Queensland's Cane Trains - Mackay Region 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 September 2023 from the Mackay Region. There are three active mills in the Mackay Region: Racecourse Mill, Marian Mill and Farleigh Mill - as well as a mothballed mill at Pleystowe - all of which are owned by Mackay Sugar.
Mackay Sugar's network is massive, stretching from Sunnyside in the South, to Wagoora in the North and Finch Hatton in the West. The region contains some spectacular scenery and has many noteworthy features on the railway network, some of which are shown in this video series.
Trains seen in this video are:
1. 'Netherdale' (ex NSWGR 7337, rebuilt 1997) crosses the lengthy Pleystowe Connection Road combined road/rail bridge over the Pioneer River, with a rake of full bins for Farleigh Mill.
2. Having dropped a short rake of bins into one of the sidings near Peri Road, 'Melba' (1985 Baldwin Locomotive) returns to the mainline light engine to reattach to its train.
3. 'Melba' continues across Peri Road light engine to reattach to its train.
4. The train attempts to depart but a faulty coupler part way along the train results in the back half being left behind. After the assistant driver walked back to inspect the couplers, the two halves were amalgamated, the coupler tested and the train moved up to Peri Road.
5. 'Melba' then departed light engine to attach more empty bins from just up the line. The train is seen shunting across Peri Road to assemble the complete rake of empty bins.
6. 'Victoria Plains' (1966 Clyde) arrives into the yard at the mothballed Pleystowe Mill. The mill yard is still well used as a storage and assembly area for trains heading to Racecourse and Farleigh Mills.

[@workinghardusa]

Great video, well done!

[@NR54trailerail]

Thanks!

[@Thomas1980]

L___I___K___E________Fantastic Video! BIG LIKE and Thumbs Up!

[@NR54trailerail]

Thank you! Plenty more cane train videos coming, particularly from the Mackay Region.

[@FishplateFilms]

Another great trip on the cane rails Sir! I went through one of the mills in Mackay , they are very cool places but I don't think I'd like to work in one..LOL
Cheers Gregg.

[@NR54trailerail]

Thanks Gregg!
Yes they're interesting places, lots going on! Tully Mill still offers tours to the public.
I certainly wouldn't complain if my workplace smelt like a sugar mill 😉

[@FishplateFilms]

@@NR54trailerail I went through Tully as well, was a great tour and the places do smell like a steam train in lollie factory with fresh mown grass! The grease and sticky crap everywhere would be a bit much after a while..LOL but they do smell good for sure!
🙂

[@theovanstaden5766]

Great video, Hello from the east coast of south africa, we too have a huge sugar industry here, years ago most raw sugar cane were send by trains from the farms to the mill. Sadly most by road now! There one Huge Sugar Mill here were they have sugar trains!

[@NR54trailerail]

Thank you!

[@kolejnakolej.1437]

Interesting video. Greetings from Poland. 👍

[@NR54trailerail]

Thank you!