Steaming along …

As the 2023 crushing season gets underway, locomotives will become a prevalent sight in the district. But the technologically sophisticated machines of today are a far cry from the locos that chugged along the tracks in days gone by.

Before big expansions in the sugar industry necessitated inevitable changes, steam locomotives hauled the cane from farm to mill. The Proserpine Sugar Mill owned nine steam locomotives. Until the early 50s, the locos had coal (mostly from Collinsville) and wood fired steam engines and pulled a tender loaded with the fuel and water supplies essential for operations. These engines weighed up to 18 tons and could pull 152 full trucks of cane.

Most of the locos were affectionately given names apart from Numbers 1 and 8.

Number 1, built in South Australia in 1939, was the largest engine and it handled the big hauls from Up River, Lethebrook and Kelsey Creek.

One of the most famous was Number 2 – Digger. Built in Leeds, England in 1916, this locomotive was one of 155 ordered by the war department to serve in France in World War 1. After the war, it was taken back to Leeds, slightly modified, and in 1924 was one of several sold to Australia for use in the Queensland Sugar Industry. Despite some modifications throughout its life, it remained essentially a Hunslet War Department design – hence adding to its historic significance.

Number 3 – Fritz also served in France during the war. Numbers 2 and 3 had smaller engines and handled runs to Cannon Valley, Strathdickie and Waterson.

Number 4 – German Annie was built in Germany in 1908 and was used on Conway and Preston runs. It had a distinctive shrill whistle making it easily identifiable from a distance or at night.

Number 5 - Bonnie Jean, an 1899 Krauss, was named after a local lady, Jeannie Voss. It was the first one to service the Conway line, however, having a very small engine, it was seldom fired up and was used for emergency work around the mill yard.

Number 6 – Tilly, the mill’s original locomotive, was named after another Proserpine lady, Mrs Matilda Stoneham. Despite its small engine, it did mighty work and was mainly used on the Lethebrook line. On a clear night with a big load, most of the town would hear her coming, puffing like billyho from Goorganga Plains through Glen Isla to the mill. She whistled at every crossing and must have been cursed by many as she hit town areas and passed by the hospital - but locals did consider her whistle cheerful.  

Number 7 – There were 2 Number 7s.  The first, Mae West, built in England in 1915, was distinctive in that it had water tanks positioned on each side of the boiler, like 2 big floaties. The second, was a new Perry built in 1948.

Number 8 completed the steam fleet. Bought in 1953, it was a Bundaberg Fowler steam loco fitted with a distinct spark arrestor on its smoke stack. Used until the early 1970s, it had historical significance, being the last of its type in the world.

Gone now are the days of the steam locomotive. In 1954, the first diesel engines graced the tramlines. All engines were eventually changed to diesel burners in the early 50s and by 1965, the mill had 8 diesels.

Gone too are the days when communications were especially difficult - when, in order to establish the position of a loco that was running late, it involved ringing telephones along the route to establish where it had passed and where it was yet to reach. The exchange and farm ladies were always helpful and generally had a rough idea of where the loco would be. When a derailment occurred, a common occurrence, drivers blew the whistle 3 times. If a navvy gang was within earshot, they would come to assist, otherwise, the fireman could have a long walk to the nearest telephone for help.

And gone too are the days of all male crews steaming along the line …

Story and photos courtesy of the Proserpine Historical Museum and Proserpine Sugar Mill.

Number 5 – The Bonnie Jean L-R Martin Braby, Joey James, Roy Hansen, Tom Treacy  

Lady Drivers I McCormack - Mrs Frazer at the last lady driving contest c1930

Vicki Burnett - first lady crew person on the locos -1989

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