Santa Catalina Island Incline Railway

Island Mountain Railway

Angel's Flight

1904-1918, 1921-1923

This unique Santa Catalina Island incline railway was built in 1904 to carry passengers up from the Amphitheater to the top of the mountain for the breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean and the beautiful City of Avalon down below. Some taryed for lunch at the inn atop the hill; while others dashed into the other incline car for the spectacular ride down the other side of the mountain to Pebble Beach in Lovers' Cove.

(Above) Avalon Bay, the Amphitheater and the Mountain Railway at Avalon

(Left) Avalon entry to the incline. Visible are the turnstile and trellis, up the hill a pedestrian cross-over bridge and at the top just barely visible is the station between the two inclines.
The sign over the entrance lists fares. We have been able to make out the folowing using computer enhancement:

ISLAND MOUNTAIN RAILWAY
FARE AVALON SUMMIT
LOVER'S COVE xx 25
xx xxxx}
xxx xxx} CHILDREN 15
xxxx xx}
COMMUTATION TICKETS xxxxx

(Below Left) Pebble Beach, Lover's Cove and the other end of the Mountain Railway
(Below) The view up the incline from Pebble Beach. Here the line is called "Angel's Flight."

Lover's Cove, December 2006, Brian Marcroft photo

Incline Car and wheelset above Lover's Cove, December 2006, Brian Marcroft photo

The Amphitheater and right-of-way, December 2006, Brian Marcroft photo

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