We just returned from a trip to Hawaii, where we rode the Lahaina, Kaanapoli & Pacific Railroad, advertised as the "Sugar Cane Train".The train remains a polished and cute little steam operation, but the operation appears to be in decline. We were particularly impressed by the frequency with which locals and printed guides warned us to avoid the train. The land adjacent to the train is no longer agricultural, and is being developed into vacation homes. You may recall photos of the line operating two trains ala Strasburg. Today the passing siding is heavy with rust and the crew says they only operate one train. We were lucky to be there on engine change day (engines rotated monthly), and rode behind both engines in steam.Unfortunately, the line is a bit of a "railway to nowhere" and not really feasible as transportation either. The Lahaina side station is a stiff walk from the real action in town, and the other stations are located on the wrong side of a busy highway from the resorts.I was surprised how uncomfortable the train was, for a 1+ hour round trip. The seats are flat hard plastic, and the cars rock to and fro squeeking all the way.The O.R.&L ten-wheeler returned from Travel Town a decade ago remains outside in pieces.

This sounds a lot like the other freight hauling railroads this company owns - I'm not surprised.

Boy, as much as I'd like to be able to disagree with the above, I cannot. This is pretty much what my wife and I experienced when we were there two years ago, but the trains were more frequent then. We rode the first train of the day, and made almost the same observations Steven just did. The Lahaina station is on the wrong side of a VERY busy street, which is bad considering very few visitors will drive there. Most come by foot from the dock area (which is a nice little hike but not for the frail or weak). The train ride doesn't really GO anywhere, and unlike other RRs that go nowhere (such as Strasburg or Mt Rainier), there is very little to look at, other than condos and golf courses. The ride is like riding a mine train, and comfort is not the order of the day. Being a train nut, it mattered little to me. Steam is steam, and it got me one more trip closer to saying I've read ever narrow-gauge RR in the US (just down to one left). I do recommend the trip just for the novelty of it, as the trains are not 3-foot gauge, and are some odd European gauge. Just bring ear plugs and sunglasses.

Are you sure? I thought they were 3 foot gauge, along with the O.R.&L system (and don't forget #12 at Georgetown, which is a Maui refugee).

The LK&P is 3' gauge. The Oahu diesel and 4-6-0 are 3' gauge. The four-coupled locomotives were rebuilt from industrial 0-4-0Ts that were originally 38" gauge.The #12 is 3' gauge: but, it ran elsewhere on Maui.At one time, the sugar planation operation at Lahainia (Pioneer Mill Co.) was a 30-inch operation. Two of its engines have been state-side since the early 1950s.I recall seeing a grade crossing (no track coming or going) near Lahainia from the Pioneer Mill operation back in 1966 during a family vacation to Hawaii. There were also numerous left-over 30" grade crossings on Kauai that year.

The LK&P was inherited by Rail America when they took over States Rail, which bought Kyle Railways after the death of Willis Kyle, the noted shortline magnate. The present owner is noted for its dislike of maintenance and investment, as well as a disdain for experienced employees and unions.

This sounds odd to me. I was sure I recalled them saying the current RR was some odd gauge that was not 3 foot. I went back and watched the videotape I have of my trip, and sure enough, I did hear the narration, and they said this line is NOT a normal gauge and the equipment had to be re-gauged when they got it.Nothing on their website about it either way:http://www.sugarcanetrain.com/infopage.htmlAnyone here from Hawaii that can verify this or not?

Video sources are often wrong or misleading. The railroad is 3'. In addition, the two Porters were both test-run at the East Broad Top prior to shipment to Maui. They were rebuilt by Keystone (Carl Auel/Arthur LaSalle) in Hermine, PA; the tires were slid in 1 inch on each driver. Carbon Limestone was an unusual 38" (many industrial lines were these oddball, or more bluntly called "bastard" gauges), which is probably where the reference came in.