Had to visit Indee Station yesterday, some notes on the FMG line.
Line duplication runs from the Port to the 30km post called Turner, single track past Barker Siding.
Then duplication starts again at Canning and runs to Chapman south, single track to further south.

At the rail services yard were SD9043s 908 and 909 top and tail on loaded ballast hopper BH30 idling away.

At Barker, SD90s 901 and 903 were top and tail on a loaded ballast train, holding the mainline, and then departed south with 36 hoppers at 1002 hrs.

GE -9 015 and SD70 716 leading a loaded at Indee Rd at 1530 hrs.
At the 76km GE -9 014 and SD70 718 with a loaded at 1607 hrs, crossed an empty at Chapman.
Double SD70 709 and 706 with an empty at the 76km at 1631 hrs.

Just across the paddock on the BHP line:
Just south of Tabba due to the west line being shut for maintenance SD70 4385 and GE -8 5647 holding the west line with a loaded at 1600 hrs.
And SD70 4359 GE -8 5665 and SD70 4412 and 4381 mid train with a loaded at Tabba, crossing from the west to the east main at 1640 hrs.

Another trip to Indee yesterday revealed the following:

SD70s 711 and 715 leading a loaded north of Rowley Yard on the east mainline 1105 hrs.
SD70s 707 and 701 'T155' with an empty train at the Rowley Yard SLB, west mainline.

At the 24 km, Rowley Yard SLB south, SD70s 706 and 709 with a loaded on the Bypass (west line) at 1135 hrs.

On the competitions network:
SD70 4342 and -8 5639 holding the west mainline with a loaded at the 24km at 1600 hrs.
And SD70 4643 and -8 5659 holding the east mainline at Flashbutt Rd crossing at 1615 hrs.

A few other trains were seen, but due to track and road / infrastructure works, parking opportunities were limited.

What's the highest numbered ACe on the BHP roster currently? With the order for 80 what's the highest numbered unit going to be? 445x?

What's the highest numbered ACe on the BHP roster currently? With the order for 80 what's the highest numbered unit going to be? 445x?

I'm sure the highest on roster so far is 4432.
Either 12 or 14 more are due this year, I think, with the balance next year.

I'm unsure exactly were BHP is at with numbering and the total confirmed orders verses deliveries.

Makes 132 ACes currently on roster, thanks Toad. Any idea when the non ACe units will begin to leave the property (once they're deemed unneeded ofcourse)?

Makes 132 ACes currently on roster, thanks Toad. Any idea when the non ACe units will begin to leave the property (once they're deemed unneeded ofcourse)?

Unsure of that at this stage.

There was a rumour that the AC6000 units would be stood down from the end of last month (August). I've not seen one is operation for a while now. But that means zip. Most days see about 20 SD70 units laying around the Loco Service Shop area roads awaiting a run.

There are still several Dash 8 units running around on the mainline with SD70s and work train duties.

And an SD40R unit was on a ballast train around Tabba a couple of days ago.



2 AC6000s are stored with the husk of 4300 and an SD40-2.

The idea is that the entire SD70 fleet will see all AC6000 (originally 8 ) and Dash 8 (40) units retired.

Rio has just taken delivery of it's 40th Consist.

41st is on it's way and another 117 for spare cars I assume also.

This will push Rio up to around the 10,000 ore car mark and more locos also arriving soon.

ECP is 'Operating', not quite there with the faults and issues but they are working through it! Major issues with the cables and software and quite a lot of cross talk issues so they are working through that to get it up and running. Will be good when it is running, makes life much easier and driving ECP is great!

Also having a lot of issues with trains snapping again, some due to driver error but majority is due to fatigued draw gears and knuckles so another issue for them to work through.

Pretty sure Autohaul will solve it all when the first Autohaul Train runs in July 2014 Won't be any issues after that!

By January 2014 BHPBIO SD70ACe/LCi fleet will be at 4449, (currently at 4431) with the option of going to 4465 if iron ore prices rise and projects pick up. 4301- 4313 (non isolated cabs) are to be sent back to the US as they to have been sold to an operator. When they are due to go is unknown. The AC6000's were retired by Sept 1 and parked up. They have also been sold to an operator in the US and will return home by the end of next month. All Dash 8 are just biding there time, good for yard and work trains, eventually to be retired at and undisclosed date.

Any idea or clues as to who the 4301-4313 ACes and AC60s have been sold to?

Not as yet, soon as I know I will post

Well, time flies when your shipping ore...............

