Garden Railway Forum

For those who have no idea of what I am talking about when I say "whole stick wagons" this picture is from a local sugar mill marshalling area dated 1905, the wagons are what I am talking about.

The cane was all cut by hand in those days now it is done by machines known as harvesters.

It took a while but the Stainz to Cane Tank Engine conversion is close enough to call complete, just needs a few finishing touches.
As luck would have it, the coupler height of the Stainz shunting device (do not know the correct name) is the same height as the whole stick wagons.

A couple of pictures to whet the appetite till the blog gets an update.

1. The inspiration
2. My version
3. Side view of loco
4. Motor Controller is a Pololu 18V7 simple motor controller with a Hobbyking R/C receiver
5. Sound is supplied by a Mylocosound card
6. Components fitted

Just right, that is. Great work.

Next project is to make whole stick loads for the rake of wagons I have. I am going to try raffia which was suggested to me by someone on a forum.

Some pictures of the wagons and the new loco on the twilight run out to the farms, to drop off some empties for the morning's cut.

Running across the low trestle and backward up the incline.

You just need another three hundred of 'em. That raffia sounds the way to go for loads. I've yet to decide what to use when I build my rake - really should make a start on that..

If you're open to suggestions, a rear headlight (even a dummy) would suit the loco.

Old Man Aaron wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 2:18 am You just need another three hundred of 'em. That raffia sounds the way to go for loads. I've yet to decide what to use when I build my rake - really should make a start on that..

If you're open to suggestions, a rear headlight (even a dummy) would suit the loco.

I have considered a rear light but I am in 2 minds. When I get back to the Cane Railway in the gardens I will ask one of the old drivers if they had them the restored ones they have do not have a rear light.

I have started working on removable loads for the wagons using the raffia it is a bit flatter than cane but with the right weathering (a black wash etc) I might just ne able to away with it.
I am using a black wash because as anybody who worked in the paddocks prior to green harvesting will tell you at the end of the day you ended up in 2 states Black and Sticky.
Been there done that but I was working alongside the mechanical harvesters doing some "cutting in the ends" using a cane knife.

I have made some removable loads for my wagons.
Made out of raffia and still need some weathering.

Weathered the Steam Cane loco, as suggested by Aaron I added a dummy rear light.

First picture shows the effect I was after, the others are the end result

Whole stick wagon rake with loads and empty (removable loads)

They look pretty good to my eyes. I've never seen Aussie sugar cane but I have seen it in Egypt and it looks pretty similar, although the Egyptian version is generally much more "chuck a random heap of cane on the back of a donkey cart". They do have cane railways but I've only once seen a train actually working.

philipy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 6:46 am They look pretty good to my eyes. I've never seen Aussie sugar cane but I have seen it in Egypt and it looks pretty similar, although the Egyptian version is generally much more "chuck a random heap of cane on the back of a donkey cart". They do have cane railways but I've only once seen a train actually working.

That was the basic method here till the advent of mechanical harvesters then it went into "bins" which was basically a wire basket on a railway wagon chassis.

Love it.