Hawaiian Railway Society

10/20/2026

OR&L No. 45: The Last Locomotive of the Oʻahu Railway and Land Company:
HRS/ʻŌlelo Episode 46

What happened to the last locomotive purchased by the Oʻahu Railway and Land Company? Its story takes us from the changing shipping industry of Honolulu Harbor to Maui's Lahaina, Kāʻanapali, and Pacific tourist railroad—and now back to the Hawaiian Railway Society.

In 1959, the OR&L acquired a small, 30-ton Plymouth diesel-hydraulic locomotive, No. 45, as part of its effort to enter the emerging containerized freight business. The railroad invested in equipment and facilities to handle this new type of shipping, but the operation was short-lived. When container movements shifted to state-owned Pier 2, the OR&L lost access to the business it had prepared to serve.

After the OR&L closed, No. 45 eventually made its way to Maui, where it worked periodically on the Lahaina, Kāʻanapali, and Pacific tourist railroad. That railroad became part of Maui's history, but its equipment and facilities suffered devastating losses from fires and subsequent deterioration.

In this episode, Hawaiian Railway Society historian Jeff Livingston recounts the efforts to save No. 45. With assistance from Truth Excavation and Sniffen and Sons on Maui, HRS was able to recover the locomotive after the remaining Lahaina, Kāʻanapali, and Pacific equipment was scrapped.

The Society hopes to transport No. 45 back to Oʻahu, fabricate a replacement hood and doors, and give the locomotive a cosmetic restoration. The intention is to display it alongside Kauila No. 6, the first locomotive used by the OR&L.

Why go to such lengths to preserve an old locomotive that will not return to operation? As Jeff explains, railroad history is ultimately about people—the men who operated the locomotives, made a living on the railroad, and supported their families. Preserving these machines allows us to maintain a tangible connection to their lives and work.

🎥 Watch HRS/ʻŌlelo Episode 46 on the Hawaiian Railway Society YouTube channel. Search for “OR&L No. 45: The Last Locomotive of the Oʻahu Railway.”

Help preserve Hawaiʻi's railroad heritage! The Hawaiian Railway Society welcomes volunteers with all kinds of skills, from welding and fabrication to woodworking, gardening, and general assistance. No previous railroad experience is necessary.

Have photographs, documents, stories, or additional information about Hawaiʻi's railroad history? Contact Ross Stephenson or Jeff Livingston at [email protected]. We also welcome suggestions for future HRS/ʻŌlelo episodes.

Mahalo to ʻŌlelo Community Media for providing the production facilities, technical expertise, and ongoing support for the HRS/ʻŌlelo series.

Come visit the Hawaiian Railway Society in ʻEwa and ride the train!

10/12/2026

Holiday Express will soon be here! This year we will only be offering tickets online. Tickets will go on sale November 2, 2026. You must go to our website, www.hawaiianrailway.com . This is the only place you can buy tickets. See the attached flyer for more information.

10/06/2026

🚂 HRS/ʻŌlelo: Waialua Agricultural Company — Part 2
Our latest HRS/ʻŌlelo episode explores the Waialua Agricultural Company and the important role railroads played in its plantation operations.
Established in 1898 by Castle & Cooke, the company operated one of Oʻahu’s major sugar plantations on the North Shore. In 1948, the company was divided, with the sugar plantation operation eventually becoming the Waialua Sugar Company.
At its height, Waialua’s plantation railroad system extended for approximately 55 miles, with seven locomotives and 742 cane cars. The railroad provided an important means of moving sugar cane and supplies between the fields, mill, and other plantation operations.
Part 2 examines the impact of rail transportation on the company, how its railroad was used to support plantation operations, and how plantation transportation evolved from mules, to trains, to trucks. By 1952, Waialua had replaced its railroad system with rubber-tired Tournatows and trucks.
🎥 Watch the new episode on the Hawaiian Railway Society YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/8hM4FthnFbg Mahalo to ʻŌlelo Community Media for providing the production facilities, technical expertise, and ongoing support that make the HRS/ʻOlelo series possible.
HRS is always looking for volunteers to help with restoration, maintenance, and other projects.
Have more information to share? Contact Ross Stephenson or Jeff Livingston at [email protected] with photographs, documents, stories, or additional information about this episode's subject. We’d also welcome your suggestions for future HRS/ʻOlelo episodes.
The Hawaiian Railway Society is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Hawaiʻi’s railroad history and sharing it with future generations.

