Maui Steam Train Saved!

This is GREAT news. Thanks for keeping us updated on this.

That is great to hear.I may never get to ride it again but I enjoyed the ride many years ago. Hopefully it will work out and more donations will help.

Great news, Don. What a God-send. Thanks for the update.

GREAT to hear! That said, is there any link to this story?

My wife and I rode this behind steam in 2003 on our Hawaii cruise (which IMHO, is the only way to see the islands). Such a nice ride and the equipment was such a joy to watch at the time. I was sad to hea it'd fallen on hard times and very upset to hear it's days were numbered. You made my day with this news!

Great news for everyone. This guy should be nominated as the Maui Man of the Year.

We have been working on a documentary of the railroad. Shot almost every trip the last week. We thought it was the end but kept hearing people were working to saving it. We interviewed some of those folks but couldn't start editing or writing anything tell we got the word one way or the other. This has changed our TV program, for the better. I just went down to the shops but no one was there. Nothing has moved and the weeds are getting high. Don

To my knowledge, this is the only remnant of the sugar cane trains that once ran in the

islands, and that moved materiel for WWII on Oahu.  I think they are an important

historical preservation.  I hope that acquisition works and becomes self-supporting, and, therefore, self perpetuating.  Fortunately, I got there before 9/11, when there

was a tour package that gave you a car on four islands.  I think I explored those four very thoroughly. I also took a small plane flight over Kauai. My brother took a cruise to see them on his trip.  You have seen the lava flowing toward this small

town on the big island on the news?  I drove out to see the lava then,  flowing into the

sea, at night, when you can tell what is glowing and where not to try to walk.  It looks like there are now a lot more restrictions about that.  I hope you can again fly

AMONG the islands and get one of those car packages.

We went out on that road once to watch the lava hit the ocean. That road is now covered with lava. There is a steam train (4 of them) that run a few times a year on Kauai. Very short run though. Living here was and is our dream. 

We are going to help the railroad as much as possible. Vicky was a promotion producer for ABC and with all my footage we will do some TV spots for them. Don

Is this the Kanapalii and Pacific?  I've ridden it a couple of times.  They had a cool hat!

Kent in SD

Yes, that's it. Thought we filmed the last run, but thank goodness we didn't. Don

Great news but I have always wondered why hawii seemed to have very few tracks?If anyone can give me an answer this.I will be very greatful.I am glad the the trains have been saved.

What wonderful news for such a unique operation with so much historic significance...The remaining Cuban sugar cane lines come to mind. If only there were no travel restrictions.

Streak, Hawaii was crisscrossed with rail lines. Kids went to school on the train, moms went shopping and most freight was shipped my rail. Every island had rail lines even some small ones. The main island had major rail lines that were put to good use in the war. Don

Thanks Don,

 You just Brightened what had been a LOOOONg Tiring Day.

 We rode the LK&P in 2009, and I was very Saddened to hear that it was to be scrapped, I will Hopefully get another chance to watch and RIDE this Wonderful little RR.

Doug

Sorry Rich for putting on the wrong site. I don't consider our railroad a real train. It's too small. Sometimes I see a third rail. Don

Thank you for answering my question.Well learn some thing new every now and then.

Great news.  I got to ride it back in June 1991 while on my honeymoon.  The funniest thing was seeing some flat cars lettered "WP&Y" in the tropical sun.

Stuart

My deceased grandparents rode this in the 1980's but I never had a chance to go to Hawaii, it's expensive to go there. I'm from eastern PA you know. That was news to me reading about that it was almost scrapped. What happened? Did it close a while ago? But now it will reopen?

It closed a few months ago. Turns out the mainland company that owned it was in the business of selling used railroad equipment. In my opinion they wanted it to loose money so they could sell it. They didn't maintain the rails or the engines. No promotion at all. I filmed almost every run the last week and things were braking daily. At one point I had to help the crew find enough parts to make a new coupler. In the last years three trains ran aground. The two steam engines were out of service for about two months. That only left the little Plymouth diesel then it left the rails and had to be repaired. Never thought I would see someone from Lahaina buy the RR. Don

We all thought this was the last run. Thank goodness it turns out it wasn't. Don

Great story with a hopefully happy ongoing future. Beautiful footage and photos. Please keep us in the know, Don.

I'm hiring the best chopper pilot (drone) on the island to film the first runs. Don

Yes! Ultimate beauty shots. Cant wait

Don,

I hope you're not piloting the drone!  Matt

                             No way Matt, this is a major drone. Don

Cannot wait to see drone video...next best thing would to be there the day it happens.

You got connections with the CIA or military?

Raising a little cane in Hawaii?

I think I cane, I thank I cane ...

Don this is great news .Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

Brad

Great to hear!!  Thank you.

Very good news.