Railway Digest Magazine October 15 Back Issue

Burdekin Sugar
As amazing as it might seem in an age when road transport has largely dismantled the rail industry’s once near-monopoly on the carriage of agricultural products, the Australian sugar industry still depends on an extensive rail network for bulk haulage of sugar cane. One of the most productive regions for sugar cane in Queensland is the area around the lower reaches of the Burdekin River, where sugar cane has been grown since the 1880s. Ken Date takes a look at the efficient rail system that serves the four Burdekin district sugar mills.

Green light for Murray Basin gauge standardisation
The Victorian Government announced on 17 August that it would upgrade and convert to standard gauge the entire Murray Basin rail network in northern Victoria. Premier Daniel Andrews, along with Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan and Minister for Agriculture, Jaala Pulford, made the announcement in Maryborough to proceed with the project, estimated to cost around $416 million. John Hoyle reports on the various aspects and long-term implications of this long overdue, and potentially game-changing, project.

Bunbury Smorgasbord
The ‘Three Amigos’ (Malcolm Holdsworth, Kelvin Russell and Bob Grant) conclude their visit to the west, with an enjoyable five-days spent in the Bunbury region, experiencing and photographing a small smorgasbord of relatively modern motive power hauling alumina, lime, coal and caustic soda through the scenic green landscape of WA’s south-west.