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Was talking to a friend who is a volunteer at the Tsunami Museum & the train went out in the 1946 tsunami (the turnabout was destroyed) NOT the 1960 as I had thought (soo much info in that museum!)
He also told of how the train that stopped in Keaau went directly up to Glenwood & that people would ride up to Hiranos then get off & use horses & pack animals (later jeeps & such) to get the volcano. Hiranos had a big wharehouse for the goods the train brought up...
Edited by - carey on 11/25/2007 11:06:48
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Mahalo for all that. I've seen still pictures, probably from the 1946 tsunami, not sure, of a locomotive on it's side, tracks all twisted up, and I'd bet it was taken in the vicinity of Hilo.
How do I know?
Aloha! ;-)
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April 1st, 1946 at 7:30 AM the tsunami which started up near Alaska came down and hit Hawaii Island. It wiped out the Japanese village of Shinmachi (where the soccer fields in downtown Hilo are) with great loss of life, wiped out the school in Laupahoehoe killing many children and teachers AND took out the train station, equipment and tracks in Hilo. It also wiped out many bridges along the Hamakua coast.
The train used to run from Pahoa through Hilo and up the coast to Pauuilo. There was a rock quarry in Puna, a big lumber company as well as the sugar up and down the coast. The high school kids would take the train into Hilo town to go to school and the middle school kids would go to local schools.
It would be nice to have the railroad functional again. Maybe just light rail going alongside the highway from Pahoa to Hilo and Volcano then up the coast and around to Waimea and Kona eventually.
Edited by - hotzcatz on 11/25/2007 20:09:19
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
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The railroad system was quite elaborate. The railroad museum in Laupahoehoe is worth a visit. They have a huge number of old photos and and interesting DVD. If you know where to look you can see several abandoned and filled in tunnels while driving north.
Jerry
Art and Orchids B&B
http://www.artandorchids.com
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Wonder if anyone could get the County Council to consider building the railroad back again? It would be a nice thing to have if gas prices keep going up we could run steam trains.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
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quote:
Wonder if anyone could get the County Council to consider building the railroad back again? It would be a nice thing to have if gas prices keep going up we could run steam trains.
That would be great. Years ago I used to take the train to San Juan Capistrano from Union Station in LA. Nice trip and avoided 405/5 traffic!
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Hey, let's hold a poll and nominate Rob to be our representative to request the trains!
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
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Passenger trains, light rail or otherwise, require a population much larger than we have here to pay their way -- very, very, very expensive.
An alternative that operates as good as light rail, with less cost, and with more flexibility: guided busway.
Try Google. Especially the 'O-Bahn' in Adelaide, South Australia.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
