Queensland has a fascinating network of sugar cane railways stretching from Bundaberg in the South through to Mossman in the North. 17 sugar mills have railway networks with over 4000km of track across the state. All the mills use 2ft gauge track, except for Pioneer Mill which uses 3ft 6in gauge track.
Locomotives are diesel hydraulic, with ages ranging from 70 years old to brand new (2023 built). Some locomotives have been converted from former Queensland Rail 3ft 6in DH class, or New South Wales Government Railways 4ft 8 1/2in 47 class.
Wagons are unbraked and some trains operate with a remote controlled brake van at the rear of the train to provide additional braking force. Trains can be up to 1km long, consisting of up to 200 wagons with a weight of approximately 1000 tons.
Some trains require two crew members however many locomotives have been converted to driver only operating and can be switched to remote control operation for shunting.
This video contains footage taken in August 2023 of Macknade Mill near Ingham. Macknade Mill is owned by Wilmar Sugar and shares a network with Victoria Mill. A unique feature of both these mills is the operation of 2ft gauge bulk raw sugar trains between the mills and the sugar terminal at Lucinda.
Macknade Mill operates a fleet of older Clyde and Baldwin locomotives.
Train seen in this video are as follows:
1. After dropping a rake of empty bins into a nearby siding, MKD 16 (1954 Clyde locomotive) runs light engine across Lucinda Road. The loco then departs towards Victoria Mill with the rest of it's empty train.
2. After waiting for MDK 16 to clear the junction, MKD 14 (1968 Baldwin locomotive) and brake van cross Lucinda Road with the empty sugar train from Lucinda Sugar Terminal to Macknade Mill.
Негізгі бет Queensland's Cane Trains - Macknade Mill Part 2
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