Above: O&K loco leaving Ledesma Mill with sugar cane bins, 1982; Daniel Thomas photo
Ledesma SAAI is Argentina's largest sugar producer and is likely one of the largest sugar cane based processing companies (sugar, cellulose, paper, alcohol) in the world.
The history of the mill can be traced back to 1830 when a primitive mill in the San Lorenzo River valley yielded around 759 tons of sugar a year. The mill has used both 508mm and 700mm gauge railways, although the 508mm gauge system had disappeared by the time the photo above was taken.
Further details of the 700mm mill railway as it was in 1982 can be found in Latin Tracks magazine: Thomas, Daniel (2007). 'The cane trains of Ledesma'; Latin Tracks, #27, pp 35-46.
Right: O&K loco (#12, 0-8-0 700mm gauge, #11548 of 1927, perhaps converted to DH in 1988) and loaded cane train approaching mill, 1982; Daniel Thomas, Latin Tracks magazine, photographer.
last updated: 16/07/08.