Moreton Mill - Bisinella (100)

*** HAPPY NEW YEAR ***

  Last year I started a series that looks at what remains to be seen of the former tramways around Queensland's Sunshine Coast region.

  While the last of these ceased operating in 2003, with the closure of the Moreton Mill in Nambour, there is much preserved, many relics still to be seen, and a number of interesting projects going on.

  One of these projects, the Buderim-Palmwoods Heritage Tramway, we covered in the first part. While this year I am hoping to go visit the exciting Nambour Tram project that aims to use the historic track down Howard Street.  The following shots of Bisinella (100) and O'Hanlon (105) were taken back in late 2018. They were located near the end of the Dunethin Rock line and were situated either side of a short branchline that crossed the Yandina-Bli Bli Road and served two loading points.

We were surprised to find a significant amount of rail, as well as two point levers, left laying at both ends of the yard. As with the majority of the system, the mainline itself, along with branch, are both long gone. 

  All photos were taken on private property with access granted by the owner.
Please never access private farmland without first making contact with the owner.

Brad Peadon

A - From around the centre of the former Bisinella loading point.

Looking back towards Moreton Mill.

B - Same spot, looking towards the end of the line.

C - Towards the mill.

D - Point work at south end of loop.

E - Above three images show us walking towards the mill, the remains of the southern points for Bisinella (100) and the gap in the trees where the 

Rocky Creek bridge (*) remains.
Unfortunately, the property ended some distance from the creek, as seen in (E).

F - North end of Bisinella (100) with branch to Cerins (104) in distance.

G - North end point lever.

H - Junction just beyond Bisinella (100).

I - A few remains of the former branch to Cerins.

J - Track/Point work from the north end of Bisinella (100) and junction for the line to Cerins (104)

K - O'Hanlon (105) track curved right as seen, proceeding a short way to a couple more farms, before reaching the end of the line.

L - Former sleepers used to line a new driveway over 

the formation at O'Hanlon (105).

BLI BLI shunting the Cerins (104) branch in 2003. Photo: Daven Walters.

A huge thank you to my friend Andrew Palser 

who organised the visit.

Maroochy Shire Tramways SIG Website

Maroochy Shire Tramways SIG Forum

Maroochy River Lift Bridge Forum

Buderim - Palmwoods Heritage Tramway

BLI BLI model of Ed Millington.  Photo: Brad Peadon

BLI BLI (MORETON MILL)

It is no secret that I am more than a little obsessed with the railways that served the former Moreton Sugarmill that was located in Nambour. So bad is the obsession that I still often return to the area, to research the system, fifteen years after it was closed and ripped up.
The obsession has seen me set up the Maroochy Shire Tramways SIG website and Facebook group, both dedicated to sharing the history of the system and the latest news.
  I also like to keep up with new modelling items that would be of use in modelling the system as it was. While quite a few things are available, they do range over many different scales. These can be found on the website mentioned above.

  At this years Rosehhill Racecourse exhibition, I finally had a chance to inspect the new HOn30 BLI BLI model kit, a joint venture between Badger Bits and Lyndon's Trains. It is made to fit the chassis of a N scale British 03 class locomotive.
I have not had chance to put one together as of yet, but have seen the finished result and it looks great.
  Can only hope that sales will be good enough to warrant further Moreton locomotives, the bogie Baldwin COOLUM or, even better, the Comengs. Both types would have much use for cane (or just industrial layouts in general) modellers, not just those obsessed with Moreton Mill. :-)

Moreton Mill cane bins.

The year after the system closed, I returned to the area to get some final shots of surviving infrastructure and the track removal train.
The removal train was normally stabled at Philbrooks siding (a little north of Bli Bli cutting) when not in use. So it was on the 2nd September 2004 when I stopped by.
I took a number of detail shots of BLI BLI on the day. These shots, along with some others, are seen below.

Don't mention it.

Today, BLI BLI is know known as Lautoka #16 in Fiji.
Seen here at Navo on the 29th September 2018
Photo: Chris Stratton

Related Items Of Interest.

Other BLI BLI Related Content.
Badger Bits
Lyndon's Trains

Maroochy Shire Tramways website.

Maroochy Shire Tramways group.
BLI BLI and pals at Bli Bli (Video)

  If you support historic railway preservation anywhere, please take a few seconds to sign our petition to save this historic sugar railway one across the Maroochy River (Queensland).
  We have fast growing support, but need to show that people wish to see such things reserved for the future. Please sign and show them that such things matter.

LINK TO PETITION

More details can be found at:

Maroochy River Lift Bridge (Facebook)

Maroochy Shire Tramways SIG (Website)

Maroochy Shire Tramways SIG (Facebook)

or via the email address above.

A project the Semi-Retired Foamer and S*M*U*T are proud to be part of.

LOCOMOTIVE - PETRIE

Detail shots of locomotive while sitting in Philbrooks siding (Bli Bli, Queensland).
At the time, PETRIE was involved in track removal work. Moreton Mill had closed the year before.

Maroochy Shire Tramways Group

Maroochy Shire Tramways Website (Trial)

~~ REMEMBERING MORETON MILL ~~

Yes, I am fully aware that I have an unnatural obsession with the now closed Moreton Mill and its associated railway network. I also acknowledge that the yearly pilgramages that continued after the system was closed may be seen, by some, as a bit much.

However it wasn't until the final two years that I fully realised that this will all be gone and, as the years pass, less and less trace would be still around to remember it by.
Sure there are many who have photos of the mill yard, loaded cane trains coming down Howard Street, empties rattling across the Maroochy lift bridge.
But what of some of the minor bridges, signalling equipment, signage and other related structures that were part of everyday life along these lines.

Sadly I don't have room on the site, or the time either, to include it all. However over the next few weeks we shall take a look back at a selection.

Sandy on a works train on the Coolum line - just north of the historic lift bridge.

Crew crib break at River Depot.

Moreton comes out of Bli Bli cutting and passes the junction for the Punt line.
It is believed this sign, and its copy at the other end of the cutting, managed to be privately preserved.

Moreton crossed the beautiful Maroochy River late one afternoon.

Moreton by the firelight.

Safeworking equipment along the Punt line.

Bridge along the Yandina-Coolum Road.

Bli Bli with a rake of empties at the east end of Howard Street.

Interesting three way point on the truck ramp at Howard Street yard.