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BHP Iron Ore Railroad June 21 operated what BHP officials believe was the world's longest and heaviest train along a 170-mile section of the road's 264-mile Mt. Newman-to-Port Headland line in Western Australia.
The 4.5-mile, 110,000-ton train comprised eight GE Transportation Systems AC6000 locomotives and 682 cars carrying 90,000 tons of iron ore.
The move — which was completed in 10 hours and four minutes — was designed by BHP to test newer motive power technology and evaluate the railroad's potential operating capacity along its line. The railroad plans to use longer trains to increase efficiency and boost capacity.
BHP, which began operations in 1969, carries iron ore from BHP Iron Ore's Mt. Newman and Yandi mines to Port Headland for export — about 66 million tons annually.