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The Cane Railway (Tramline) Modelling Special Interest Group

 

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USA-Hawaii

 

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This is not a complete bibliography by any means. In 2008 Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette, for example, ran a series of articles on 30" gauge operations in Hawaii. The tourist railways also have a number of promotional videos.

 

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John Szalay Collection

Photographs taken during railfan excursions on the Oahu Railway, 1947-8.

Bishop Museum Archives (and Library) and the State Archives of Hawaii

The Bishop Museum (State Museum of Natural and Cultural History, Honolulu) was founded in 1889 and currently houses over two million artefacts, documents and photographs about Hawaii and other Pacific island cultures. The Library contains published documents, the Archives has unpublished materials, including an extensive photographic collection. Bishop web site.
  The main focus of the State Archives is government papers and correspondence but it also has a photographic collection, albeit somewhat smaller than at the Bishop.
  I visited the two archives in 2003 and found them most helpful. Modellers should be aware, however, that it takes considerable time to search large collections and the staff are unable to provide more than general support. A number of contract researchers live in Honolulu, using them could be less expensive than a lengthy visit in person.

Bird, Isabella L (1998). Six Months in the Sandwich Islands: Among Hawai'i's palm groves, coral reefs, and volcanoes. Honolulu, HI: Mutual Publishing.

First published in the 1870s, this is a 'tourist' report on Hawaii of the late 19th century. Includes a visit to a sugar plantation.

Bonnell, Henry F [Lorimer, Janet and Paoa, Robet, Eds] (1997). Hawaiian Rails of Yesterday. Ewa Beach, HI: Hawaiian Railway Society.

A re-edited set of articles from the HRS's newsletter in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Includes additional information and historical photos, including some on hauling sugar cane.

Chiddix, Jim and Simpson, Mackinnon (2004). Next Stop Honolulu: Oahu Railway and Land Company 1889-1971. Honolulu: Sugar Cane Press.

History of Oahu Railway and Land Company (Hawaii) operations, including sugar cane hauling. An enthusiasticly written account and photo/image collection. Loco and car roster, maps, etc.

Cochrane, Kent W (Photographer) (1947). Oahu Railway and Land Company. Trains. March, pp 26-37.

Pictorial record of the railway in the last days of its operation before conversion to road transport.

Conde', Jesse C (1993). Fowler Locomotives in the Kingdom of Hawaii. Peterborough, UK: Narrow Gauge Railway Society.

Special issue of the Narrow Gauge # 140; history of the Fowler Company's involvement in Hawaii, Fowler patent locomotives and an island by island account of their use in the cane fields, etc. Includes drawings and photos.

Conde, J C (1971, 1985). Narrow Gauge in a Kingdom: The Hawaiian Railroad Company, 1878-1897. USA: Railhead Publications.

A scholarly history of one Hawaiian railroad before it became a sugar plantation entity, and of S G Wilder, who buiilt nearly 20 miles of this narrow gauge railroad in the north of the Island of Hawaii.

Conde, J C, with Best, G M (1973). Sugar Trains: Narrow Gauge Rails of Hawaii. Felton, CA: Glenwood.

A comprehensive 80 year story of the hauling of sugar cane by rails to the mills of Hawaii. Location, history and photos, etc., for several dozen lines ranging from 20" to 4' 8.5"; extensive locomotive rosters/photos but little other equipment.

Conde, J C (1975). Sugar Trains Pictorial. Felton, CA: Glenwood.

Photographs of the Hawaiian plantation railroads (sugar cane and pineapple primarily) that didn't fit into the author's previous book, Sugar Trains: Narrow Gauge Railways of Hawaii. Includes a reproduction of the 1914 Gregg Company catalogue of cane cars and related equipment.

Hungerford, J B (1962). Hawaiian Railroads. Reseda, CA: Hungerford Press.

History of the primarily narrow gauge common carrier railroads in Hawaii from the late 1870s. Includes their related sugar cane carrying activities.

Krauss, Bob with Alexander, William P (1965). Grove Farm Plantation: The biography of a Hawiian sugar plantation. Palo Alto, CA: Pacific Books.

A very readable history of one of Hawaii's early sugar plantations by the plantation manager from 1937-1952. Reconstructed dialogue makes this account read like fiction but it's obviously based on personal recollections as well as historical research. Some photos but almost nothing of the tramway.