PILBARA YARD
BHPBilliton IRON ORE ROAD
Page updated 31/07/2006
Since the 23rd of September 2000 wagons have entered this road.
BHPBilliton are currently running 14 trains a day departing Nelson Point. Train lengths are either 104, 208 or 312 cars with the last two configurations requiring mid train helpers, give or take an ore car or two.
BHPBilliton has istalled 3 new sidings along the mainline, Tabba, Turner and Woodstock, and one is planned for the MAC line between Yandi 1 and MAC and will be called Marillana. All are long enough to pass 336 car trains. This now allows BHPBilliton to run it's train lengths to 336 cars to and from Jimblebar Junction Marshalling Yard, and when running 1 or 2 rake trains it is common for rolling crosses.
Expansion of the operation to 154 Mtpa is well under way with the arrival of 14 brand new SD70ACe/LC locomotives from EMD in Canada. The LC stands for Low Clearance. These units arrived in 3 lots and all bar 4300 are in active service. BHPBilliton has placed an order for a further 10 of this type of loco, but the new units will be fitted with 'Whisper Cabs'.
Also to allow up to 14 trains a day, new ore cars are arrriving from Goninans, Perth, at the rate of around 9 to 12 a week. And 20 new 'smooth sided' trial cars from Bradken NSW are in service.
While the other line runs from Finucane Island to the Yarrie and Nimingarra Mines via Boodarie Yard, with train lengths of up to 90 cars and one Dash 8 locomotive. 4 trains depart daily from Boodarie Yard.
With the addition of a new rotary car dumper on Finucane Island to allow the Western Yard to take Yandi and MAC ore with out the need to use the under habour tunnel, extensive duplication works have been carried out. Nelson Point yard is now dual track all the way to Bing South, with the south leg of the Goldsworthy Triangle duplicated, and an 'avoidance road' which avoids the GML leg of the triangle. Trains are now made up or split at Bing Siding depending if the rake is going to CD4 (Finucane Island) or into Nelson Point. You can also get 2 empty rakes departing both Nelson Point and Boodarie to be made into a train at Bing for the run south.
For more information, click on links below or here for the Dash 7 siding.
Pilbara Power Parade
Here are a couple of shots taken on the afternoon of 19th November 2004, outside the Loco Overhaul Shop at BHPBillitons' Nelson Point operations. The shot with 14 locos in it is large, 939x714 pixels. Contact me if you'd like a larger size JPEG.
Click on thumbnails for larger image.
