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My family & I just returned from 10 days on the Big Island of Hawaii, and we made the trip to the Laupahoehoe Train Museum (pronounced LOP-UH-HOY-HOY, according to the locals I asked). Unfortunately, since it staffed entirely by volunteers, it was closed on the day we visited so we didn't get to look through their archives of photos, videos, and records. The museum is focused on the former Hilo Railroad/Hawaii Consolidated Railway, the only standard-gauge railroad ever operated in the Hawaiian Islands, as well as the former sugar plantation railways of the Hamakua & Paauilo Sugar Companies. Mile-for-mile, the HR/HCR was one of the most expensive railroads built in the USA, and it was the brainchild of one Mr. Dillingham (of Oahu Railway & Land fame).
In spite of being closed, a sign on the door encouraged visitors to explore the grounds and check out the equipment displays (which we did).
The museum has a 3-foot gauge steel explosives boxcar that once belonged to the Hamakua Sugar Company under restoration:

The neat thing about this car is the Koppel trucks & wheels ("Made In Belgium").
There was a 3-foot gauge Plymouth Diesel-Mechanical switching locomotive, formerly of the Hamakua Sugar Company, under restoration:
The crown jewel is a replica standard-gauge wooden caboose like the one that once ran on the Hilo Railroad/Hawaii Consolidated Railway:
I posted some detail photos of these on my Trains page. I apologize in advance for some of the poorer-quality photos; the Hawaiian sun was so intense, that it made for some really dark shadows, and some of the photos came out blurry (although they looked good in the camera's preview window!).
All in all, even though the museum buildings were closed, it was well worth the trip just for the outside displays. I was very impressed with all that the staff has managed to acquire and restore, in spite of being non-profit and volunteer-operated. If you ever go to the Big Island of Hawaii, this museum is a must-see!
In spite of being closed, a sign on the door encouraged visitors to explore the grounds and check out the equipment displays (which we did).
The museum has a 3-foot gauge steel explosives boxcar that once belonged to the Hamakua Sugar Company under restoration:

The neat thing about this car is the Koppel trucks & wheels ("Made In Belgium").
There was a 3-foot gauge Plymouth Diesel-Mechanical switching locomotive, formerly of the Hamakua Sugar Company, under restoration:

The crown jewel is a replica standard-gauge wooden caboose like the one that once ran on the Hilo Railroad/Hawaii Consolidated Railway:

I posted some detail photos of these on my Trains page. I apologize in advance for some of the poorer-quality photos; the Hawaiian sun was so intense, that it made for some really dark shadows, and some of the photos came out blurry (although they looked good in the camera's preview window!).
All in all, even though the museum buildings were closed, it was well worth the trip just for the outside displays. I was very impressed with all that the staff has managed to acquire and restore, in spite of being non-profit and volunteer-operated. If you ever go to the Big Island of Hawaii, this museum is a must-see!