South Sea (Pacific) island railways

[ben_issacs]

Folks, 

As well as railways in Korea , Taiwan and Manchuria, there  were industrial lines in the Pacific (South Sea) Islands held by Japan between 1919 and 1945.

These islands were, before the First World war, German colonies, generally purchased in the late 19th. cent from Spain.

On some of them sugar cane was grown, and 750 and 762 mm gauge steam powered  railways were set up to move the cane, to the sugar mills, all of course with German equipment.

During that war, these islands were invaded and captured by Japanese, Australian and New Zealand forces, and after the signing of the Peace Treaty, these countries were awarded Mandates over these islands, Australia and N.Z. getting those south of the Equator, Japan those north.

The industrial lines seem to have been largely in the Japanese held islands, Saipan, Tainan etc. and the cane growing was continued and extended, using both the original German and later Japanese locos and rolling stock.

During the last war, these islands were the scene of much fighting as the Americans advanced northwards, and most of the mills and the railway equipment were destroyed.

From the N scale modelling point of view, a South Sea island sugar tramway could be possible, using Z gauge track, but there would be much scratch building involved, 

But probably only a dedicated modeller would take this project on.

There is some  Japanese documentation about these railways, but little if any in English.

Possibly U.S. military records from the period would have some information.

Regards,

Bill, 

Melbourne.