BHP has their 7 remaining AC6000 class locos lined up with a further 7 SD40R units. All are destined to head back to their mother country as 'going concerns' to a US operator. Strange thing is, they still have their name plaques on.

The line up is from the port end:
6071, 6074, 6072, 6075, 6077, 6073, 6076, 3091, 3094, 3086, 3092, 3090, 3095, 3089.
The line up stretches from the LOHS to the Track Machine Workshop.

SD40-2 3085 is still hanging around looking a real wreck, parked up beside the above rake, while the husk of SD70ACe spares unit 4300 has gone walk about.

FMG received SD70ACe locos 720 and 721 on the 28th October.

On a side note, CD4301 is sitting on drums out at Bullbuck Transport's yard awaiting some Roy Hill rails to run on?

Cheers,
TM.

Would be good to hear if more of the CD's heading back up and helping CD4301 with the Roy Hill project.

Would be good to hear if more of the CD's heading back up and helping CD4301 with the Roy Hill project.

On that subject, CD4302 and CD4303 are in the UGL yard at Bassendean, looking complete.
CD4305 is painted but sitting on works bogies.

Four units including 9424 (in Pilbara Rail colours) are awaiting rebuild.

No sign of CD4304.

Is Roy Hill actually going ahead, or are they awaiting an upturn in the market?

M636C

The market has upterned already 135 a tonne a few days ago and construction has commenced she needs to stump up the rest of funds herself-which she can afford or drum up the extra private finance to keep the schedule going and reduce risk.

Had to go to Wittenoom over the last couple of days so took the scenic route via Cape Lambert, Dampier and then the Tom Price road past the duplication works at Western Creek and then the Roebourne - Wittenoom Rd to see some FMG rail crossings on the new Solomon line.



The duplication is going well on the Cape Lambert to Western Creek section.

The bridge over the NWC Hwy has the deck in place and looks close to getting the bitumen seal.

The track is close to each end and must be awaiting the opening of the overbridge before it's completed.



Cape Lambert, for those who don't know now looks nothing like it did a few years ago.

Gone is the one track dirt road crossing at the 6.1km and in its place are two huge bridges with no less than 9 tracks running under them.



The once nice spot at the 7km post to see loaded trains arriving at the Cape has been replaced by huge yards and service shops, though the triangle looks to be still intact.



Out at Western Creek, the line is getting an interconnecting line with the TP line by taking an easterly route off the line to Deepdale and Mesa A at the 71km area. A new bridge has been built over the Western Creek, so there is now three lines one three bridges in this area of 150 or 200 metres.



At the south end of Emu, the TP line duplication starts at the north end of Emu, it is now a 4 track junction, with the two lines mentioned for the TP line and the two lines for the Cape Lambert line. And will be a good location of the Tom Price sealed road looking down upon the junction.



Over near Solomon with FMG's line running through a very remote part of the country, they have re-aligned part of the Wittenoom - Nanutarra Rd to save on one level crossing. An unprotected crossing with stop signs is at the 278.291km, with another on the Wittenoom - Roebourne Rd at the 255.184km. Avon Siding is located further east at the Great Northern Hwy and that crossing is just before the 198km.



And then the earth works have started for Gina's Roy Hill project with the line close and visible from the Great Northern Hwy in a number of locations, and with it crossing the Marble Bar Rd, only a few hundred metres off the Hwy.



Only train spied due to other commitments was FMG SD70ACe 702 and 9-44CW 011 with an empty at the 278.291km crossing.



Rio's duo of Dash 7's Bill and Ben (5051 and 5052) are stored on the dead end loco test track at Seven Mile. At Parker Point, most of the old HI fuel tanks are stored there along with the 3 Robe ballast cars the HI VA class box vans, and the HI experimental curved floor ore car pair.



A viewing platform is also being built at Parker Point, at the bus stop.



Meanwhile back in Hedland, the new bridge on Wallwork Rd has had the spans installed, this is the bridge over the duplicated Finucane Island line to and from South Hedland.



I'll try and get up some photos.



Cheers,

TM.

Thanks Toad, Pilbaraman, Pilbaratrains and Pilotdude09 for your updates. Wish I had the means and funds to get up there for a look.

Cheers,
Hendo

Thanks Toad, Pilbaraman, Pilbaratrains and Pilotdude09 for your updates. Wish I had the means and funds to get up there for a look.

Cheers,
Hendo

and from the "mother country" all the above, including yourself hendo!!

Lots of equipment racks gathering dust in a factory.

Senior sources at transport dept having some reservations.

