CaneSIG 'members' are individuals who have contributed materials to the web site, regardless of whether they belong to the NMRA or other affiliated groups. This page features those small scale modellers who've either supplied information on their own models or been spotted by the coordinator. Individuals are listed in alphabetic order.
Other 'members' have provided prototype photos, drawings, etc., and their contributions are credited on the image, drawing, article, etc.
Large scale modellers use a variety of scale and gauge combinations... and visitors to a garden railway or a park containing a live steam railway may see equipment built to several scales using the same gauge track.
In my own case, I have several SM32 models... cane and shire railway equipment built to a scale of 16mm to the foot (1:19 scale). I use track with a gauge of 32mm, the same as would be used by an 'O' scale modeller (1/4"=1', 1:48 scale). For me the 32mm track scales exactly to 2' gauge, exactly what most of the sugar mills used for their cane trains. Meanwhile it represents 'standard' gauge (4' 8.5") for the O scale modeller.
Using an appropriate scaling other modellers might use the same gauge track to represent a narrow gauge between 12" and 42", while another modeller might use 32mm track to represent a broader gauge.
'G' gauge, often called Garden Railway gauge, is 45mm, so I might equip some of my 1:19 equipment with 45mm bogies and run them on a garden railway representing 'mainline', rather than narrow gauge equipment.
However, 32mm and 45mm gauge track isn't wide enough to allow 'ride on' trains to operate. For that you need larger gauges: typically 3.5", 5" and 7,25". Entertainment park gauges tend to be larger... typically 12" to 24", with heritage railways typically 24" or larger, depending on what railway systems they represent.
CaneSIG is a free resource for modellers of the world's sugar cane railways. Please contact the Coordinator if you have resources that you would like to share.
Materials have been provided by modellers and enthusiasts for the personal use of other modellers only. Please do not abuse this privilege; contact the copyright holders for any other use.
Ron mainly models in 1:48" scale but has the beginnings of a garden railway as well. The photos show Ron's 1/24th scale Fairymead Com-Eng loco (on 32mm track) and one of Tootle's Moreton Mill cane trucks.
"The loco runs well on 4 NiMH batteries but without speed control. I have tried a small R/C from a toy car but although it fits well and works well, there is still no speed control... I am doing some thinking re 16mm scale sugar cane stalks!!"
Tim is the owner of Tootle Engineering (www.tootleng.com, still active January 2016), producing 16mm models to run on either 32 mm (2') or 45mm (common garden railway) track. His 16mm scale (1:19) models have allowed a number of us to start modelling Queensland-oriented sugar cane railway in the garden: EM Baldwin and Moreton Mill wholestick trucks; wholestick truck review (pdf file); 16 mm Clyde locomotives being constructed.
Tim's model (above right) of Mossman Mills 'Ivy' (John Fowler 0-4-2T 15947 of 1922) is a coal fired model to 16mm=1ft. According to Tim, Ivy was built from original plans on a much modified Roundhouse Billy chassis, "the model is pretty close to scale (except for the chassis), a minor overall enlargement has been done. Boiler was built by Peter Lukey, Qld as a test boiler re plans published in AME magazine with much information also having been supplied by Peter".
Additional photos of Ivy: unpainted while under construction, rear view with fire in the firebox.
The prototype photo of Ivy
(left) is from the Rural History Centre, University of Reading from 'Four and Six Coupled on Sugar Mill Tramways' by John Knowles, from 'Light Railways' No.148, August 1999 (http://www.lrrsa.org.au/LR148_4.htm, downloaded 23/6/06).
This 1920s era Cuban exhibition railway is located in the Havana Club Museum, La Havana, and is 'G' scale, making it a very good size for viewing in detail.
Lazaro is a Cuban professional model maker who also models as a hobby. He's built the Esperanza Sugar Mill (sugar and rum production), various battle dioramas and, most recently, has carved large scale figures for Mountain Blue Miniatures (www.mountainblueminiatures.com). The layout has been featured in a 1997 NMRA Bulletin article and recent (2011-2012) Narrow Gauge Downunder articles.
Lazaro's photos: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12.
Claus Kleinhapl's photos:
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As well as modelling in On30, French modeller Fabrice has been working on a Gn15
diorama.
