Re: Baldwin Trench Locomotives *LINK*

Baldwin 46828 of 1917 also came to Australia. This locomotive started life in World War 1 as 2-6-2T US Army Transport Corps (USATC) No. 5104. After the war it was sold to the Penrhyn slate quarries in North Wales, where the loco acquired the name 'Felin Hen'. It was obtained by Fairymead Sugar Company in 1940 and converted to 2' gauge for use as No.4 at the Fairymead Mill, near Bundaberg. The loco was rebuilt to 0-6-2T in 1956 by removing the front pony truck, which had often derailed on the Fairymead Mill system. New side tanks were also fitted. It was withdrawn 1965 and preserved locally. The loco retained its Welsh name whilst in Australia. It was acquired by APPEVA a preservation group in Amiens France in 2002.
As an aside there are 21 sugar mills in Queensland using altogether about 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometres) of track, of which about 1,850 miles (3,000 kilometres) is main line, transporting up to 36 million tonnes of sugar cane each season. One mill operates a 3’6” (1067mm) gauge system but the remainder are 2’ (610mm) gauge. There are about 250 diesel hydraulic locomotives in use and about 52,000 cane "bins", both four-wheel and bogie, are used to transport the chopped cane during the crushing season of up to 26 weeks. The season normally runs from about June/July to November/December. Although none now operate steam locos, there are many examples of that form of motive power preserved; some in working order.
Mike