Mapleton Tramway Whole Stick Cane Wagon Prototype

Over the last few weeks I have been busy designing in Tinkercad various iterations of how I have interpreted the plans for these wagons from John Knowles' book "The Mapleton Tramway". Now I think I have finally settled on the designs to use for the prototype and follow on sets.

There wasn't a specific set for the Whole Stick Cane Wagons as used on the tramway however reading the book and examining the photos lead me to an interesting revelation. The Mapleton sugar cane wagons were very versatile. Running on the smell of an oily rag, the Tramway made do with what they could afford and re-purpose.

I learnt that these wagons were actually used as bogie wagons when needing to pull log disconnects on logs too large to be put on the usual long flatbeds. They also used these as mini flatbeds for carrying cases of produce and other supplies to the communities along its route.

So using the plans for the log bogies and referencing various photos and a plan for the sugar wagons used by the Moreton Mill in Nambour (similar but not the same as far as I could tell), I scaled the plans 1:20.3 that my Shay is made in and converted to metric (mm).

I 3D printed the chassis, side frames, wheel brake, and brake handle supports. I used strip wood for the timber areas and stained these with the ink/metho blend to age the timber. I'm just deciding if these need to be darker or look perfectly OK. I'll let the reader comment their thoughts. Brass was used for the brake handle, log bolster chain hooks and swivel, and locator pins for the log bolster and removable end stanchion. The wheel sets are to scale 13" as used on the Tramway and these were sourced from the UK. One day I'll teach myself to use a metal lathe! The wheel gauge is not to scale for this Tramway but to 45mm so I can use it on the Club's G layout.

I also designed and printed a individual storage case for the wagon to protect it when in transit.

I've printed another 7 sets of 3D prints to clean up and assemble. I still have to cut all the timber required to make the 7 sets. I also have to print off 7 storage cases. I will then have to get the correct size chain (well as close as possible) for the log bolsters and disconnect connections, sort out coupling pins and chains. Then sugar cane loads (old straw broom bristles), logs, and produce/supplies wooden cases. Busy, busy, busy!

Logging bogie / sugar wagon

Front of storage case. What could be in here?

A sugar wagon securely stowed

The utilitarian sugar wagon. The brake end is fixed

Head on view of the brake end

Brake assembly on the left end wheel

The non brake end removed and the logging bolster fixed into place ready to become a logging bogie

Top view (excuse the chipped paint on the bench)

2024 and into 2025 update

I'll fess up to my slackness with blog updates for 2024 and now into 2025. I just didn't have much to say as what I was doing was slow going or not happening at all. 

The Qld Sugar Loco has still to run on rails pending the redevelopment of my control software. This had progress towards the end of 2024 but has stalled again because as usual with this hobby there are numerous sub-hobbies that distract you or get priority. 

The main topic of update for 2024 was the purchase of the Accucraft Shay 13T Class A live steam G scale loco modelled on the Mapleton Tramway prototype here in Qld (up behind Nambour). It has taken me quite a while to get used to how to run this loco as it has numerous quirks compared to my Roundhouse Bertie which is so simple to run. I have been engaged with a G Scale forum on the matter of its running quirks and have had some wins on the board but still working out some issues. The one really odd thing is that my loco has a issue with the burner going out if the smokebox door is closed. It has less chance of going out if it is open. Hence why in the photos and videos below you will see it open. It does run better though when pulling a train of wagons. I have borrowed my Bertie's train of 1:19 English narrow gauge wagons which it pulls well. One of my fellow G scalers loaned me his logging wagons for a run and it pulled them really well and looks great. So a train of those is a must. 

Which brings me to what I'm doing modelling this year. As the prototype Shay was used to pull full stick (old style) sugar cane wagons, general goods and animal freight, logs and timber, and passengers this little railway has many pieces of rollingstock I could model. One thing I realised when reading about the railway and looking at old photos was an ingenious way they used the cane trucks. These were very utilitarian. One end had a fixed frame handbrake attached. The other end was removable. Why would this be removable? Because they also used them as log disconnects by putting in a pivot bolster in the middle of the wagon. They also used them as small flatcars for transporting boxed goods etc. So these will be the first thing I model because of the variety of uses that can be shown. 

I purchased a new 3D printer in February (Anycubic Kobra S1 with the ACE Pro multi filament system) to replace my aging Creality Ender 3 (one of the original models from 5-6 years ago which technology has raced past). 

Over the last couple of weeks I have designed and printed a prototype wagon based on wagon plans I have access to (along with a bit of modeller's license) which I am happy with. It will be hybrid merge of 3D plastic and scale timber for that authentic look. I was able to purchase scale steel wheel sets that match the 1:20.3 of the rollingstock. These a pretty good weight wise so I may not need extra weight to counter the lightness of the plastic. So hopefully this will encourage me to provide regular updates on the progress of this wagon's development for my readers. I intend to do 8 of these wagons to start with. 

Ciao for now 

Greg