Details

I wanted to get a closer look at some of the hardware in and on the cars and engines as well. 

The bottom shots are of the #64, Dillingham’s private car, that was being restored. The Carter Brother’s original parts look amazing after over 100 years. Some things look very homemade. Really interesting though!

Good looking family Neal,

Good looking family Neal, everyone looks to be having a good time! And you are right about how good of shape the 100 year old parts are in. Regular maintenance does wonders....great photos 

Goofy sons are great!

Looks like a lot of fun Neil.  What a nice family you have.  Any family that takes us to see trains is great!

Neil

I really enjoy visits to Oahu because of all the history, WWII history, to be found on the island.  And of course the railroad museum, too.  Been there a few times.  Is the model railroad club still there, in the boxcar?  

Al Carter

Model Trains too!

Al - I didn’t take any pictures (for some reason) of the new building and three rail layout that has been built. My guess is that it was about three years old but look like a great collection. Standard gage O scale always blows my mind as the size and detail is amazing. 

The trip on the line is narrated so anyone with an interest in the history of the island and railroad should take the dime tour. Well, not a dime but pretty cheap for a 90 minute ride and stop for ice cream. The train goes past Barber’s Point and the old coal shipyard as well as a lot (a lot) of new houses and businesses. Most of the staff are fairly knowledgeable but didn’t know much about the OR&L other than the script. 

Goofy

Michael; My wife tolerates us.  Aaron’s girlfriend is a good sport. Everybody was great to the old man (me) and set this trip up without my knowledge as a birthday present. Last night we went to a concert as well. Good times. 

Maintenence

Dale - you are so right. I only posted a few shots but lots of projects were in the works. Sad though that a lot of parts just walk away. #85 used to be a proud Mike but looks like a shell. Things like headlights, bells, gauges, or well anything that can be stolen is suspect. What is there is neat though and I love asking questions like “Was the headlight turned on with a switch or by opening a valve to the steam generator?”  No one knew. Anybody’s?

More Shots

Generato & Headlight

Cut levers& angle cocks

OR&L cast wheel - 1924

Any shots of the French car?

I remember that the car the French sent to Hawaii after WW I (every state and a couple territories got them) is there in Ewa. It was in very sad shape when we visited in 2009. Has any work been done on it? 

De Francais

Jeff:

The car was pretty much torn down to some bones for restoration. I didn’t get any shots of it sadly. The model railroad guys had a model of it and said that the goal was to finish the restoration and paint it to match the model - lol. Life imitating art?

Island trains

My wife and I went to the islands in 2003 but I had no idea this stuff was even there on Oahu. We rode the park train at the Dole plantation and the Lahaina, Kaanapali and Pacific Railroad out of Lāhainā when they were still running daily steam. Based on this, I could then correctly claim to have ridden NG trains in every state in the US where narrow gauge tracks are still being used!

Only years later did I realize there were still original narrow gauge tracks in place in various spots in the islands. Oh well, I wouldn't have had the time anyway to go chasing all that down. But since then, I think several new operations have sprung up and if/when we ever go back, I'll go looking!

As for those 'Merci' cars, I just saw the Alabama one last week (and have seen several of them over the years). Many of them have been completely rebuilt, among the ones I've seen as most of them were displayed outdoors for many years.

Don’t forget Kauai

Lee:

Kauai has two operating railroads as well. In interesting side note is that many of the plantation lines were 30” gage. My friend Boone Morrison started a three footer as part of a historic recreation of a working plantation there. The owners brought two Hawaiian steam engines to run but are now in California awaiting rebuild. 

this is the one that runs

this is the one that runs past Disney's Aulani yes? 

I road it with my boys last year. It was pretty cool, but perhaps most interesting, because the entire Leeward side is not exactly what most would think of as Hawaii Scenery. Especially with the plantation gone and suburban sprawl moving in. The dry grass has the feel of California which, since we live in California wasn't quite what we were hoping for. "Look Kids, there's the Costco and the FBI building. Literally just like home."

The hotel was bought and paid for by friends though, so I can't really complain. 