09/22/2026

🚂 HRS/ʻŌlelo: Waialua Agricultural Company — Part 1
Our latest HRS/ʻOlelo episode takes a closer look at the development of the Waialua Agricultural Company and the role Dillingham’s Oʻahu Railway & Land Company (OR&L) played in making sugar agriculture on Oʻahu’s North and Northeast Shores economically feasible.
The story begins with some of the earliest attempts at sugar cultivation in this part of Oʻahu. In the 1860s, the Judd family and Samuel G. Wilder established a sugar plantation at Kualoa and built a mill there. The venture struggled with poor rainfall and difficult growing conditions and eventually closed.
The ruins of that early sugar mill—including its distinctive stone smokestack—can still be seen from Kamehameha Highway. They provide a tangible reminder of the early attempts to establish a successful sugar industry on Oʻahu’s Windward side.
Other early plantation ventures faced another fundamental problem: even when sugar could be grown successfully, there was no economical way to transport the crop to market.
The expansion of the OR&L changed the equation. By connecting northern Oʻahu’s agricultural districts with Honolulu and its port facilities, Dillingham’s railroad helped make larger-scale sugar production economically practical.
In 1898, Castle & Cooke purchased the Halstead plantation and established the Waialua Agricultural Company, Ltd. The new company consolidated additional land and invested heavily in infrastructure, including railroads, irrigation systems and a new sugar mill. Its first sugar crop was harvested in 1899.
The company continued to expand and eventually became one of Oʻahu’s major sugar producers. In 1948, the company was divided, with the sugar plantation operation eventually becoming the Waialua Sugar Company. The plantation continued producing sugar until 1996.
🚂 Part 2 will look at Waialua’s extensive plantation railroad system, how it was used to move cane and supplies, and how plantation transportation evolved from mules, to trains, to trucks.
🎥 Watch this new episode on the Hawaiian Railway Society YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/WvQvsT9L1dA
Mahalo to ʻŌlelo Community Media for providing the production facilities, technical expertise, and ongoing support that make the HRS/ʻOlelo series possible.
The Hawaiian Railway Society is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Hawaiʻi’s railroad history.
HRS is always looking for volunteers to help with restoration, maintenance, and other projects.
Have more information to share? Contact Ross Stevenson or Jeff Livingston at [email protected] with photographs, documents, stories, or additional information about this episode's subject. We’d also welcome your suggestions for future HRS/ʻŌlelo episodes.

09/22/2026

Kerry Lorimer, co-author of the award-winning children’s book “The
Unforgettable Boxcar,” will be signing books on October 25 from 9:00 a.m.
to 3:00 p.m. at the Hawaiian Railway’s train yard in Ewa, steps away from
the historic Merci Boxcar itself. The heartwarming true story focuses on
how kokua and a sweet gift from Hawai`i united millions of people after a
period of great adversity. All proceeds go to supporting the Hawaiian
Railway Society.

09/09/2026

HRS/ʻŌlelo Episode 43: Benjamin Dillingham, Haleiwa and the Railroad
Our latest HRS/ʻŌlelo episode, presented by Ross, takes us to Haleiwa and explores the fascinating story of Benjamin Franklin Dillingham, the Haleiwa Hotel, and the railroad that helped make the North Shore accessible to visitors from Honolulu.
A few dates help tell the story:
📍 1888 — The Oahu Railway & Land Company (OR&L) is incorporated.
📍 1890s — Dillingham develops Haleiwa as a destination connected by railroad.
📍 1899 — The Haleiwa Hotel opens, offering visitors an elegant North Shore retreat reached by train.
📍 1929 — The hotel closes as a hotel.
📍 1930 — The property reopens as the Haleiwa Beach Club.
📍 World War II — The former hotel becomes an Army officers’ club.
📍 December 31, 1947 — OR&L operates its final train.
📍 1948 — The Haleiwa property closes permanently.
📍 1952 — The historic hotel building is demolished.
The combination of railroad and hotel helped make Haleiwa accessible to visitors from Honolulu and became an important part of the community’s early development. The later history of the property also reflects the changing role of the railroad, tourism, and transportation on Oʻahu.
The episode was produced in partnership with ʻOlelo Community Media. Mahalo to ʻŌlelo for helping preserve and share these stories of Hawaiʻi’s history.
Want to help preserve Hawaiʻi’s railroad history?
HRS depends on volunteers, with opportunities ranging from restoration and maintenance to landscaping and other projects.
Have more information to share? Contact Ross Stevenson or Jeff Livingston at [email protected] with photographs, documents, stories, or additional information about this episode's subject. We’d also welcome your suggestions for future HRS/ʻŌlelo episodes.
🎥 Watch Episode 43 on the HRS YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/K3Xqvi6D3Ck
Mahalo for helping us preserve and share the history of Hawaiʻi’s railroads!

