Whew, that was close.

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 6th April 2007, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by p38arover

I'm just looiking at the train forecast (known as the AMBA to Drivesafe

) for today.

3PS7 (Perth-Syd freight) 1100 metres
6SP6 (Syd-Perth) 1200 metres
6SP7 (Syd-Perth) 1420 metres

Ron

so,,,,
how many carriages in 1420 metres?

**p38arover** · 6th April 2007, 07:39 PM

Well, 6SP6 is about 10 minutes away - I could try to count them (or I could ask the driver what his consist is). I usually check the freight trains as they go through.

It's easy to lose count.

Ron

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 6th April 2007, 07:46 PM

especially if their going fast and its cold outside,,

**p38arover** · 6th April 2007, 07:51 PM

I just counted 2 locos, 45 containers on flat cars

Ron

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 6th April 2007, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by numpty

The iron ore trains in the Pilbarra are up to 250 ore cars. Two engines in front and another two in the middle.

Originally Posted by p38arover

6SP6 (Syd-Perth) 1200 metres

Ron

Originally Posted by p38arover

I just counted 2 locos, 45 containers on flat cars

Ron

so how long would 250 ore cars be??
calculator anyone?

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 6th April 2007, 07:57 PM

oh,,
and thanks Ron---

**Blknight.aus** · 6th April 2007, 08:07 PM

Ive been assured by an old salt train hand who cut his teeth over in the NW mines of WA that trainlengths have exceeded 2 miles using 6+ engines, 2 front, 2 middle and 2 pushers...

believe it or not, more engines are needed for the empty return run than the loaded run out.

**p38arover** · 6th April 2007, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

Ive been assured by an old salt train hand who cut his teeth over in the NW mines of WA that trainlengths have exceeded 2 miles using 6+ engines, 2 front, 2 middle and 2 pushers...

believe it or not, more engines are needed for the empty return run than the loaded run out.

It must be a downhill grade to the coast.

Up here in the mountains we have two steep grades (1 in 33) - one at Valley Heights- Springwood and the other up near Katoomba. We get a few freight failures on those grades (note: these are not CityRail trains, they are privately owned.

Ron

**p38arover** · 6th April 2007, 08:31 PM

I was just speaking to my son. He's a controller with ARTC in the Hunter region. He said the longest coal trains up there are 91 wagons and about 1800 metres long.

Ron

**away** · 6th April 2007, 10:54 PM

A quote from BHP's web site...check out the fourth paragraph...

"The railway is the critical link for transporting iron ore between the mines and ports.

BHP Billiton Iron Ore operates two heavy haulage railroads to Port Hedland, one running 426km from Newman and the Yandi and Area C mines, and the other 210km from the Yarrie mine.

BHP Billiton Iron Ore's Newman railway has evolved whereby we now run the longest and the heaviest trains in the world. The trains are up to 336 cars long and powered by 6000-horsepower General Electric AC locomotives.

In June 2001, BHP Billiton Iron Ore ran the world's longest and heaviest train. It stretched 7.4km, had 682 ore cars, eight locomotives, a gross weight of almost 100,000 tonnes and moved 82,262 tonnes of ore.

Trains on the Yarrie line are smaller, consisting of up to 90 cars and one locomotive.

All train movements are managed from the Traffic Control Centre at Port Hedland. Specialised computer hardware and digital communications powered by solar technology support the signalling system. The systems not only control train movements but also warn about unsafe conditions (overheated wheels and bearings, dragging equipment), as well as monitoring wheel impacts and weighing the cars as they go by.

Safety is further enhanced with Automatic Train Protection (ATP), which includes built-in braking data in the locomotives and field systems that prevent trains from entering unauthorised tracks. Drivers are trained on a computerised simulator, allowing them to test their driving strategies to optimise fuel consumption."

Thread: Whew, that was close.

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