The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-09-05
OAHU RAILROAD.

Successful Experimental Excursion,
and the Redemption of Mr.. b. f.
Dillingham's Promise Given One
Year Ago.
One year ago yesterday Mr.. B. F.
Dillingham; obtained his franchise to
construct the Oahu railroad, and upon
that occasion he promised a number of
his friends that within a year he would
have portion of the line in running
order. Mr.. Dillingham; never forgot this
promise, and its fulfilment was performed
yesterday when the friends aforesaid
had ga ride upon the rails
A Baldwin locomotive and two excur-
sion cars were got ready to start at
P. M, and by that hour the following
gentlemen, among others, had taken
their seats in the foremost car, viz: w.
K. Castle, H. A. Widemann, J. G.
Spencer, j. I'll. Fisher, Paul Neumann,
NJ. P. Robinson, J. H. Soper, Cooley
Brown, Frank Brown, DR.. Whitney, H.
Lose, E. Muller, w. A. Bowen, J. F.
Colburn, Walter NJ Gifard, A. Jaeger,
Geo. Castle, Chas Hammer, B. F.
Dillingham;, James Torbert, and repre-
sentatives of the ADVERTISER and
Bulletin. The second car was filled
chiefly with native Hawaiians, and it
was crammed. There were about $50
persons on board the train altogether,
and the crowd on the ground that could
not be accommodated was very consider
able.
Exactly at the hour appointed 4 p.
m. the whistle blew and the train began
to move; its speed increasing until rate
of 10 or II miles an hour was reached.
The crowds that had gathered at various
portions OF the line cheered the train as
it passed, and those on board responded
vociferOusly. The train ran very smoothly
all the way to the Palama rice fields, up
tie which point only the line has been
fully finished. Although the distance
was not much over mile, yet it gave
an earnest of the great energy be-
ing displayed in getting the line ready.
The line and works are very creditable
to all concerned; and, although it was
not considered advisable to make the re-
turn journey owing to the engine being
new and previously untried, yet the out
ing and the novelty of the trip were
thoroughly enjoyed. This first trial was
certainly success; both as the first ex-
perimental trip on the line, and also as
a redemption of the promise given by
Mr.. Dillingham; year ago.
The engine used upon the occasion
was a new Baldwin," and it returned
to town later in the evening-the pas
sengers having in the interim come back
by other conveyances. Mr.. Kruger, the
company's engineer, was the driver of
the engine upon the occasion, and his
skill and judgement under the circum-
stances do him much credit. 1t must be
taken into consideration that the new
ness of the embankment renders it scarce
ly settled E and great care and caution
had to be observed by the engineer
owing to the heavy weight of the train,
In three or four weeks time passenger
cars, built by Baldwin of Philadelphia,
will have arrived in Honolulu; and
these will comprise LIST and I'd class,
similar in appearance and finish to those
used in the United States. By that
time the whole line to Pearl Harbor will
be about ready Tor the rolling stock, and
then the comforts of railroad travelling
to that pleasant resort will be fully be-
gun.