09/03/2026

Spookapalooza is sold out. You can call the office at 808-681-5461 to be on a standby list

08/25/2026

🚂 Beyond the OR&L: Samuel Gardner Wilder and the Railroads of Hawaiʻi Island
Ross continues his exploration of the fascinating history of railroads in Hawaiʻi in this latest episode with ʻŌlelo Community Media.
This time, the story moves beyond the familiar tracks of the Oʻahu Railway & Land Company to focus on Samuel Gardner Wilder (1831–1888).
Wilder was much more than a railroad promoter. He was a successful entrepreneur, shipping magnate, politician, and government official who became one of the influential figures in Hawaiʻi’s transportation industry during the late 19th century.
⚓ His interests in inter-island shipping and the growing sugar industry led him to recognize the importance of rail transportation on Hawaiʻi Island. As Minister of the Interior under King Kalākaua, Wilder was instrumental in the creation of the Hawaiian Railroad Company.
📍 The railroad connected the sugar plantations of North Kohala with the port of Māhukona, providing a vital transportation link between the plantations and the coast. Wilder’s ownership of the steamship company serving Māhukona further connected the railroad with Hawaiʻi’s inter-island transportation network.
Wilder’s story illustrates how closely intertwined sugar, shipping, government, and railroads were in the development of Hawaiʻi’s 19th-century economy.
Watch the latest episode and join Ross as he explores the life of Samuel Gardner Wilder and his important place in Hawaiʻi railroad history. https://youtu.be/yQPXDX4q14I
Have information or suggestions?�Be sure to contact Ross at [email protected] with suggestions for future episodes and any additional information you may have regarding the subject of this episode.
Mahalo to ʻŌlelo Community Media for providing the production facilities, technical expertise, and ongoing support that make this educational series possible.
The Hawaiian Railway Society is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing Hawaiʻi’s unique railroad heritage. Whether you’re interested in restoration, operations, historical research, museum interpretation, archives, or simply have a passion for trains and history, we’d love to have you join our team.

🚂 Samuel Gardner Wilder: Entrepreneur, Statesman & Railroad Builder...

08/10/2026

🚂 Hawaii's railroad story didn't end on Oʻahu.
Most people know the story of the Oahu Railway & Land Company, but did you know the Island of Hawaiʻi was home to one of the most remarkable railroads ever built in the Islands?
Our newest Hawaiian Railway Society presentation explores the history of the Hilo Railroad Company, organized in 1899 under the leadership of Benjamin Franklin Dillingham to serve Hilo and the island's thriving sugar industry. After financial difficulties and receivership in 1914, the railroad was reorganized in 1916 as the Hawaii Consolidated Railway, continuing the legacy of the original Hilo Railroad.
Featuring spectacular engineering, breathtaking coastal scenery, and an important role in the development of East Hawaiʻi, this is a story every Hawaii history enthusiast should know.
🎥 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/AK2LJFwnUEE
Mahalo to ʻŌlelo Community Media for their continued partnership and production support in bringing this series to viewers throughout Hawaii and beyond.
🤝 The Hawaiian Railway Society is powered by volunteers. If you'd like to help preserve Hawaii's railroad heritage through restoration, operations, historical research, archives, museum activities, or special events, we'd love to welcome you.
❓ Questions, comments, or suggestions?
Do you have additional information about the railroads featured in this episode? Is there a Hawaii railroad topic you'd like us to cover in a future program?
Please contact HRS Historian Jeff Livingston at [email protected]. Your ideas and research help us tell Hawaii's railroad story.
Please watch, like, comment, and share this episode to help introduce more people to Hawaii's remarkable railroad history.

Hawaii's railroad story didn't end on Oʻahu.While the Oahu Railway...

07/16/2026

New episode on YouTube: Ross returns with a fascinating look at the steam-powered Fowler machines that helped shape Hawaiʻi’s sugar industry. It’s not just trains!
🎬 Watch the full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOMCeNhWPaU
In this presentation, Ross explores the engineering and agricultural role of the Fowler machines used on Hawaiian sugar plantations. From heavy hauling to field operations, these powerful machines helped transform sugar production across the islands and reveal the scale and ingenuity of the plantation era.
The next time you visit the Hawaiian Railway Society, see if you can find examples of snap track and our cane car. While many members of the public come to the Ewa yard for the train ride, the ride is just one part of HRS’s broader mission as a museum organization: to preserve Hawaiʻi’s railroad history and educate the public about it. Our historic locomotives, rolling stock, and artifacts bring that history to life. Be sure to take the time to explore the yard and the collection around you.
This episode was produced in partnership with ʻŌlelo Community Media and can also be viewed on their platform.
📺 Subscribe to the HRS YouTube channel for more railroad history, archival footage, and restoration updates.
📩 Have information or suggestions? Contact Jeff at [email protected] with ideas for future episodes or additional information about this episode—or any of our previous episodes.
🚂 The Hawaiian Railway Society is powered by volunteers. If you would like to help preserve and share Hawaiʻi’s railway history, we invite you to join us.