Any Railroads in Hawaii?

My wife and I will be going on a Hawaii cruise in September. We will be hitting five of the islands, maybe six. Most of the islands are too small to support any kind of railroad but wondering if the big island (Hawaii) or Oahu might have some short lines.Cal Rasmussen
Beaverton, OR
(My email is in my profile)Columbia Gorge Route (Phase 2-- Started)

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, andykeffer, May-26-04, 05:01 PM, (1) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, Jonatan, May-26-04, 05:07 PM, (2) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, henry3, May-26-04, 05:36 PM, (3) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, Swissie, May-26-04, 05:51 PM, (4) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, shadowr434, May-26-04, 10:28 PM, (5) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, calr, May-26-04, 11:00 PM, (6) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, CBF, May-27-04, 00:32 AM, (7) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, DRGWK36, May-27-04, 12:32 PM, (11) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, linkj, May-27-04, 01:33 AM, (8) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, highball5, May-27-04, 02:20 AM, (9) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, linkj, May-27-04, 10:50 AM, (10) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, Interborough, May-27-04, 04:50 PM, (12) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, Magick_maker, May-28-04, 07:41 PM, (13) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, DRGWK36, May-28-04, 08:16 PM, (14) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, Magick_maker, May-29-04, 10:32 PM, (15) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, ENR3870, Jun-01-04, 02:12 AM, (16) RE: Any Railroads in Hawaii?, calr, Jun-01-04, 04:42 PM, (17)

Conferences | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic

I think they use trucks and cars for their stuff. Don`t know though

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

I... think there was or still is a sugar cane steam train there on Honolulu or something, not sure./JonatanSteam rules!

Never trust computers. If you do, they will betray you.I'm the steam freak, ph34r me!!

My E-mail jonatan.gronoset@telia.com

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Hi Cal!I think you're in luck, at least if your trip calls on Kaua‘i.http://railroadnews.net/news/5-24.htmlI hope you have a great time.Henry

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

LAST EDITED ON May-26-04 AT 05:57 PM (EDT)

Hi Cal,actually, the most authoritative person to answer here would be Jeff Link of Island Electric. But as he seems to be recovering from computer problems, may I dare filling you in a bit as we (my girl and me) had been over there last December:Oahu:
- NG tourist excursion trains operating on the Dole plantation (Central Oahu, 45 minutes from Honolulu/Waikiki),
- One abandoned NG line from Pearl Harbour along the Northwestern Coast. Although the route is gone, tracks are still visible for extended stretches (namely where they are paralleling the hwy).Maui:
- The sugar cane train (NG, steam) near Lahaina. Daytime runs and a daily dinner train. Big Island:
- Reportedly, one of the resorts (Hilton?) near Kona has a "vintage trolley operating on its premisses". We haven't made it there, so I can't shed any more light. Maybe worth investigating if you pass by.All these excursion style trains are well advertised in local information brochures, with the omnipresent "2$ off"-vouchers known from any tourist area. That's what I know of, hope that helps you find more information.Lukas a.k.a Swissie

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

If you haven't been there before cal let me tell you the beauty of the islands will make you forget about trains for a while. Its truly spectacular there and made my wife and I think twice about coming home. Enjoy your trip.

Frank Roberts
P&D Tractor trailer Driver for R&L Carriers
"Sometimes I dream about being carried off by a big giant squirrel. Does that make me a nut?"

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

I've been to Oahu twice courtesy of Uncle Sam's Canoe Club. That was about 25 years ago. I'm sure it has changed a lot since then.I will have both digital cameras (Minolta S414 and Nikon D100), laptop computer, card reader, and an ample supply of blank CD's. I plan to wear out my "trigger" finger.Cal Rasmussen
Beaverton, OR
(My email is in my profile)Columbia Gorge Route (Phase 2-- Started)

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Hi Cal; The Sugar Train on Maui is a real experience. The engineer drives at quite a clip and the track is poorly ballasted, so the cars sway and bang around a lot. it's been about 5 years ago since I was last on it, so I'm hoping its still running. Its worth the money.Cheers Chuck F.

