Grove Farm museum’s impressive collection of steam locomotives bridges cane haul methods from the earliest ox-drawn carts to steam driven locomotives to the use of gas powered cane trucks. This experience offers visitors the opportunity to learn of the sugar plantation transportation story where imagination led the movement of sugar cane. It demonstrates that during the industrial age, man’s inven
tiveness harnessed steam in order to move tons of cane as well as for use in other industrial machinery applications. In effect, this exhibit serves as Kauai’s museum of science and industry, where the scale, smell, sound and use of this equipment fill one’s senses and imagination with awe and inspiration. Kauai Sugar Train Since 1975 Grove Farm museum has provided free train rides at a monthly “fire-up” that began operating out of the Grove Farm Company’s Puhi roundhouse, where the locomotives have been stored since they were retired in 1957. In 1999 Grove Farm museum acquired a mile long section of the original Lihue Plantation railroad right-of-way adjacent to the historic Lihue sugar mill. After laying 1,800 feet of track, the monthly “fire-up” was moved there to provide the only authentic sugar plantation steam train experience in the state. This is a memorable experience for anyone, and an invaluable learning experience for students to comprehend the impact of sugar as a major influence in Kauai’s history and economy. Join us for a free train ride during our regularly scheduled “fire-up” on the second Thursday of each month. Special arrangements for other days may be available for school groups and other organizations. Please telephone (808)245-3202 to schedule a ride for your group on one of our historic sugar trains.
