The Ringbalin "Cane Line"

[ge_rik]

That corrugated iron looks just right. Was it serendipity or did you buy the pool with a half thought that one day it might serve another purpose?

Rik

[GAP]

That corrugated iron looks just right. Was it serendipity or did you buy the pool with a half thought that one day it might serve another purpose?

Rik

It saw it at a garage sale and had a light bulb moment.
SWMBO kept telling me to dump it; so when we moved I rolled it up and packed it in a foam box that sat in the shed out of sight till it's time to shine came.
I always planned to have a sugar mill but never on the grand scale that this one has evolved into. Talk about bigger than Ben Hur.
SWMBO is now interested in the progress of the mill.

[GAP]

The sugar mill is progressing.
I was going to put in a rum distillery, as in what is just down the road a bit, that would use the molasses but have decided to an ethanol plant might make an interesting addition.
I am looking at putting the big tank, which will be the ethanol fermenter, on a separate board that can cover an access hatch.
I still have to make 'the tipper' building which will sit astride where the rail is and the 'carrier' conveyor that takes the cane into the mill.
I made the mill with no openings to keep the weather out as much as possible, might paint some windows on it later but looking at the mill down the road there are not many openings at all.

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[ge_rik]

It certainly looks like it will be at home on a sugar cane plantation. I think there's a corrugated iron appreciation society in Australia....

Rik

[Andrew]

I think there's a corrugated iron appreciation society in Australia...

If there was one here, I'd join - that's looking great!

You might start a trend - before long everyone will want an ethanol plant in their back garden...

[Old Man Aaron]

Looks just right.

[Lonsdaler]

That corrugated and galvanised iron is a real find. It's always satisfying when you find something that can be repurposed and look absolutely right.
It's a shame it's not available for 16mm modelling, I'm sure there would be a demand lfor it. And the mill looks 'the biz'. I can almost feel the relentless Aussie sun beating down on it.

[GAP]

I think there's a corrugated iron appreciation society in Australia...

If there was one here, I'd join - that's looking great!

You might start a trend - before long everyone will want an ethanol plant in their back garden...

There are plenty of backyard ethanol plants in Australia they just call them "Home Brew" kits.

[GAP]

I have been looking for something to simulate cut sugar cane for my train of cane bins. Turns out I had the perfect material right under my nose, well underfoot any way.
Its Sugar Cane Mulch I use it to control weeds in my garden beds I but it by the bale at the garden shops.
I did not even use glue to hold it in place, it just packs down when the train is run and if I lose any I can always top the bin up.
This will come in handy when I am doing shunting for the mill as I can just empty the train bin contents into a bucket to get an empty to send back out to the farms.
Another upside is that it adds weight to the wagon.

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[ge_rik]

I'm sure there's a word for that .... serendipitous, apposite, fortuitous .....

Or maybe - clever! ( with the R rolled ..... )

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Rik

[Jimmyb]

It looks very good and realistic, and could use similar in my cane wagons, I assume though it will need replacing every year.

[GAP]

It looks very good and realistic, and could use similar in my cane wagons, I assume though it will need replacing every year.

No it should not need replacing if it is kept dry and with no contact with soils, I have had sugar cane mulch last for over 3 years lying on the ground.
For SWMBO's rose garden it is replaced on a yearly basis when they are pruned in winter, what I do is throw pelletised chook manure over the old stuff and refresh over the top with the new. The old stuff just rots into the ground hence the claim of it being a "soil improver".
I used raffia for my "whole stick" wagons.

[Jimmyb]

It looks very good and realistic, and could use similar in my cane wagons, I assume though it will need replacing every year.

No it should not need replacing if it is kept dry and with no contact with soils, I have had sugar cane mulch last for over 3 years lying on the ground.
For SWMBO's rose garden it is replaced on a yearly basis when they are pruned in winter, what I do is throw pelletised chook manure over the old stuff and refresh over the top with the new. The old stuff just rots into the ground hence the claim of it being a "soil improver".
I used raffia for my "whole stick" wagons.

Graham some good info thanks

[Phil.P]

The problem being, I would guess Sugar Cane Mulch, will not be that common in British Garden Centres?

Phil.P

[GAP]

The problem being, I would guess Sugar Cane Mulch, will not be that common in British Garden Centres?

Phil.P

You could use pea straw or any other straw that is available, just may have to shred it a bit with scissors.

[GAP]

Progress has been made on the sugar mill which will be the centre piece of the "Cane Line".
The original track plan looks like it is heading out the window with regards to the interchange, I am now thinking of a couple of short sidings off the main line where an Ethanol tanker and some molasses tankers can be set out for collection for onforwarding.
Basically 2 sets of points facing in opposite directions so that there is a siding on either side of the main line into which the tankers can be shunted for collection by a shunting loco then taken into the mill precinct.
Upside is only one bridge is requires instead of 2 and I now have a task for a loco that was looking for a job.
Because of coupling method differences between the mainline and the cane line I am planning on using a "dolly" which is basically a bogie with a link and pin (cane line) on one end and a hook and loop on the other (mainline). I have pinched the idea from road trains where they are used to connect semi trailer together.

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[GAP]

Bit of progress has been made on the line out to the farms (Geino's farm).
Posts have been concreted in (more to do).
The line will be supported using 225mm cable tray as a roadbed, a layer of weed mat or shaded mesh will be laid down and the track will be cable tied to the tray.
Either side of the track will be artificial turf with between the sleeper having 7mm metal gravel to simulate ballast.
I have some ballast on trial since April and it has stood up well to the climate.

Entry to the mill framework

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Looking along the hedge toward mill entry

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The farms area

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Tray, track, turf trial

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Ballast trial piece

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[ge_rik]

Looking good Graeme. I wonder how long it will be before there is more railway than garden?

Rik

[GAP]

Looking good Graeme. I wonder how long it will be before there is more railway than garden?

Rik

This will about the limit, SWMBO has set a boundary over which I dare not cross.
Plus I have run out of material (steel from old layout and timber from dismantled house deck) and have had to resort to spending money

[GAP]

Some more progress made all the posts are in and its time to lay the cable tray.

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