The number of flange-wheeled external combustion engines just nearly doubled on the Island of Maui with the triumphant return of two indigenous Baldwins: http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/554345/-Truly-a-gift-that-has-come-full-circle-.html

In case it wasn't clear, the Lahaina Restoration Foundation is preserving a heritage village of that name on Maui, not just the one locomotive. The locos were sold to Robert Day of Los Angeles in 1952, and then to H.W. Brunskill in 1963.

Congratulations to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation for bringing these locomotives "home."

I'm normally a fellow who goes in for modern Super Power from Lima, but I have to say I am intrigued by these little jewels. Why, they would be just the thing for a small amusement park, a private estate railway, or even a fairly generous back yard. . .

I wouldn't mind having one or both in my yard. . .

:-)

I imagine that was exactly what Messrs. Day and Brunskill had in mind when they purchased those locomotives, and they may well have been inspired by what Ward Kimball was doing with his plantation locomotives; what they probably didn't realize at first was that Mr. Kimball had a lot of help with operating his "little" railroad, and that even small steam locos require a lot of effort to run. That realization may well have led to both locomotives being stored for such a long time, which in this case was actually a good thing since they were both well cared for.

They were stored because a brush fire destroyed the owner's home and almost all of the railroad in 1961. The locomotives burned in the engine house and were deemed "unrestorable". We are lucky they were not cut up, as there were still plenty of other steam locomotives around to choose from in 1961. Owner incompetence was not an issue. Their current state appears to be the result of recent work.

Mike Stillwell
Buena Vista, VA.

Robert Day did have a lot of local help to build his railroad, much like the other 1:1 live steamers in the LA area. Depot even had a Disney connection. Article below:
http://www.southerncalifornialivesteamers.com/show_tip.asp?ID=23

"Owner incompetence" was not what I was suggesting at all (I did point out the fact that they had been well cared for, which is not something that an "incompetent" owner would have done!); I merely suggested that perhaps operating these locomotives and the private railroad they ran on may have been a bit more than the owner could handle. If I'd known the full history of these locomotives, I would've phrased my remarks differently (or not even made a comment).

The Lahaina was built for my G-G-Grandfather in I believe 1882. After hitting several dead ends I gave up my search for it. Then I thought I'd give the Internet another shot and bingo, I found it. Well, almost. I see it has gone to Hawaii, which is good, but I would have liked to have seen it before it left.

Anyway, if anyone knows where I can get a picture of it, a ".jpg" would do, I'd like to know. I'd also like to know what year it was sold to the Pioneer Mill Co. Just pointing me in the right direction would help.

Regards,
Fred Probst

Aloha -
Loco is BLW 6397 of 9/1882, a 0-4-2T. Was ordered by Fred Probst & Co (:-).
Here is a link to a on-line video of the engine on Maui:

http://mauinow.com/2011/10/13/video-loc ... tion-days/

Locomotive had been on display at a fishing lodge in Idaho until recently.
http://www.williamslakelodge.com/
http://www.williamslakelodge.com/images/PICTUR14.gif

John

M. Austin - Thank you so much for sharing the BLW build page for #6397.

This thing has kinda snow-balled on me. I started looking for information about one locomotive and have since discovered that my G-G-Grandfather had purchased 5 from the Baldwin Locomotive Works and 3 from the Danforth Locomotive & Machine Co.

It appears that they were all shipped to the Sandwich Islands where he built a railroad of some type. From what I can gather they were used for moving sugar cane.

I've ordered a book that I located on line that describes his shipping the locomotives and constructing a railroad on a plantation. Hopefully it will shed some more light on him and the engines.

The 3 Danforth Locomotives were purchased in 1875 and their numbers were, 1014, 1015 and 1016. If anyone happens to have any information on them I'd appreciate hearing about it.

Thank you,
Fred

M. Austin - Thanks again, for posting the F. Probst index list from DeGoyler. I have downloaded the index and engine information from their site.

Too bad that type of information is not available for Danforth locomotives, or maybe it is and I just haven't found it.

Thanks again,
Fred

Fred -
The Danforth engines (1014/5/6) were for the Hawaiian Argi #1/2/3 of Kau, Hawaii. In a list I reviewed, it stated, "order cancelled enroute, disposition unknown" More mystery to unravel....
Aloha
John