Super-Heavy Iron Ore Train !

Massive Iron Ore Train! Watch in HD !

The iron ore trains in the north-west of Australia are the longest and heaviest trains in the world. This one would have around 232 cars, weigh around 35,000 tonnes loaded.

Locomotives are G.E. CM44-9CW of 4400 HP.

This is on Rio Tinto's line, formally known as Hammersley Iron, in the north-west of Western Australia, near the rail crossing of the North-West Coastal Highway near the Karratha truck stop.

The iron-ore trains up here are are the longest and heaviest in the world. At BHP-Billiton's operations a couple of hundred kms further north, they run 6 locomotives on a train, some of which are G.E. AC6000s of 6000 HP each. I've been told they've tried 45,000 tonne trains. These trains are controlled by one driver, no one else in the cab. Mid-train helpers and locos at the rear are all controlled by the one driver up front by radio "Locotrol" (on BHP lines).

You won't find these massive locomotives anywhere else in Australia, they are fully imported from North America with bigger radiators to cope with the 50C or 120F temperatures in the summer. It's not all flat going either as there are some 3% grades over the Chichester Range. Trust me, the ground shakes when they go past on full noise.

For you guys in America watching this we call the Engineer a Train Driver, though personally I reckon Engineer sounds better !

If you want to know more, check out this website :

http://www.pilbararailways.com.au/

Copy and paste this into Google Earth and you will see exactly where I shot the vid :

20°47'31.99"S116°46'9.13"E

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Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• GEdash9
• CW
• GE
• AC6000
• diesel
• electric
• locomotive
• K5LA
• iron
• ore
• trains
• pilbara
• australia
• big
• dash9

[BNSFbeagrett9647]

I like the paint scheme and the video, but the sound caught my attention. Not to be "Nit Picky" and nothing against your video, but the sound (appears to be) from an American GE "EVO" series locomotive/Train. I would love to hear the sound from the actual video, if you have it somewhere. If not, just disregard this comment.

[gm16v149]

@BNSFbeagrett9647 These are American locomotives, made in North America and imported to Australia, and the newer ones that Rio Tinto run are G.E. EVOs. The locos that BHP and Rio run are almost identical to the ones you run in the US except for some local requirements like extra hand rails etc. The horns are the same. Check out the website on "more info".

[KG84C]

And the drivers are polite.

Was driving back from Harding Dam, had to stop and look where a water pipe arches over the track (cutting) about half past 4 today, driver gave a big wave, right back at ya !!! Well done, those trains are impressive

[gm16v149]

@KG84C I would imagine they would be pretty happy with their lot, 90% of the time anyway, and the money is about the best you'll get up there, though money doesn't buy you happiness as they say!

[bmwnasher]

35.000 tons with 3 engines sounds iffy to me they only look like 80 ton trucks . A european record is 6000 tons with ONE class 59 loco. Are you aussis boasting,

[gm16v149]

@bmwnasher check out the website at the bottom of 'more info' and see for yourself.

[autoreisdorfer]

the biggest train in the world is im Brazil, is common operated with more 300 cars. This train is opereted Railroad Carajás in Brazil. Train with 330 Cars, the largest conventional train the world.

Reguards from Brazil

[CheetahTira1412]

Imagine having to wait for that thing.

[Rodakgreen]

it's cool to see something built in Eirie PA running down under.

[cheeptorque]

horney bugger aint he

[samjam306]

heavy does not approve

[shootingzen28]

How long is sucker?

[sporehunter1]

it cost over $400,000 to ride this train.....for 12 seconds

[MrTubetraveller]

much depends on the terrain and track profile