The day started with another nice buffet at the longboard, with the birds…
Spotted dove.
They don’t hold still much, but I got one a little more in focus!
“What? Â I don’t remember posing for this stupid sign!”
We actually got stopped by a train! Â It was a school excursion at the Hawaiian Railway Society!
After a small bit of difficulty, we found the rail yard for the Society. Â I got to talk to the guy running the place for a while, and got a guided tour of the shops!
Most of the railroads in Hawaii were plantation narrow gauges to bring the crops to the port. Â Here is one car that wasn’t:Â A 40 & 8 box car from France. Â These were so named because they fit 40 men or 8 horses, and were used to transport troops (and horses!) during both World Wars. Â There were 49 sent over to the US: one for each state and one for the District of Columbia (Washington DC). Â Hawaii and Alaska were not yet states. Â This one was DC’s, and it is in horrible condition.
Even as bad as it is, it still exists. Â Many don’t. Â I have more on these cars and a photo of one in good condition, from my trip to the Ogden UP museum, back in July of 2010. Â I said restoration would be a good Eagle Scout project. Â I was told the State of Hawaii would not let anyone touch it who was not 18 years old. Â What a waste of talent and time!
In the shops I got to see these engines in various states of restoration. Â They at least have a chance here at the Society!
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They were moving passenger cars into the shed, but as we watched they had a derailment! Â Fortunately it was at very slow speed over the frog in a switch. Â They backed the train up and it retailed, but then derailed when they moved it back towards the shops again. Â I watched this for a while, and then left them to figure out what was wrong. Â They didn’t need my help or distraction!
One last engine on display, and then it was off to Waikiki!
~Curtis in Hawai’i! {!-{>
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