Hawaii is not often noted for its railroads, however many of the islands had small networks of narrow guage trackage. The man purpose of this was to serve the sugar ind
ustry, often carrying sugar cane from the fields to the sugar mill. The finished product was then transported to the docks to be loaded onto ships bound for the mainland United States and other parts of the world.
Most of Hawaii's railroad trackage was abandoned in the 1950s. One notable exception is the Hawaiian Railway Society, located on the island of Oahu. Another notable exception is the Lahaina, Kaanapali and Pacific Railroad, located in Maui, a railroad built in modern times as a tourist attraction.
On the island of Kauai, there are two rail-related attractions. I was able to visit one of them during my visit. First, the one I did not visit is part of the larger Grove Farm Museum. As part of the museum, they occasionally operate one of several 30 inch guage steamers. All of the major sugar cane railroads on Kauai were 30 inch gauge.
The attraction I did visit was the Kauai Plantation Railway, a newly-built 36 inch guage operation. The railway is located on the historic Kilohana Plantation. The plantation originally grew sugar cane, but has now diversified its crops to include many fruits. They have laid about 1.5 to 2 miles of track around the plantation in a double loop, complete with two wyes, to give varied length trips. The power for the day of our visit was a 25 ton GE locomotive, imported from another Hawaiian island. The other locomotive is Whitcomb industrial locomotive of similar configuration.
Our train comprised of an open car and a closed car, both newly built. The roster includes two other closed cars and another open car, as well as two flat cars. The steel flat cars appear to be White Pass and Yukon steel flat cars built to haul containers. These flat cars were the genesis of the open and closed cars used on the train. The trucks are interesting in that they have wooden journal box covers.
Overall, the trip was good, the plantation is fantastic. For the more adventurous, they offer a 4 hour train ride and hike that explores more of the plantation. I opted for the 40 minute train ride and tour.
ustry, often carrying sugar cane from the fields to the sugar mill. The finished product was then transported to the docks to be loaded onto ships bound for the mainland United States and other parts of the world.Most of Hawaii's railroad trackage was abandoned in the 1950s. One notable exception is the Hawaiian Railway Society, located on the island of Oahu. Another notable exception is the Lahaina, Kaanapali and Pacific Railroad, located in Maui, a railroad built in modern times as a tourist attraction.
On the island of Kauai, there are two rail-related attractions. I was able to visit one of them during my visit. First, the one I did not visit is part of the larger Grove Farm Museum. As part of the museum, they occasionally operate one of several 30 inch guage steamers. All of the major sugar cane railroads on Kauai were 30 inch gauge.
The attraction I did visit was the Kauai Plantation Railway, a newly-built 36 inch guage operation. The railway is located on the historic Kilohana Plantation. The plantation originally grew sugar cane, but has now diversified its crops to include many fruits. They have laid about 1.5 to 2 miles of track around the plantation in a double loop, complete with two wyes, to give varied length trips. The power for the day of our visit was a 25 ton GE locomotive, imported from another Hawaiian island. The other locomotive is Whitcomb industrial locomotive of similar configuration.
Our train comprised of an open car and a closed car, both newly built. The roster includes two other closed cars and another open car, as well as two flat cars. The steel flat cars appear to be White Pass and Yukon steel flat cars built to haul containers. These flat cars were the genesis of the open and closed cars used on the train. The trucks are interesting in that they have wooden journal box covers.
Overall, the trip was good, the plantation is fantastic. For the more adventurous, they offer a 4 hour train ride and hike that explores more of the plantation. I opted for the 40 minute train ride and tour.
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