Every Sunday, the Hawaiian Railway Society offers two narrated 90-minute train rides on 6½ miles of restored Oahu Railway & Land Company (OR&L) track running from Ewa to Nanakuli. The segment is part of a 12-mile remnant of Honolulu-to-Kahuku track that is on the national and state registers of historic places. OR&L used this city-to-country route for passenger and freight service between 1888 and 1947.
For Hawaiian Railway’s tour, a 1944 ex-Navy diesel electric locomotive pulls six passenger cars built on 1940s ex-Army flatcars. On the second Sunday, entrepreneur Ben Dillingham’s ornate personal car, dating back to 1900, is added to the train.
Visitors learn about OR&L’s history; the importance of trains to Hawaii’s sugar and pineapple industries; a sisal plantation that once operated in the area; and Fort Barrette, a coastal defense facility that was active from 1934 to 1945. A stop is made at Kahe Point, so participants can admire the beautiful ocean view. Back at the rail yard, they can see nine vintage locomotives; the oldest one dates back to 1888.