International Railroad Discussion > BHPBIO SD70ACe in Australia's Pilbara

Near Port Hedland in Western Australia's Pilbara region, BHPBIO SD70ACe locos 4367+4376 approach Bofin on Wednesday 18 November 2015 with 132 empty ore cars returning from the car dumpers at Finucane Island. A little further south at Mooka this consist will be combined with another to form a train with two SD70ACe locos on the front, 132 empties, another two remote SD70ACe locos and 132 more empties. Some sets are shorter, and occasionally you'll see a 134 car set, but the operator tries to maintain each set at 132 ore cars. 

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If you would please, how many turns to Finucane and Mooka per day?  Thanks!

NICE photo!

Cheers,
Jack

Don't they ever wash those dusty things or does Union Pacific have a financial stake in the railroad?

I heard a few days ago that BHPBIO presented 53 trains to the ore car dumpers at Nelson Point and Finucane Island in a 24 hour period. I'd guess that is 132 car consists, so it might mean about 26 full sized trains. Some run through to Nelson Point as 264 cars but most seem to be split at Mooka before the go down to unload. As for washing them, my employer would like to wash our locos but with water conservation measures in place as we near the end of the dry season it's not considered to be a good idea to use water to wash locos while the local communities are expected to limit their water consumption.

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Thanks for posting! This train definitely seems to have a nice iron ore camouflage :)

Do you know what grade of iron ore is being dug / scooped here for shipping? I suppose this is raw stuff from the mines?
 

Yes, fines and lump product, around 55-60% iron content.