This coal fired 16mm scale model of Moreton Sugar Mill's Eudlo (0-6-0T, John Fowler 16207 of 1925) was built by Ben Gardner using a Roundhouse "Lady Ann" chassis and a boiler built to AMRA Qld Live Steam standards. Eudlo was taken out of service in 1966 and preserved in 1981 (Nambour Museum).
Eudlo photos:
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Hans Hammarsten of Sweden has never visited the cane fields but is quite interested in modelling industrial railways, including a small banana plantation in Hn15 (1/24th on 16.5 mm track), similar to a cane plantation in many respects.
Uwe Hass collects narrow gauge railway kits and has built an operating sugar beet mill depot in 1/35 scale. Details in a
Voie Libre article (#93, Sucrerie de Toury tramway).
Peter Jensen models Queensland's Mapleton Tramway in Fn3 scale.
Nick is modelling the Oahu Sugar Company in 1:20.3 using Llagos Creek track. In October 2014 he had two modules largely complete (track and ground cover), had 80 percent of his benchwork complete and was building the first light box (shadow box) for the two modules. By 2017 he had a fully operational railroad for a NMRA Regional Open House (see below). He's also had several articles published about his modelling in Narrow Gauge Downunder and NMRA publications. His online blog (offsite) describes some of his work, see the 2019 entries for some of his research photos, etc.
Module plan (updated version in Convention presentation below); brief Oahu Sugar history and chronology; US Military records for WWII activities; November 2017 NMRA regional mini-Convention presentation (from ppt); November 2017 design and development handout; and earlier (August 2017) update.
Sanborn site (Insurance) map of Oahu Sugar Mill (right) showing major structures, etc.
Photos: grapple (media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/b8/21/b2/island-x-hawaii.jpg"), weigh station (right) -- loco shed (under construction) -- Shapeways printed cane wagon -- module with Waipahu Store -- trestle installed.
Nick's CAD files for CaneSIG members -- not for commercial use -- to produce a 1:20.3 Oahu Sugar Cane car. Zip file with the four .stl files required to produce a 3D model using Shapeways (estimated Shapeways' cost US$135).
Steve builds 7/8" scale models, including both Javanese and Queensland (Bundaberg) style wholestick trucks. Further details in a January 2013 Narrow Gauge Downunder article on Javanese cane railways.
Photos: laser cut all steel Java-type wholestick cane truck
as constructed,
in-service,
prototype photo (Java), Innisfail Tramway guard's van
(photo,
drawing pdf file), and Bundaberg style wholestick:
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2. New (2013) laser cut cane bin:
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2.
Steve is a prolific modeller of Queensland sugar cane railways, with his
16mm scale Fowler 0-6-0T typical of the quality of his workmanship.
Brian's 16mm scale Queensland models: 1955 Comeng Model A, 0-6-0 with jackshaft drive:
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QGR H wagon:
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and wholestick cane trucks:
wood,
steel. Brian has also provided
notes for accurately printing his 1:48 scale Eimco drawings
(left side rear,
right side front).
Edward's award winning 2.5"=1' model of Bli-Bli, built in 2005 and shown here running on MELSA Rockhampton's 5" gauge track, 7 June 2008. Apparently in 2008 the prototype Bli-Bli, originally from Moreton Mill, was out-of-service and rusting away at Bingera Sugar Mill.
Jeff models 2.5"=1' for a 5" narrow gauge (ie 2' gauge) garden railway.
Photos from the 2009 Narrow Gauge Convention:
wholestick cane truck and
Innisfail Shire brake van.
Jeff is also building a cane locomotive to work with these models but it hasn't yet reached a point where he is willing for it to be on public view.
Shane is a NSW modeller trying to easily and cheaply encourage people into model engineering, and retain them. His 5" gauge loco, "Lady Targa - The Winter Princess", is loosely modelled on Queensland sugar cane 0-6-0 "Moreton".
Notes (pdf file) and
loco photo.
Rob's 16mm Innisfail C van built from a Tootle Engineering kit.
"I stumbled into CaneSIG in my search for more info on Cuba's Sugar lines. I may be the only American modeling the sugar trains of Cuba? I've been building a "Garden Railroad" based on Cuba's narrow gauge lines for 17 years, with RC live steam and an RC battery powered Plymouth industrial diesel."
