|
|
Babinda Mill No.3 ‘ANZAC’ Scrapped |
|
Photo required
|
Builder |
John
Fowler & Co, Leeds |
|
Builder’s Number & Year |
14666 of 1914 |
|
Wheel Arrangement |
0-4-2T |
|
Babinda
Mill No.3 was one of many Fowler steam locomotives supplied to the sugar mill
railways of Queensland. It received the name ‘ANZAC’ in recognition of the
valour and sacrifice of Australian & New Zealand troops during World War
1, which would have been current news around the time of this locomotive’s
delivery given its build year of 1914. Following
retirement from service, in 1961 No.3 ANZAC was placed a shire council park within the town of Babinda, south of Cairns in Queensland’s far
north coast, and not far from Babinda Mill. Presumably it became
derelict after 14 years in the tropical environment as this locomotive was
removed and unceremoniously disposed as scrap metal by 1975; not a very
fitting end for this old digger. The little
that I know of Babinda Mill No.3 ANZAC is based on John Browning’s listing of
preserved sugar cane locomotives on the Light Railway Research Society of
Australia website, as referenced below. I would greatly appreciate the contribution of a photograph for this
locomotive (either when in service or plinthed at Babinda), together with any
further information relating to its unfortunate scrapping. Not only
has No.3 ANZAC passed into history but also the Babinda Mill itself, having
been closed and demolished around 2013. However the area is served by other
mills and extensive mill tramways and I presume the Babinda growers now sell
their cane to these other mills. It is a pity perhaps that No.3 ANZAC does
not remain as a tangible reminder of Babinda Mill. |
References
|
a |
Light
Railway Research Society of Australia Inc. Web site 'Preserved Australian Sugar Cane Locomotives'
list |
Page updated: 29 July 2018
|
Government Railways: |
|
|||||||||
|
Private & Industrial Railways: |
|