I was recently doing geanology research for my family. I came across a post mentioning the possibility of trains on Guadelcanal during WWII. If anyone is interested I have 2 pictures of trains on the island in 1942. A train is pictured in the background of a picture of my father.

My grandson and I enjoy riding and seeing vintage trains. We have been on many in the Eastern and Southern states. As well as the Cumbres and Toltec in NM and CO.

The US Army is believed to have used a 2' gauge operation to move equipment off of the beach inland to Henderson Field. After the Marines and Army caused the Japanese to quit
the Canal in early 1943, it became, among other things, a P-38 base. I believe that the little railroad operation is long gone though.

I asked about it when I spent a week there in September of 2007 and got no help.

Would really like to see any photos that you have of Guadalcanal, thanks.

I was in the Navy and stationed on the Island of Guam in the late 60s. Although there was no sign of a railroad, I was told that during the Japanese occupation of the island (1941-1944) a small narrow-gauge railroad was built to offload supplies from Japanese freighters. If anyone has any knowledge or photos, please post.

I have seen pictures of small (probably 2 foot gauge) railroads with likely gasoline powered locomotives that the Seabees set up and used to move materials around. I'll have to see if I can find pictures in any of my books.

US officers ride on the “Guadalcanal, Bougainville & Tokyo Express” Railroad built by Seabees on Guadalcanal 1943

After a lot of browsing and "Googling", I came up with one photo of a Japanese locomotive on Guam shown after the island was retaken by the US forces. The extra ventilation likely was the result of being caught in the crossfire.

The critter says "Katoworks" (in English, no less)-I wonder if that is the predecessor/same entity of the Kato that manufactures electrical components used by some "boutique" rebuilders.

That Katoworks unit looks like she could be from Plymouth or another critter builder--and it even looks like it has something that resembles a common power plant for such locomotives, a Ford flathead V-8!!

Looks like it was a Japanese loco built for their Naval use. A model is available from a Japanese site if anybody has a yen to own one.

Boy oh boy, that "Kato" locomotive sure looks like a USA made Plymouth model "FL", "FLB" or "FLH" unit.

Cast side frames, cast front frame with multiple coupler "pockets" at different heights above the rails. Five bolts connecting the side frames to the front/rear frames.

The USA made ones had the word "PLYMOUTH" cast into the side frame. Looks like the Japanese units had the word "KATO" cast into the frames instead.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/rrpa_photos/653 ... -14-rp.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/ctm7.jpg

Either the Japanese ended up at very nearly the same final design (doubtful) or there was some kind of licensing agreement where the Japanese paid Plymouth a fee to make "knock off" copies.

Very interesting photos thanks.

Cheers, Kevin.

I was stationed on Guam in the USAF from Jan 68 to July 69. There was another island named Rota which was close enough to Guam so that we could see it on a clear day. I somehow found out that there was some sort of RR on Rota. I think I saw a picture of an old rusty steam loco. I was thinking about taking a commercial flight over to take a look, but never did.

http://robsworld.org/galleryphotos/inde ... of_Rota058

You will see plenty of these "KATO WORKS" gasoline and diesel locomotives preserved on ex-forest railway operations in Japan. Kato Works Co.LTD. is still very much with us today, though they have pulled out of the Locomotive business many years ago.
I know of one Navy example preserved in Tochigi Prefecture.

I couldn't find any concrete information on whether the company licensed their first locomotives from Plymouth or not.


I'll stick a couple of websites up for reference.
KATO Works company history page:
http://www.kato-works.co.jp/eng/profile/enkaku_e.html
The preserved Navy Kato Works locomotive (Japanese page)
http://www.ns-tetsudo.com/train/610/kaigunkatou.html

Cheers,

Shogo