W.W.&F. Discussion Forum

Worldwide Narrow Gauges => Two Footers outside of the US => Topic started by: Wayne Laepple on November 15, 2018, 07:38:16 PM

Title: 2-foot gauge Australian sugar locomotive's epic journey
Post by: Wayne Laepple on November 15, 2018, 07:38:16 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jb4o8cstGs&feature=youtu.be

Title: Re: 2-foot gauge Australian sugar locomotive's epic journey
Post by: James Patten on November 15, 2018, 08:52:42 PM

Great video!  I knew that there was a lot of sugar trackage, but I had no idea that they could go so far.

"Bundy runs best when it uses Blair Athol Coal."

Title: Re: 2-foot gauge Australian sugar locomotive's epic journey
Post by: john d Stone on November 16, 2018, 10:47:43 PM

That is so cool! Thanks Wayne!

Makes Quebec seem like not such an unreasonable goal!

Title: Re: 2-foot gauge Australian sugar locomotive's epic journey
Post by: John Kokas on November 17, 2018, 08:41:10 AM

Maybe we should look into one of those Aussie diesels.  Independent trucks with what appeared to be bidirectional controls.  Couldn't hurt to ask...…..

Title: Re: 2-foot gauge Australian sugar locomotive's epic journey
Post by: john d Stone on December 09, 2018, 01:52:52 PM

Wayne, did those systems ever have extensive passenger service or anything approaching common carrier freight service?

Title: Re: 2-foot gauge Australian sugar locomotive's epic journey
Post by: Wayne Laepple on December 09, 2018, 04:43:15 PM

I don't know the answer, John. These lines were and are industrial railways, and except during the sugar harvest season, I don't believe there is regular operation on them.  They may have transported field workers in the past, but I doubt they still do. And I would imagine the only freight handled would be company material.

Title: Re: 2-foot gauge Australian sugar locomotive's epic journey
Post by: john d Stone on December 09, 2018, 06:08:45 PM

Thanks Wayne. In my furtile mind (on account of it being full of fertilzer) I was conjuring up visions of those proposed dining and sleeping cars which were supposed to offer first class accomodations to exotic Quebec.  2000km of line cries out for such service!

Title: Re: 2-foot gauge Australian sugar locomotive's epic journey
Post by: John Browning on February 24, 2019, 04:29:32 PM

Most of these Australian 2ft gauge lines were purely industrial but some were initially established as common carrier lines by the local government authority ("Shire Council") and so ran passenger services until road transport by car and bus eliminated their clientele. One of these lines became part of the Government Railways and remained so until 1977. There was also one sugar-mill owned line that ran a profitable passenger service to the coast into the 1920s. No sleeper or parlour cars, unfortunately. The most spectacular line was one that was built by a sugar mill and then taken over by the Shire Council. It used two Shay locomotives. If you have a little time on your hands, you would enjoy looking at a large web site dedicated to this line, the Mapleton Tramway http://www.starfieldobservatory.com/MapletonTramway/Index.htm (http://www.starfieldobservatory.com/MapletonTramway/Index.htm)

Title: Re: 2-foot gauge Australian sugar locomotive's epic journey
Post by: john d Stone on February 24, 2019, 04:55:43 PM

Thanks John! looks like some very interesting reading!