fyi, though I’ve been on the lookout for Court Flight postcards, I’ve only found about a half dozen of them. I guess it’s short life predicted this.
Hi Michael! Thanks for commenting. I was thinking about you when I was posting this one today. I wondered if you’d seen it before (and assumed you already had it in your collection.)
Cool! I’d never heard of Court Flight.