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Hope you make it back, Cal! I've been out there three times, and the last two have been a real struggle to get back on the return flight. My wife keeps telling me she doesn't like this island (North Carolina) as much as the others There's also a little railroad museum on the Big Island. If you head out of Hilo on Highway 19 (north), there's a little place on the mountain side of the road in Laupahoehoe. North of there you can also see some of the old railroad bed along the "hill" side. There's a couple of old freight cars and a loco, and a lot of interesting pictures inside. A nice little stop. You can check it out at www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html/sites/laupahoehoe_trail_museum.html.And you will need lots of disk space for your photos - before I got my digital I took about a shot a minute on a spectacular helo flight around Kauai (hour long flight). I shudder to think what I'd have done with a digital! Kauai's my favorite, followed by Hawaii, Maui, and then Oahu. Enjoy the trip!Andy

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Lukas has it pretty much nailed, with one exception. That narrow gauge is actually Oahu Railway & Land Company right-of-way, still operated by the Hawaiian Railway Society each weekend and other occasions from its depot on Renton Road in Waipahu west to Ko Olina. Last time I was there a small diesel industrial switcher was pulling open air cars, but for a real treat pay the extra money to ride in the restored Queen Liliuokalani Victorian-era parlor car, the rich koa wood trim in it is gorgeous. The HRS is working to restore bridges and right-of way further west, and there is at least one group of investors interested in eventually restoring the track around the very rugged western tip, Kaena Point, to Haleiwa for a dinner train similar to the one operated on Maui.Aloha, Jeff Link
Island Electric - West

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Hi Cal... looks like they've pretty well covered your question... I might just add to be skeptical if you see an Amtrak ticket office down there.

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Very true! BUT, we do have three interstate highways on Oahu... Aloha, Jeff Link
Island Electric - West

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

There's one daily operating railroad in the state. The Lahaina Ka'anapali and Pacific Railroad (otherwise known as the Sugar Cane Train) makes a few trips per day from Lahaina in Maui. It, like all Hawaiian railroads, uses a 3 foot narrow guage. Only one train runs at a time on the single track line, with at loop at the Pu'uoli'i end (where the train stops on the return trip) and a turntable at the Lahaina end. It is a very nice ride and I highly recommend it. The Island of Hawai'i (the Big Island) has many tracks (especially on the Kona side) but no operating railroads. There is one short line (operating Sundays only, I belive) on O'ahu. I do not know the status of the line on Kaua'i.
Have a great time in Hawaii. I've been there three times and hit four of the six islands, and I loved it every time.
Below are some pictures of the LK&P.

John

Going Your Way for 100 Years. 1904-2004
"Ladies and gentlemen. For your safety, please do not hold car doors open while the train is in the station."
Preserve your First Amendment rights! Fight the MTA ban on photography in the subways!

Attachments

http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/User_files/40b65134682a4dfa.jpg

http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/User_files/40b6514668741992.jpg

http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/User_files/40b6515d68c808b4.jpg

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Heh, discovery channel had something on this...well similar.There was a Rail line on one of the islands, but after a 1948 (I think I'm right on the year) Tidal wave, it was never rebuilt.

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

You're thinking of the one that was on the Big Island - there's quite a bit of info on the tsunami at the museum at Laupahoehoe, with some very interesting pictures. The tsunami was either in 46 or 48.Andy

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Yeah, the tracks were like narrow guage, IIRC, and the company that owned it didn't see any reason (with trucks making a dent in shipping) In rebuilding.

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

There is a RailAmerica operation on Maui. http://www.railamerica.com/railmaps/LKP.htm

Tyler W.
The Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway, 118 years and still limping along.

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Thanks, everyone for all your input. I don't know the cruise itinerary, yet, but I sure hope there is time to ride that Sugar Cane Express. It looks like it would be a great railroad experience as well as a great island photo opportunity.Cal Rasmussen
Beaverton, OR
(My email is in my profile)Columbia Gorge Route (Phase 2-- Started)

Alert | IP

[ Home | MSTS Forum | MSTS FAQ | File Library ] Copyright © 2004 by Nels Anderson. All Rights Reserved.