At its peak in the early 1900s, the Oahu Railway and Land Co. one of seven major railroads that served the Islands, extended 160 miles, hauling sugar to docks, pineapples to canneries and construction materials to work sites. It also was used for military and civilian transport, particularly during the World War II years.
One of the most sophisticated systems of its day, the "narrow gauge" line featured a double-track main line, automatic block signals, commuter operations and four Mikado locomotives similar to those used on Colorado's Durango line.
The first nine miles of the OR&L opened on Nov. 16, 1889, King Kalakaua's 53rd birthday, with more than 4,000 residents taking advantage of free rides.
OR&L was started by Benjamin F. Dillingham, who had opened a hardware company to serve the burgeoning sugar industry.
It wasn't long before Dillingham, who had arrived in Hawai'i in 1864, started leasing land in Kahuku and 'Ewa for his own plantations.
Recognizing the need for more efficient transport of agricultural products to O'ahu ports for shipment, Dillingham got permission from Kalakaua to establish the railroad system.
The rapid expansion of the railway played a significant role in generating new land sales and new agricultural industries, including pineapple.
The development of roads around the island led to the slow demise of railroads.
OR&L's fate was effectively decided by the 1946 tsunami that destroyed long sections of track and by a series of sugar strikes that drastically reduced the amount of freight that needed to be moved.
