| Goldsworthy railway | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Operational |
| Locale | Pilbara,Western Australia |
| Termini | |
| Service | |
| Type | Heavy rail |
| System | Pilbara |
| Operator(s) | BHP |
| Depot(s) | Port Hedland |
| History | |
| Opened | 25 May 1966 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 208 km (129.25 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge |
TheGoldsworthy railway, owned and operated byBHP, is a private rail network in thePilbara region ofWestern Australia built to carry iron ore. It is one of two railway lines BHP operates in the Pilbara, the other being theMount Newman railway.[1]
In addition to the BHP network, there are three more independent iron ore rail lines in the Pilbara. One is operated byRio Tinto, theHamersley & Robe River railway,[2] theFortescue Metals Group operates theFortescue railway andHancock Prospecting theRoy Hill railway.[3]
.JPG)
In May 1966, the 112 kilometre Goldsworthy railway opened to transportiron ore fromMount Goldsworthy mine to the port onFinucane Island.[4] The line was extended toShay Gap in 1972 andYarrie mine in 1993.[5]
On 1 March 1991, the Goldsworthy Mining and Mount Newman Mining were amalgamated under the BHP Iron Ore brand.[6]
In June 2004, the National Competition Council of Australia received an application from theFortescue Metals Group (FMG) to use part of theMount Newman railway and also part of the Goldsworthy railway.[7]
In June 2010, the Australian Competition Tribunal ruled that FMG be granted access to Rio Tinto's Robe River line and BHP Billiton's Goldsworthy line but not to the busier Hamersley and Mount Newman lines.[8][9] TreasurerWayne Swan suggested that several advantages would accrue from access to the rail lines by third parties. It would increase competition, reduce duplication of infrastructure, and reduce environmental damage.[10]
Access to the rail networks by third parties is governed by the State Agreements Act.[11]
The Goldsworthy railway is 208 kilometres (129 mi) long, connecting theYarrie mine toFinucane Island, nearPort Hedland.[1]
Unlike Mount Newman line trains, with up to 208 wagons per train, Goldsworthy line trains only have 90 wagons per train. Each wagon carries up to 126 tonnes (124 long tons; 139 short tons) of ore.[1]
In December 1965, Mount Goldsworthy Mining Co took delivery of twoEnglish Electric,Rocklea locomotives (no 1 & 2) to the same design as theWestern Australian Government Railways H class. Initially used on construction trains, they were later used on general freight trains and shunting duties. One was written off in an accident in 1968 with some parts incorporated into a new frame built by English Electric in 1970.[12][13]
In 1966, the first of six English Electric, Rocklea built locomotives (no 3 to 8) to the same design as theWestern Australian Government Railways K class. After one was damaged in 1968, a K class was purchased from theWestern Australian Government Railways followed by another in July 1986.[14] In November 1992 all were transferred toBHP'sPort Kembla operation.[15] By this stage, the infrastructure had been upgraded to allowGE Transportation36-7 locomotives to take over the line.[6]
In 1990,Clyde Engineering builtGML10 was purchased. It was sold toComalco in August 1994.[16][17]
In March 2012, BHP Billiton placed an order for 80Electro-Motive DieselSD70ACe/LCi locomotives for use on its Western Australia mining railroads.[18]
| Assets | |
|---|---|
| Acquisitions | |
| People | |
| Other | |
| |
| BHP |
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fortescue |
| ||||||
| Rio Tinto |
| ||||||
| Hancock Prospecting |
| ||||||
| Atlas Iron |
| ||||||
| Other operations |
| ||||||
| Main lines | |
|---|---|
| Goldfields–Esperance | |
| Great Southern | |
| Mid West | |
| Peel | |
| Pilbara | |
| Perth | |
| South West | |
| Wheatbelt | |
| Tourist and heritage railways | |
| Timber railway lines | |
| Trams and tramways | |
| Approved by Parliament but not constructed | |
^† Denotes railway is closed, partially closed or has been removedSee also:Agricultural railways ♦Wheatbelt railways | |
