24 December 2021

2. 20 April 2021 Sugar Mill Construction completed

The construction of the sugar mill main buildings is now complete.

They consist of;

  • the Main Mill Structure in which the cane is crushed and the resulting juice concentrated to form sugar crystals.
  • the Tipper where the wagons are unloaded
Mill and Tipper building

Mill Oblique View

Mill Side view

Mill End View


 

4. 23 December 2021 Cane Farm Loop and Mill Run Construction Finished

The track loop that forms the Farms end and the Mill Run to the mill precinct of the cane farm line has now been laid and tested.

 The track is Code 250 while the points are LGB so transition pieces had to be made to connect the two track sizes together.  

The sleepers have deteriorated in the sun and do not hold the gauge well on the top of the loop so wooden spacers cut to hold the gauge have been used, they can be seen in the second picture.

The points allow a train to push through them to set the direction.  

The way it is set in the first picture allows a train to run clockwise around the loop, when it returns to the point it pushes through and the train runs down to the mill.  

The next train that comes from the mill runs around the loop in an anticlockwise direction and pushes through on the way back to the mill.  

The points are now left set for the next train to again run clockwise and so on.


Farms loop entry/exit points

Loop looking towards points

Frangipani inside loop

Loop looking away from points

The track has been laid to the edge of the mill precinct which is the next area to be built.

The entry/exit points are Aristocraft that operate in the same way as the farm loop points.


Run to the mill looking from loop points

Run to the farm looking from mill points

Mill loop entry/exit points

Once the mill end is complete there will be a dogbone style track with some sidings for shunting operations at the mill.

23 December 2021

3. 30-October 2021 Cane Farm (Nicko's Farm) Line Construction Begins

 The line is a single out and back loop at one end with a 'Y' point that will move as the trains run through it.

The other end runs into the mill precinct that has a loop as well as sidings where shunting can take place.

The track is Code 250 held in place with cable ties, Code 250 is used to differentiate the line from the mainline which is Code 332.

The track is laid on 225mm wide electrical cable tray, with shade cloth underneath that is covered in 7mm blue metal gravel ballast, either side of the track has artificial turf to simulate the line going through grassed areas.

Entry to mill area framework

Looking towards Mill Entry

Across the hedge

Tray, track, turf trial

Farm Loop posts

The ballast

Cable tray at Farm Loop end

Cable Tray Run into Mill Precinct