Alan Sewell's visits to Queensland...

The latest in the series, this time Alan's photographic archive takes us to the sugar cane tramways of Queensland in Australia. Having recently commented upon my new '009' kit wagons, Alan kindly dug into his collection and shares the results here...

Babinda November 2001, Alan Sewell photo.

Bundaberg Sugar Limited

Babinda Sugar Mill

P.O Box 56

Babinda

Queensland 4861

Australia

Gauge 2’ 0”

Date of Visit   2 November 2001

The mill situated to west of QR coastal railway in the township of Babinda some 34 miles south of Cairns and 15 miles north of Innisfail. The cane harvest had at least another two weeks to run and the mill and cane tramway system were working 24 hours a day. 

This is one of the smaller Bundaberg mills but its tramway is part of a larger system running south and connecting the company’s three far north mills (Babinda, Mourilyan and South Johnstone). In total the system is around 160 miles long.

At the mill the full yard comprises six curving tracks south of the mill with locomotives servicing facilities nearby. Tracks go through the weighbridge and cars are then pulled, by an under-track car mover, into the cane dumper. This is situated inside the mill buildings. From here the cars run by gravity into the empty yard to the north. The shed and repair shops are located between the empty yard and the mill boundary road. Cane trains from the south run alongside Mill Street crossing at least two roads, one being Babinda’s Main Street. Cane from the north crosses  the QR before entering the mill site and runs around the western side of the mill to the south end of the mill yard along side Mill Street. To enter the yard trains have to run further south blocking Main Street before setting back into the yard. Entry to a road is controlled by overhead “traffic lights” which indicate whether a track is available.

Seven locos were noted at work, with six coupled as multiple units. Number 9 is a double unit loco converted from two18-ton ComEng 0-6-0D permanently coupled for multiple operation. This was under the loco shelter by the weighbridge before moving off to collect empty cars for the evening shift. JOESPHINE a 18-ton ComEng 0-6-0D  (A1821 Built 1956 ) double headed with RUSSELL another 18-ton ComEng 0-6-0D (A2027 Built 1958) to haul a loaded cane train in from the north before backing into the mill.  BRAMSTON 18-ton ComEng  0-6-0D ( AH2460 Built 1962 with “open style cab ) was the only single unit seen also on a loaded train from the south.

Two Clyde locos were found shunting a cane loading point not far from the mill and close to the QR mainline and Bruce Highway. The locos were GOONDI Clyde 55.56 built in June1955 and DARGEEE Clyde 56.90 built in May 1956. Two other locos were seen near the workshops but not identified. One was similar to BRAMSTON and the other was probably another ComE.

Babinda November 2001, Alan Sewell photo.

Babinda November 2001, Alan Sewell photo.

Babinda November 2001, Alan Sewell photo.

Babinda November 2001, Alan Sewell photo.

Alan also travelled to Queensland again in 2008, this time visiting the CSR setup at Invicta.

The Haughton Sugar Co. Pty. Ltd. (CSR Ltd.)

Invicta Mill

Giru

Queensland

Australia

Gauge 2’ 0” (610mm)

Date of Visit   20 November 2008

Mills in Burdekin district south of Townsville were one of the last areas to finish crushing in 2008. Invicta mill lies on western edge Giru township and has connection there to QR in addition to its 610mm cane tramway – one of the longest in Queensland.

At the loco servicing point were four units, the uncommon STRATHALBYN B-B DH Westsfalia, 0-6-0DH BARRATTA, and ex NSW 73 class CROMARTY and MINKOM. BARRATTA, CROMARTY and MINKOM were later in use on shunting and line work.

The mill yard forms a loop around the servicing area to west of mill with fulls coming in on northern side and empties exiting from south side. The tracks join at western end of yard and all full and empty trains arrive this way, running down the side of one of the local roads ( Shirbourne Road ). A short way from the mill the mainline turns south and a branch leads off to cross the Bruce Highway a little further from the mill. The mainline crosses the Haughton River turns west and also cross the Bruce highway before heading out to the cane fields . The mainline is up to 40 miles long from this point.

PIRALKO and later MINKON were shunting full bins into place for the cane unloader. BARRATTA was also at work shunting empty bins.

Around 1pm the full trains began to arrive. One of the converted QR DH units CLARE being the first pulling a short rake. This was switched into the fulls yard and followed quickly by two longer trains hauled by ex-NSWGRR 73-class conversions GIRU and SCOTT. All these trains had two truck brake wagons, apparently assigned to the locomotive as each was appropriately named. These were switched off the end of the train, prior to pushing bins into fulls yard. Before all switching had been completed another loaded train arrived this time hauled by one on the smaller B-B DH units  EM Baldwin SELKIRK. Again the long rake of bins had a brake wagon but this one converted from an 0-6-0D complete with coupling rods.

Outside the mill the tracks runs tramway fashion alongside Shirbourne Road passing at least one farm. Another B-B DH unit  EM Baldwin BURDEKIN was seen heading for the mill, this time with its bogie brake wagon coupled next to the loco. This train was followed quickly by another long train headed by ex-NSWGRR 73-class HODEL.

Around  4pm empty trains began to depart  with the first  headed  by SELKIRK followed a little surprisingly by BARRATTA. In quick succession by SCOTT left light engine followed by CROMARTY and HODEL with long trains.

Navvy depot at Clare.

Track connected with that of Invicta Mill by means of dual gauge track shared with Pioneer Mill.

Locomotives from Kalamia Mill may be observed on temporary transfer.

Invicta November 2008, Alan Sewell photo.

Invicta November 2008, Alan Sewell photo.

Invicta November 2008, Alan Sewell photo.

Invicta November 2008, Alan Sewell photo.

Invicta November 2008, Alan Sewell photo.

Thank you once again Alan, for making these available to us all. This modern operation is not one i have seen modelled very often - perhaps our new wagons may change that, perhaps I should consider looking to develop a kit for one of these meaty Bo-bo diesels? In the meantime, I hope you all enjoyed today's post and until next time, more soon...