International Railroad Discussion > Australia's Cane Railways

From a small spark of interest, to the dramatic spectacle of a burning cane field at night, Alan Shaw tells about his discovery of Australia's cane railways. It's the story of One Sweet Conversion, today on The Trackside Photographer, the website dedicated to the railroad landscape.

http://thetracksidephotographer.com/2018/11/15/one-sweet-conversion/


Edd Fuller, Editor
The Trackside Photographer
http://thetracksidephotographer.com/

At one time the cane railroads were very extensive.Wonder what happened to all those little steam locos?
Regards,DK

Queensland's sugar cane railways are still very extensive, with sugar mills at Mossman, Mulgrave, South Johnstone, Tully, Macknade, Victoria, Invicta, Pioneer, Kalamia, Inkerman, Proserpine, Farleigh, Marian, Racecourse, Plane Creek, Bingera, Millaquin and Isis having rail systems. Pioneer is 3'6" gauge and all of the others are 2'0" gauge. Almost all of the locomotives are diesel-hydraulics with 0-6-0 and B-B wheel arrangements. The highest powered locomotives have 700 horsepower MTU diesel engines. Three mills (Farleigh, Marian and Plane Creek) run trains with remote-controlled locomotives in the middle of loaded consists. The last steam locomotives were used on yard duties at Marian Mill in 1981.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/18 13:21 by 9E56.

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Nice shot there with the semaphore. It's an amazing system, and came across it a couple of years ago. Chris uk

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These are so cool. Am I right the cane train is crossing a mainline? I have google sat viewed these lines, and usually quite cool to see the amount of trackage that is still used. Any thoughts on what happened to the steam locomotives?

Victoria Mill's Detroit Diesel-powered (8V-71) "Canberra" was crossing Queensland Rail's 3'6" gauge North Coast Line near Ingham. 

Some of the sugar cane railway steam locomotives were scrapped, but just as many were "preserved" locally when they were displaced by diesel locomotives between the mid-1950s and the late-1960s. Unfortunately that meant they were plinthed in parks and playgrounds where the tropical climate took a heavy toll on them. Some were removed and scrapped as they became dangerously rusty. When the hazards of asbestos boiler lagging became known local town councils became very keen to get rid of them. A few larger narrow gauge rail preservation groups were able to acquire locomotives, and others went to private collectors. Only a few of these have received the care and attention they deserve. Most are rusting away in back yards or garages, facing an uncertain future when there is generational change in their ownership. Occasionally one will turn up for sae in the pages of vintage and veteran motor vehicle and machinery magazines.

Wow, thanks

Posted from iPhone

Here is a very interesting video about one of the restored cane railway steam locomotive

https://youtu.be/7jb4o8cstGs

Edd Fuller
The Trackside Photographer
http://thetracksidephotographer.com