Angeleno Heights - The First Suburb Of Los Angeles.
Founded in 1886, this area (immediately Northwest of downtown) was just rolling hills with jack rabbits and wild mustard plants. Many residential structures from the Victorian & early 20th Century remain in this neighborhood and have since been declared Historical Monuments by the City of Los Angeles.

In the latter part of 2002 Angeleno Heights was given the opportunity to obtain trolley car #1030 from the fleet that actually ran on these streets from 1920 to 1946. The Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California donated this original “Birney Safety Car” with the stipulation that it be restored, and put into working service once again in Angeleno Heights. (This donated car retains most of its original features, both inside and out, including wooden slat seats, call-bell buttons, sliding windows, folding passenger doors and many other interesting appointments. Many of America's old Birneys were taken apart for salvage when pulled out of service after World War II).

Angeleno Heights Trolley Line, Inc., a nonprofit charitable public benefit corporation, has been formed by local volunteer residents in order to restore this antique trolley car and establish a working electric streetcar service in Angeleno Heights and the surrounding area.

Route would traverse the hill and neighboring historical sites.
Historic Angeleno Heights, next to Echo Park and just a mile or so from downtown Los Angeles, is reminiscent of an old-fashioned small town neighborhood in the Mid-west. The Angeleno Heights Trolley Line project is not only proposing servce to this neighborhood but it will also provide a convenient connection to other nearby historical, pedestrian oriented areas such as the Echo Park Business District and Lake, Chinatown, El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Park and, of course, Union Station.

The trolley would take a path that starts in front of the historic firehouse, Engine Company No. 6, in Angeleno Heights, at Bellevue Ave. and East Edgeware Road, travel up East Edgeware Road to Douglas St. and North to Kensington Road. Reversing direction at that point the trolley would return down Douglas and East Edgeware to Bellevue. (This portion of the route is the core of the historic route through Angeleno Heights. The original trolley tracks are still underneath a couple of layers of pavement on these streets and possibly others.) The trolley would then continue East on Bellevue to Sunset, SouthEast on Sunset/Cesar Chavez Ave. past Chinatown to El Pueblo de Los Angeles and Olvera Street, the area of the original settlement of Los Angeles. The trolley would make a loop over to Union Station with its connections to the Metro Lines. Then it's back up Cesar Chavez/Sunset (NW) all the way to Echo Park Avenue. At that intersection the trolley would turn and travel past scenic Echo Park Lake to Bellevue Avenue. At Bellevue the trolley would travel a few blocks and would reach its original starting point in front of Engine Company No. 6 the Angeleno Heights Firestation.

Stops along the route would include areas of architectural interest and convenience in Angeleno Heights. Additional major stops would also include Chinatown, Olvera St./Union Station, a Dodgers stop at Sunset and Elysian Park Ave., a “downtown” Echo Park stop, Echo Park Lake stop, as well as others in between.

This is our initial proposal. As we work with various entities and governmental agencies we may make some changes. It is our goal not only to include the significant historical and cultural locations of our area, but also to link up with Union Station, current bus lines and any future streetcar lines that may be built. We also intend to add more trolleys and extend our route as future needs arise and funding becomes available. Our trolley line can go virtually anywhere that a similar size truck or bus might go, with the exception that it can't descend steep grades. We want to provide a transportation system that people can use and will want to use. This system will compliment and enhance our local transportation. It will give a feeling of permanence and commitment. It will benefit nearby businesses by bringing more customers and it will strengthen the very important feeling of community that our neighborhoods cherish.