Did anyone know that Hawaii has railroads? Well it’s true, back in the days of the sugar plantations there where a lot of trains to transport the crops to the mill, and then to the harbors. In World War 2 the United States used some of the railroads to transport ammunition and other materials for the war effort around the island, and to transport the soldiers. Unfortantally, only a few railroads still exist, but they aren’t used for industry. Just a fun little fact, hope you enjoyed it.
Yep. I’ve known it for many years. Some of those that survived are tourist trains.
The Big Island also had a Class 1 common carrier at one point too. In fact Model Railroader featured an article on a layout based on it not too long ago. I wish I could remember the exact issue.
Some books
Trains:
Fowler Locomotives in the Kingdom of Hawaii, by Jesse C. Conde
Narrow Gauge in a Kingdom, The Hawaiian Railroad Company 1878-1897 by Jesse C. Conde
Sugar Trains, Narrow Gauge in Hawaii by Jesse C. Conde with Gerald Best
Sugar Trains Pictorial by Jesse C. Conde
Railroads of Hawaii, Narrow and Standard Gauge Common Carriers by Gerald M. Best
Next Stop Honolulu, the Story of the Oahu Railway & Land Company by Jim Chiddix & MacKinnon Simpson
Hawaii Photo Album, WWII Photographs by Victor Norton Jr. written by Gale E. Treiber
Street Cars:
Hawaii Trolleys by Roy S. Martin & Robert Ramsey
Streetcar Days in Honolulu, Breezing Though Paradise by MacKinnon Simpson & John Brizdle
Trouble is some of those titles are rare out of print books and are ferociously expensive now, that “Sugar Trains” title alone usually ranges over $300. Wish it could get republished soon.
I have all four volumes of the “Hawaii Photo Album” of photos by Victor Norton, they are paperback, very well done and an affordable way to enjoy these unique plantation RRs.
True. I am fortunate to own copies of all of them.
Jesse C. Conde’s books are particularly hard to find
My Hawaiian Photo Album is also the four paperback volumes… In 2008 the Series was published in a single hardcover edition . I saw it in the stores but did not buy it, It is apparently quite rare also.
I think you are remembering this article on a model railroad (from our hosts Magazine Index):
The HO scale Big Island Rail plays “what if” in the 50th state
by Joseph Kreiss
from Model Railroader January 2012 p. 34
The actual standard gauge common carrier was the Hilo Railroad - Hawaii Consolidated Railway, chartered in 1899 - last operations ended in December 1948
Yes, that’s the one. I gave that issue to a kid who volunteers at my museum because he was interested in one of the how to projects.
Some years ago when we visited Maui, we rode the Sugar Cane Train that runs from Lahina to Kaanapali Beach about 6 miles
Yep I did know that. Only because I love narrow gauge rail roads
A only one on Oahu is the Hawaiian railway. The Dole Plantation has a “train,” but it is one of the tiny tourist trains, I don’t advise going to the Dole Plantation.