Thread: Train Spotting Question

Originally Posted by 87County

hey Ron, headlines don't always accurately represent the contents of the article, eh?

regards etc --- Laurie

You're not putting down our journos, I hope!

Did they actually use steam locos on the Pilbara iron ore lines? These lines started operating in the late sixties, well past the days of steam, and a long,long way from a coal mine.
I know some Oz railways were still using steam locos into the seventies but these were obsolete relics. Qld Railways had the first main line diesels in Australia and were the first to totally abandon steam in the late sixties, and the first to have main line & long haul electrics.

I know an engineer who was in charge of construction of some of Pilbra lines and they were never designed for steam. Why use obsolete equipment when you are buying everything else new plus you would have to build steam refueling facilities as well as for diesel. Plus in the Kimberleys there is a problem with water, both getting it and of suitable quality