Above: Engine shed on Bob Dow's freelance Queensland 009 cane/shire layout, 'Dowmont'.
Bob Dow's modelling clinic presentations (Modelling the Railways of Queensland conventions) and his 1990s line of cane equipment (bins, locos and shire wagons) drew a number of modellers into 009 and Queensland shire/sugar cane modelling. His plans for a 009 Jenbach diesel provided the inspiration for the detailed Handbook article.
Bob's layout, 'Dowmont' is 009 scale, ie 3.5 or 4mm to the foot operating on 9mm gauge track, and was an exhibition layout before being expanded and installed in his home. His clinics included instructions for making cane bins, the Jenbach diesel and a Fowler-type steam locomotive ( 1 - 2 ).
Kit-bashed diesel locomotives: 1 - 2 - 3.
'Dowmont' layout: Dowmont town 1. 2; Eda Valley (layout extension) 1 - 2.
Note the radius of the return loop on the Eda Valley end of the layout; with 009 it's possible to get a lot of operation in a small space.
AMRM magazine article of 1997 describing how to scratchbuild cane bins.
last updated: 12/12/08.