Queensland's Cane Trains - Mulgrave Mill Part 3

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 Mulgrave Mill, which is located in Gordonvale just south of Cairns. Gordonvale Mill is owned by MSF Sugar.
The mill utilises a mixture of Com-Eng, Clyde, Baldwin and Walkers locomotives.
Trains shown in this video are as follows:
1. 'Meringa' runs alongside Leumann Rd with a rake of empty bins.
2. 'Meerawa' runs alongside Moller Rd with a rake of empty bins. Note the length of the grass across the tracks.
3. After leaving the empty bins on the mainline and attaching to a rake of full bins from the siding, 'Meerawa' continues along the line to Vohland Rd. The full bins were left here and the loco returned light engine to position the empty bins in the now vacant siding.
4. 'Mulgrave' (ex Queensland Rail DH31, rebuilt 1995) runs light engine through the mill yard at Gordonvale, before attaching to a rake of empty bins and departing for the North.
5. After Mulgrave had departed, 'Meringa' arrived light engine.

[@theovanstaden5766]

Great video, always good seeing these Sugar Trains!

[@NR54trailerail]

Thank you!

[@joeleotta8795]

Getting ready for 2024 season doing a little bit of training with the new people