"I've never been to Cuba myself, but I managed to collect 11 videos, two books, and various magazine articles on Cuba's lines, to help and inspire me to build my railroad. It's still not complete. Everything is scratch built, except the engines. I build cane cars out of brass. (K&S Brass, out of Chicago, Ill.) They sit out on the railroad all year; ( the oldest ones for 16 years now.). The mill buildings are wood, and covered with corrugated beer and soda cans that I cut up and corrugate using a tube crimping tool."
"I always liked 'tropical' steam in such places as Cuba and Central America, those very last and almost forgotten survivors of another era..."
Photos: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4. Handbook Articles: Building Jim's Cuban cane wagons (764 K pdf file) and cane loader (2.1 Mb pdf file). Modelling tips: Radio Control (56 K pdf file).
Narrow Gauge DownUnder magazine featured Jim's techniques for building large scale Cuban cane cars in 2016, Cuban cane dump in 2018 and his Rafael Freyre side dump cane cars in 2021.
Baguley-Drewry 0-6-0 DH model at the Townsville Exhibition, c1994. Photos right and with cane bin by Peter Murray.
According to Martin Haywood the loco was built by "R&D Industrial Modelmakers" from Victoria, Australia. 1:22 scale, gauge adjustable 32/45mm, track powered but convertible to battery, all metal construction and highly detailed. The UK 16mm firm Brandbright revealed one at Kew Bridge for £370 as reported in Garden Railway World in 1991.
Steve Malone forwarded these photos of Ken's 7.25" gauge Malcolm Moore loco... with two wheelchair batteries under the seat to power two wheelchair motors
Jim Russell of Columbus, Ohio has build several high-quality styrene mockups of EM Baldwin locos to help him decide what to build in 7/8 scale for his outdoor layout. They've been built from the CaneSIG drawings and the EM Baldwin book.
Photos:
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Modelling his 7/8" scale model of Netherdale, an ex-NSW 73 Class loco is now a Handbook
article.
Mike lives in Calgary Alberta and his comments/references below are typical of CaneSIG member communications.
"I thought that you might be interested in a photo of the latest loco to take to the rails of the Crowsnest Tramway, the model of which is located in deepest Western Canada. The 1/32 scale loco runs on 3/4" gauge (19.05mm or American 'On3') track, representing a 2 ft gauge prototype. The model was built by Paul Berntsen of Hastings, New Zealand, with painting and photography by Ian Rathbone of Barnt Green, Worcestershire, England.
"The model is based on John Fowler Works No. 4513/1883 'indirect drive' 0-4-2T 'Hana' for Hana Plantation Co., Hana, Maui, Hawaii, on 20" gauge. All but identical was John Fowler Works No. 4688/1883 'indirect drive' 0-4-2T 'No. 1' for Mourilyan Sugar Co., Innisfail, Queensland, Australia, on 2' gauge.
"By way of explanation, 'Ayo' is the nickname of my youngest grand-daughter, Ayodelle, who currently lives in Ghana, West Africa."
Photos: 1:32 scale Fowler-type (Hawaii) and Bagnall (1 - 2) (Puerto Rico) locomotives.
References:
Dave Webb's 7.25 inch (184mm) gauge Boulder Creek Tramway originally operated with a Malcolm Moore loco as power, Dave has since finished three Bundaberg Jenbach locos and expanded the fleet to include an EM Baldwin DH with a Clyde 0-6-0 DH under construction.
Jenbach construction: Chassis frames, chassis being welded up, production line of 3 chassis assemblies, chassis with axle box assemblies in place and Malcolm Moore loco with riding wagon in background to provide scale, horn guide and axle box assemblies, buffer in place. November 2009 construction update: cab assembly; Jenbach with Malcolm Moore and open wagon, Dave and Jenbach without drive, and 3/4 view.
Additional details on his web site (www.smex.net.au/bouldercreek, still active January 2016)
Gerry Hopkins' photo of a garden railway model of Moreton Mill's lift bridge and train (left), Narrow Gauge Convention 2003.
Copyright © A C Lynn Zelmer or the contributor as appropriate. Last updated: 26 July 2024 [lz]; e-mail: Lynn @ ZelmerOz.com