Australian Sugar Industry Locomotives
This publication has been produced as a guide for those interested in the locomotives used in the Queensland Sugar Industry. It is hoped that it will go some way to make more people aware of the extent and importance of the Cane Tramways of Queensland.
To give readers some idea of the scale of operations, trains of up to 1,000 tonnes are now hauled on the Victoria Mill system, which must handle 18,500 tonnes each day. 20 main line diesel locos haul 4,700 cane bins on the tramway system, the longest line of which stretches 35 miles from the mill. Train schedules are so complex that they are worked out by computer. The value of a locomotive and loaded train can be as much as A$750,000! It is quite likely that the next generation of cane haulage will be 36-tonne C-C diesel hydraulic locos hauling 14-tonne bogie cane bins. Although Victoria Mill is the largest, the other mills have smaller-scale versions of the same thing sophisticated equipment and intensive working. Nevertheless, the traditional charm of the narrow gauge can still be seen, for steam locomotives remain in daily use at two mills, and ancient diesel locos haul quaint navvies' trains at quite a number.
The cane tramways normally work during the "crush" for six months of the year, from June to November. During the "slack", the locomotives and tramway systems receive heavy maintenance.
Card covers, 17x21cm, 56 pages, black & white illustrations
Condition: Good/Very Good
ISBN: 9780959600902
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Updated: 2 January 2025