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I just noticed a railroad shown on Google Maps running through HPP, between about 21st and 17th, mostly. Is this a working line? How often does it run?
I currently live about 4 blocks from a spur line in Bekersfield, CA, and the train runs very infrequently, usually once during the day, and once about 10 p.m. The train whistle is not a bad thing at all, kinda makes me think of Roger Miller songs.
Just wondering, does this rail line have any impact on life in HPP?
How do I know?
Aloha! ;-)
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The railroad no longer exists. It was wiped out on the Hilo end by the 1960 tsunami. The rails and ties were long ago removed. All that remains is a narrow railroad bed which is used for local traffic within HPP.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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I bet it's still listed as a right of way, thats why it appears on the map like that.
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Have heard there is, & have heard there is not an easement, but the part through HPP & in Hilo is now a road, called Railroad. these were built by Sugar, mainy for sugar transport, some neighborss remember the line, but it seems like it was not a comfortable ride... If you go to the boulder beach at Kohekohe Park, you can still see the ruined track & spikes
Edited by - carey on 11/24/2007 18:11:52
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Mahalo! I'm still at the point of evaluating the various communities, just curious about the railroad thing. The tsunami is another thing... :-)
I knew about the tsunami, knew about the impact in a general way, just didn't know it would impact HPP that far inland.
How do I know?
Aloha! ;-)
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The 1960 tsunami did not go inland in HPP. It destroyed the station, switch yard, track, engines and most rail stock in Hilo. When that happened the actual rails and ties on the rest of the route became redundant and they were removed. When the railroad shut down the right-of-way was lost. When HPP was formed they kept the road bed section that was there and incorporated it into their private road system.
Someone correct me if I am wrong in any details.
It's possible that there was HPP shoreline damage from the 1960 tsunami but I believe no one was living there to notice or care.
I have read reports that there is evidence of tsunami effect on the island up to 1,500 foot elevations. Ancient stuff.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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The there is evidience in New South Wales, Australia of that ancient Tsunami w/debris at 1500 ft, and the info board had also stated that Hawaii had evidence of the same wave!
At the tsunami museum in Hilo they have a wealth of info, & I seem to remember that the bridge that collapsed & closed the train line for the final time happen just after a train went over, days after the tsunami (but the museum had sooo much info, I might have transposed some...)
The Kohekohe park bridge was taken down after the train stopped runnign, the rails were left, most likely because it would be a pain to get them out, but that is just a guess) I know that wave action has eroded the cliffs at HPP shore, & strom waves did bring up pretty big rocks into neighbors frontage when we were living down by the shore, so I can only image that a tsunami would at least clutter yards with boulders & stuff....
As for public transportation, there are free public buses, (early morning to late night) anywhere on island. The lower Puna route has the most hours of service...so sure is good for the price (any many of the drivers are now fairly close to ontime - a couple of routes run routinely late, the rest are pretty timely - not bad for free!) The trick is to find a place to live &/or work near the bus route.
Edited by - carey on 11/24/2007 21:08:52
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I'm not going to be a worrier in Hawaii about all the dangerous things like Pele and tsunamis. Like someone said elsewhere, hurricanes hit the Gulf, the Great Plains get tornado'ed, most everywhere is subject to flooding, and I live in earthquake-prone California.
Tsunamis are an under-valued threat, though, IMO. A major earthquake or landslide anywhere from southern Chile to the Aleutians can point a big one at Puna, and I don't discount the "wrap-around" effect of an Asian earthquake-tsunami.
Pele is well studied, mapped, and at least somewhat predictable. And I'm not getting in on the raffle where the current flow is headed. I hope it makes a right turn and drops off into the Pacific. Punatics have enough to worry about besides the volcano.
How do I know?
Aloha! ;-)
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quote:
Someone correct me if I am wrong in any details.
You are correct Rob, Railrod Avenue is part of the private road system in HPP.
Aloha,
John S. Rabi, ABR,CM,CRB,FHS,RB
http://www.JohnRabi.com
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quote:
...Tsunamis are an under-valued threat, though, IMO. A major earthquake or landslide anywhere from southern Chile to the Aleutians can point a big one at Puna, and I don't discount the "wrap-around" effect of an Asian earthquake-tsunami...
The PTWC probably is one of the best. Here is a link: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/
At least with "most" tsunamis we will have some advance warnings!
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