Guess a slick powerpoint presentation does not always convince a seasoned Engineer


quote=pilotdude09]Rio has just taken delivery of it's 40th Consist.

41st is on it's way and another 117 for spare cars I assume also.

This will push Rio up to around the 10,000 ore car mark and more locos also arriving soon.

ECP is 'Operating', not quite there with the faults and issues but they are working through it! Major issues with the cables and software and quite a lot of cross talk issues so they are working through that to get it up and running. Will be good when it is running, makes life much easier and driving ECP is great!

Also having a lot of issues with trains snapping again, some due to driver error but majority is due to fatigued draw gears and knuckles so another issue for them to work through.

Pretty sure Autohaul will solve it all when the first Autohaul Train runs in July 2014 Won't be any issues after that![/quote]

Lots of equipment racks gathering dust in a factory.

Senior sources at transport dept having some reservations.

Guess a slick powerpoint presentation does not always convince a seasoned Engineer

Re Train snapping.. A little stealth program was deployed incab to supposedly assist the driver, in reality it was a learning tool for the computer to replicate driving the "train of the Future"

A few lines of computer code does not capture years of driver experience and gut instincts which on occasion have averted disaster.

Enjoyed tossing a few grenades and will go 'back in my box now"


quote=pilotdude09]Rio has just taken delivery of it's 40th Consist.

41st is on it's way and another 117 for spare cars I assume also.

This will push Rio up to around the 10,000 ore car mark and more locos also arriving soon.

ECP is 'Operating', not quite there with the faults and issues but they are working through it! Major issues with the cables and software and quite a lot of cross talk issues so they are working through that to get it up and running. Will be good when it is running, makes life much easier and driving ECP is great!

Also having a lot of issues with trains snapping again, some due to driver error but majority is due to fatigued draw gears and knuckles so another issue for them to work through.

Pretty sure Autohaul will solve it all when the first Autohaul Train runs in July 2014 Won't be any issues after that!

[/quote]

Forgot to mention earlier, BHP Billiton had 6 new SD70ACe units arrive two weekends ago, 25th and 26th January.
Numbers 4432 to 4437.
Off the heavy lift vessel MV Palanpur.


4434 was noted in service last night passing through car dumper 1.

The last of the DC Evo's 8197,98 and 99 have been delivered and awaiting commissioning.

Also the first of the AC's 9100-9106 are sitting at 7 Mile awaiting commissioning. Few changes compared to the exiting evo's doors on opposite side and structural changes to the loco for the crash worthiness.

Other than that all pretty quiet, Rio is running 42 consists @ 236 Cars but parking up 1-2 at a time due to not having any locos. They are leasing the Dash 8's back well 3 of them to MESA J/Deepdale Circuit to release 3 x Mainline locos back into fleet. Also Rio is looking at CFCLA's GL Class or CF glass for the 7 Mile Yard to use for pulling empty's from dumpers and shunting duties in the yard to release mainline locos back into fleet.

Cape Line (Emu-Cape Lambert) Duplication will be commissioned starting in March in stages apparently through to May. With another dumper coming online towards the end of the year.

Majority of trains are running ECP, still issues but they are working through them. Amazing when it works but not so amazing when it turns to crap and craps itself which its doing regularly.

Autohaul is still on time and on budget and will be fully operational in July...........dunno what year though maybe 2045? No approval, no trials and delayed loco fit out etc all quite amusing! These things struggle with people on them in terms of faults, reliability and numerous speed restrictions due to poor track condition how they can drive themselves no body knows.

Autohaul is still on time and on budget and will be fully operational in July...........dunno what year though maybe 2045? No approval, no trials and delayed loco fit out etc all quite amusing! These things struggle with people on them in terms of faults, reliability and numerous speed restrictions due to poor track condition how they can drive themselves no body knows.

I'll find out shortly - I'm going back to Calibre / Rio Tinto for a short term contract to plan all the trials and commissioning events for Autohaul.

My understanding is that the wayside stuff is nearly complete, now all attention is on the on board systems. Once a loco is fully fitted out trials will start in 8 mile, then move to the main line.

I don't think AutoHaul is going to happen in July 2014.  It may but I don't think so.

Well BHP Billiton has taken delivery of a further 12 SD70ACe units (4438 to 4449) from Friday 21st Feb with the 12th being unloaded Sunday arvo on the 23rd.

Delivered off the Biglift vessel Happy Diamond.

No units have been returned to the US as yet.

Any idea who the back to sender units are going to?