Farms: Take a ride on Kauai's Steam Engine Train

Was filmed on: National Train Day on Saturday, May 10, 2014 with a free ride on Hawaii's only operating sugar plantation steam train. It's the perfect opportunity to see the sights along the original Grove Farm and Lihue Plantation railroad rights-of-way while listening to stories of the historic railroad firsts that occurred on Kauai; of how electric and diesel locomotives operate, of the camp life that once existed alongside the track, not to mention the only Hawaiian train robbery. In recognition of Mother's Day, they are honoring the first ladies of Kauai's railroad history; Princess Liliuokalani, who on Sept. 24, 1881 drove in Kauai's first railroad spike and Miss Mabel Wilcox, whose legacy provides the world's largest collection of operating Hawaii sugar plantation steam trains for the Kauai community and visitors alike. Liliuokalani trusted the railways would, 'Gird the whole island and so develop its resources and promote the industry of its people.' 133 years later, Amtrak President and CEO, Joe Boardman, emulated the Queen when he said, "Trains have long been important to the growth and prosperity of our nation and today Amtrak supports our national economy and connectivity by moving America where it wants to go." Many years ago Disney was interested in purchasing the Grove Farm Plantation sugar trains for $500 each, but Miss Mabel convinced the board to sell them to her by saying she was willing to pay as much to keep them on Kauai. Her commitment led to her paying for the first locomotive restoration in 1975, and her Grove Farm museum continues the preservation of this truly unique locomotive collection. Grove Farm museum has celebrated National Train Day for the past five years, and again this year our participation is chronicled on the nationaltrainday.com website, where we are the only Hawaii participants. At the event you can enjoy seeing Hawaii's oldest operating plantation locomotive, Paulo (1887) on display, then take a ride chugging down the same railroad rights-of-way as in the days of old behind the last steam powered locomotive, Wainiha (1915) to haul sugar cane in Hawaii.