BHPBilliton IRON ORE ROAD
Dash 8 SIDING
Page updated 16/04/2006.
Since the 23rd of September, 2000 wagons have entered this siding.
BHPBilliton run a fleet of 40 Dash 8 locomotives on both the Port Hedland to Newman line, and the Finucane Island to Yarrie / Nimingarra line (former Goldsworthy line). Four of these units are named after Greek gods, with the rest named after Pilbara locations or Ports to which iron ore is shipped.
For more information check out the BHPBilliton Locomotive Roster Page.
There is a number of differences between units, different fuel tank shapes, bogies, five chime horns, ditch lights, to name a few. Four of the units are rostered for Yarrie line working and are changed over when servicing is required.
Originally 3 units were delivered "cabless", numbers 5663, 5664, 5665. Instead of a cab, they had a cabinet where the Locotrol equipment was installed. These 3 units now have cabs fitted. One of the old cabinets is down at the Pilbara Railway Historical Societies yard at Dampier.
BHPBilliton commissioned a new paint scheme which includes the new corporate logo and was designed by Steve Malpass Design, and is a mix of charcoal grey, silver and terra cotta brown, Dash 8 loco 5632 was the first unit to receive the new colours. Since then a number of Dash 8 locos and one AC6000 unit 6076 have been repainted. Also the last two batches of rebuilt SD40 engines where painted in these colours prior to shipping.
