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California Today: Beloved Railway to Return in Los Angeles California Today: Beloved Railway to Return in Los Angeles
(about 9 hours later)
Good morning.Good morning.
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The train’s operation was halted in 1969 to make way for new development, then again in 2001 after a fatal accident. In 2013, it stopped a third time when a car derailed.The train’s operation was halted in 1969 to make way for new development, then again in 2001 after a fatal accident. In 2013, it stopped a third time when a car derailed.
Now, Angels Flight, a two-car funicular on a steep slope in downtown Los Angeles, will give it another go. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced this week that a deal was reached with a private group to make safety upgrades and resume service by Labor Day.Now, Angels Flight, a two-car funicular on a steep slope in downtown Los Angeles, will give it another go. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced this week that a deal was reached with a private group to make safety upgrades and resume service by Labor Day.
Angels Flight was built in 1901 as a link between the stately Bunker Hill neighborhood and the downtown shopping district. The “magic chariot,” as a film narrator once called it, had a penny fare and traveled a mere 100 yards.Angels Flight was built in 1901 as a link between the stately Bunker Hill neighborhood and the downtown shopping district. The “magic chariot,” as a film narrator once called it, had a penny fare and traveled a mere 100 yards.
Through two World Wars, the Great Depression and the dawn of the space age, it ferried more than 100 million passengers.Through two World Wars, the Great Depression and the dawn of the space age, it ferried more than 100 million passengers.
But starting in the late 1960s, the railway remained mostly idle, buffeted by encroaching development, disregard and safety issues. In a low point in 2001, one of the cars broke loose and collided with the other, killing a man.But starting in the late 1960s, the railway remained mostly idle, buffeted by encroaching development, disregard and safety issues. In a low point in 2001, one of the cars broke loose and collided with the other, killing a man.
Richard Schave, a tour operator who campaigned for the latest revival, said a burst of unexpected publicity helped propel the project.Richard Schave, a tour operator who campaigned for the latest revival, said a burst of unexpected publicity helped propel the project.
Last year, graffiti was scrawled on one of the dormant cars, an outrage to residents and city officials. “That was the moment when everyone on the team was like, ‘We have to get to yes,’” Mr. Schave said.Last year, graffiti was scrawled on one of the dormant cars, an outrage to residents and city officials. “That was the moment when everyone on the team was like, ‘We have to get to yes,’” Mr. Schave said.
The campaign was further helped by the train’s cameo in the film “La La Land,” sparking renewed interest in the odd, orange-colored train car where Ryan Gosling kisses Emma Stone.The campaign was further helped by the train’s cameo in the film “La La Land,” sparking renewed interest in the odd, orange-colored train car where Ryan Gosling kisses Emma Stone.
When it’s up and running, Angels Flight is expected to attract tourists as well as people who work and live atop Bunker Hill and want to get to the tacos and Thai food at Grand Central Market below.When it’s up and running, Angels Flight is expected to attract tourists as well as people who work and live atop Bunker Hill and want to get to the tacos and Thai food at Grand Central Market below.
The ticket price isn’t yet set. (People close to the project have suggested $1 each way.)The ticket price isn’t yet set. (People close to the project have suggested $1 each way.)
Nathan Marsack, a local historian, said the railway represented a rare tribute to Los Angeles’s past as a center of technological vision. Nathan Marsak, a local historian, said the railway represented a rare tribute to Los Angeles’s past as a center of technological vision.
“The reason Angels Flight is there is because we were such a futuristic city, once upon a time,” he said. “What’s cool about it is, these are our roots. This is us at our best.”“The reason Angels Flight is there is because we were such a futuristic city, once upon a time,” he said. “What’s cool about it is, these are our roots. This is us at our best.”
(Please note: We regularly highlight articles on news sites that have limited access for nonsubscribers.)(Please note: We regularly highlight articles on news sites that have limited access for nonsubscribers.)
