Pilbara Railways

The Pilbara Railways are a collection of railways in the Pilbara region of North-West Western Australia.

History

Map of iron ore mines in the Pilbara region
Preserved Hamersley Iron Alco C628 at Dampier in July 2003
BHP Billiton EMD SD70ACes in April 2012
Rio Tinto GE ES44DCi at Brockman 4 mine in June 2012
Fortescue Metals Group GE Dash 9-44CWs in May 2008

In 1887, the Cossack Tram opened in 1887[1] followed by the Western Australian Government Railways's (WAGR) Marble Bar Railway in 1911. However these had closed by the 1950s.

With the opening up of the Pilbara region for mining in the 1960s, four companies were formed to mine and export the iron ore. Because of the distances from the mines to the sea ports, railways were built as the most economical method to transport the ore. Unlike other lines in Western Australia that were built to narrow gauge, all of the lines in the Pilbara were built to the standard gauge Association of American Railroads loading gauge.[2]

The first company to commence operations in June 1966 was the Mount Goldsworthy Co with a line from Mount Goldsworthy to Finucane Island. In August 1966, Hamersley Iron opened a 298 kilometre line from Mount Tom Price to Dampier, this was extended shortly after by 100 kilometres to Paraburdoo. In March 1969, Mount Newman Mining Co began operating a 427 kilometre line from Mount Whaleback to Port Hedland. Cliffs, Robe River Iron Associates opened a 162 kilometre line from Mount Enid to Cape Lambert.[2]

Since then the network has been expanded as new mines have opened. With mergers and takeovers ownership of the mines has been consolidated with BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.[3]

On 21 June 2001, eight GE AC6000CWs combined to set the world record for the heaviest and longest trains hauling a 99,734 tonne, 7.3 kliometre train.[4]

In April 2008, Fortescue Metals Group opened a line from Cloud Break mine to Port Hedland.[5] In November 2015, Hancock Prospecting will open a 344 kilometre line from Roy Hill.[6]

As at early 2014, the network was 2,295 kilometres long. It accounted for 94% of all Australian iron ore exports.[7]

In 2013, Aurizon in conjunction with Brockman Mining and Atlas Iron under an Alliance Study Agreement, completed a study for a new independent iron ore railway in the Pilbara.[8]

Rolling stock

Mount Goldsworthy Co operated locomotives to the same design as the WAGR H and K classes as well as GML10.

The other three operators operated larger locomotives built to take advantage of the Association of American Railroads loading gauge. Some were built under licence in Australia by AE Goodwin, Comeng, A Goninan & Co and Clyde Engineering, however most have been imported from the United States.[2]

Locomotives operated have included members of the following classes:

Alco

GE Transportation

Electro Motive Diesel

Ports

The large tonnage heavy duty iron ore railways require heavy duty ports, which have to accommodate very high tidal ranges.

In development

References

  1. ↑ From the Past The Daily News 4 April 1914
  2. 1 2 3 Oberg, Leon (1980). Diesel Locomotives of Australia. Terrey Hills: AH & AW Reed. pp. 65/66. ISBN 0 589 502115.
  3. ↑ Joyce, John; Tilley, Allan, (joint author.) (1980), Railways in the Pilbara, J & A Publications, retrieved 21 March 2015
  4. ↑ BHP breaks its own 'heaviest train' record Railway Gazette International 1 August 2001
  5. ↑ Fortescue opens the world's heaviest haul railway Railway Gazette International 14 July 2008
  6. ↑ Rail Roy Hill
  7. ↑ Trainline 2 Statistical Report Bureau of Infrastructure Transport & Regional Economics 2014 page 21
  8. ↑ East Pilbara Independent Railway Aurizon


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