Aulani,

Aulani is/was my back yard when I lived in Hawaii now the area where I used to go that was lots of cain fields etc. is houses.  I lived in Makakilo aka the hill as we called it. It now has a water park at the bottom, Barbers Point is run down and they just started pulling out all the old monuments dedicated to people and squadrons that were stationed at Barbers point.

I would cross those track at least twice a day going to and from work at VQ-3.  If you follow the road into the base it is the hanger at the very end of the road.  do not turn you can not miss it and I would park in that little half circle drive on the left. 

Arizona Still has it's world war French car and it is very well taken care of and in great shape.

Restoration

I'm glad to hear they are working on it's restoration. Things like that shouldn't be forgotten or lost.

When I rode that railroad, Au'lani wasn't even there, although I think work had started on it. 2009.

The new crop

Yup, this is the train that runs by the hotel. The sugar cane has been replaced by houses and industry but the narrow gage line still is over 100 years old and the cars, built in 1944, were still pretty cool as is the old Whitcomb engine. 

The old equipment, including the French car, is awesome to wander among. I am thinking of volunteering for those days I can get to Oahu.

Barbers Point Hawaii front gate

Was looking up some stuff about Barbers Point and my Squadron VQ-3 and found this.  The USS Macon and USS Akron would of been moored at that mast, Both crashed.   After the attack, the mast was turned into a control tower during WWII.   Strange how close to History one can be and not know it.  This gate was long gone and closed when I worked at Barbers point.  I used the gate to the west on Enterprise and worked out of Hangar 110.  But I drove past the place 100's of times and did not know any history about it.  We did not have the internet back then.

https://www.google.com/maps/@21.3321009,-158.0457529,3a,75y,205.39h,82.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-pCzD1jB2JpllUwCMh3Iuw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Questions?

So Neil, when you're taking pictures of coupler knuckles and car undercarriages, does anybody look at you strange and question what you are doing? Or even worse, question your mental stability?  

Barbers

Az - I’ll be over there again this weekend so have to check this out. Thanks for the history lesson!

Paul - Train nuts over at the railroad must be common. There were a few of us that knew more about the railroad than the staff. (Not bragging - volunteers just read a script and I applaud their desire to preserve the history.)

BTW - Most people question my sanity daily.  It starts with cycling and goes downhill when they learn about my trains! The Verizon service guy who helped yesterday wanted to make sure my iPad was working and opened up Safari. “Model Railroading Hobbyist? How cool is that?” He said. “Do you have any models yourself?” Of course we have more photos on the cell phone of our trains than children. LOL!

Another thing just found out

Another thing just found out the Wiggle Wall is gone just inside that gate.  Now it makes sense after the fact it was used to block headlights and noise from the incoming cars at the gate.  When I was there we had the squadrons paint the logos on it.  It was just an odd section of wall way out of place back then but now that I know that this was next to the original main gate it makes sense now.  before not so much just some wall on the outer edges of the base.

Wiggle Wall -  http://ewafield.blogspot.com/2015/09/hunt-corp-destroys-local-lankmark.html

VQ-3 TACAMO "IRON MEN" section My squadrons section of the wall

I know....

AzBaja,

TACAMO is a term I hadn't heard or thought about in a LONG time.

Thanks for refreshing the brain cells!!

Tim Moran Akron, OH

Back to Ewa (Eh vah)

After a couple months since surgery the doc set me free so what didnIndo? Go to the Hawaii Railway Society yards in Ewa on Oahu, of course!

Messing with an iPhone app:

Looking at Johnson Bars and Boxcars ...

Club In Boxcar

Neil,

Years ago I visited the museum in Eva Beach, and there was a model RR club in a boxcar - is that still there?

Al Carter

Re: Club in Boxcar

Al:

I understand the club is alive and well in an old 34’ boxcar but only open on Saturday’s. My luggage and a carry-on box was entirely old HO engines and rolling stock as a donation. Even if they can’t use them perhaps a swap meet will bring in some cash and get to people who might be interested. 

My next visit is the first weekend of May so hope to meet some of the club members.