• Los Angeles keeps building near freeways, even though living there makes people sick. [Los Angeles Times]• Los Angeles keeps building near freeways, even though living there makes people sick. [Los Angeles Times]
• An AIDS charity has poured more than $4 million into Measure S, which would restrict real estate projects in Los Angeles. [Bloomberg Businessweek]• An AIDS charity has poured more than $4 million into Measure S, which would restrict real estate projects in Los Angeles. [Bloomberg Businessweek]
• Federal officials are investigating a huge Tijuana River sewage spill that polluted beaches as far north as Coronado. [San Diego Union-Tribune]• Federal officials are investigating a huge Tijuana River sewage spill that polluted beaches as far north as Coronado. [San Diego Union-Tribune]
• A trip to China, SeaWorld tickets and a $68 bottle of scotch. Top California legislative leaders accepted $60,000 in gifts last year. [Los Angeles Times]• A trip to China, SeaWorld tickets and a $68 bottle of scotch. Top California legislative leaders accepted $60,000 in gifts last year. [Los Angeles Times]
• To attract teachers, pricey school districts in California are becoming their landlords. [Calmatters]• To attract teachers, pricey school districts in California are becoming their landlords. [Calmatters]
• “There are no words.” A La Habra couple lost a son in Iraq in 2006. On Tuesday, their two remaining children died in a car crash. [Orange County Register]• “There are no words.” A La Habra couple lost a son in Iraq in 2006. On Tuesday, their two remaining children died in a car crash. [Orange County Register]
• As of Thursday, Snapchat was worth about $34 billion, three times the size of Twitter. [The New York Times]• As of Thursday, Snapchat was worth about $34 billion, three times the size of Twitter. [The New York Times]
• This junior college plagiarizes the Golden State Warriors. They’re undefeated. [The New York Times]• This junior college plagiarizes the Golden State Warriors. They’re undefeated. [The New York Times]
• You could write a history of women in Hollywood by charting the careers of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. [The New York Times]• You could write a history of women in Hollywood by charting the careers of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. [The New York Times]
• The California designer Rick Owens may not be as serious as his clothes would suggest, but he’s every bit as brilliant. [The New York Times]• The California designer Rick Owens may not be as serious as his clothes would suggest, but he’s every bit as brilliant. [The New York Times]
• The screenwriter Mike White searched for his past lives, then put them on display in paintings. [The New York Times]• The screenwriter Mike White searched for his past lives, then put them on display in paintings. [The New York Times]
• Review: “Water & Power: A California Heist” outlines a contentious history of state water rights with a scrupulous tenacity. [The New York Times]• Review: “Water & Power: A California Heist” outlines a contentious history of state water rights with a scrupulous tenacity. [The New York Times]
• Photos: The rain has transformed Orange County into brilliant shades of green. [Orange County Register]• Photos: The rain has transformed Orange County into brilliant shades of green. [Orange County Register]
About 100 miles east of Bakersfield, more than 500 spires of rock rise from the Mojave Desert.About 100 miles east of Bakersfield, more than 500 spires of rock rise from the Mojave Desert.
They are the Trona Pinnacles, made of tufa, a variety of limestone that was shaped underwater thousands of years ago in now dry Searles Lake.They are the Trona Pinnacles, made of tufa, a variety of limestone that was shaped underwater thousands of years ago in now dry Searles Lake.
Frank Foster, a photography instructor at Victor Valley College in Victorville, shared a photo he captured late last year of the pinnacles set against the Slate Range.Frank Foster, a photography instructor at Victor Valley College in Victorville, shared a photo he captured late last year of the pinnacles set against the Slate Range.
If the landscape looks familiar, that may be because filmmakers have been drawn to its outer space character for scenes in movies like “Battlestar Galactica,” “Star Trek V” and “Planet of the Apes.”If the landscape looks familiar, that may be because filmmakers have been drawn to its outer space character for scenes in movies like “Battlestar Galactica,” “Star Trek V” and “Planet of the Apes.”
The nearest town, about 10 miles north, is Trona, a dusty, isolated place of fewer than 2,000 people. It originated more than a century ago as a home for miners of borax from the dry lake bed. Today, the largest employer is the mining company Searles Valley Minerals.The nearest town, about 10 miles north, is Trona, a dusty, isolated place of fewer than 2,000 people. It originated more than a century ago as a home for miners of borax from the dry lake bed. Today, the largest employer is the mining company Searles Valley Minerals.
A gift shop in town sells souvenirs that display a road sign. It reads: “End of world, 10 miles; Trona, 15 miles.”A gift shop in town sells souvenirs that display a road sign. It reads: “End of world, 10 miles; Trona, 15 miles.”
Want to submit a photo for possible publication? You can do it here.Want to submit a photo for possible publication? You can do it here.
California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.
The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. Follow him on Twitter.The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. Follow him on Twitter.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley.
An earlier version of this article misspelled the surname of a local historian. He is Nathan Marsak, not Marsack.