Heaviest trains in World/Australia/State?

awsgc24 · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 3:44 pm

What is the heaviest train in the World? Australia? Australian State? With or without engines.

For example, the new Fortescue trains of 202 cars if fully loaded to 40T axleload would be 32,320T not counting the 2? locomotives.

PILBARAMAN · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 7:41 pm

The heaviest continuously operated trains in the world are on the BHP Iron Ore network in the Pilbara WA,as a rule most trains per day currently are 336 cars,powered through Locotrol or Distributed Power Operation,which is made up of 112 car rakes with 2-3 locos per rake all linked up to make a 336 car train.When i started there there 5 yrs ago they said a 300 car train which was typically approx 104 cars per rake linked together to make 312 cars was approx 50,000 tonnes,which worked out on a 40 tonne axle load works out to 49,920 tonnes for 312 cars.
So for for a 336 car train that is roughly equated to 53,760 tonnes.
The Rio trains up until FMG trains recently quoted a 40 tonne axle load,were the heaviest trains with head end power only,11 yrs ago each car was approx 125 tonnes loaded and so a 226 car train was approx 28,250 tonnes and they now run 232 cars so i hear and 132 tonnes loaded per car so approx 30,600 tonnes loaded,i am sure others could add info.

YM-Mundrabilla · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 9:16 pm

FMG will ultimately run 240 car trains at 40 tonne axleload ie 160 tonnes GVM per car.

240 x 160 = 38,400 tones trailing load.

I didn't think that any of the other Pilbara railroads had yet (quite) reached the 40 tonne axleload.

YM Mundrabilla

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nutbagg · Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 3:41 am

So what size rail does FMG run? The last figures i heard for BHP/Rio was about a 36t axle on 68kg/m rail (with the obvious sleeper structure).

Mate, if that loco pulls as hard as you do, it'd move anything.
I'd still rather have an ALCo.

YM-Mundrabilla · Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 8:01 am

bingley hall · Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 12:25 pm

Yes but are FMG running at 40 TAL.

The rolling stock is suitable to load to 40 TAL, but I have not yet seen anywhere that they are actually running them at capacity. The PR spin I have seen so far has all been 'ifs', 'buts' and 'maybes'.

Bing

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PILBARAMAN · Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 1:02 pm

BHP trains do run on 68 kg rail and i have been told that approx 140 tonnes of ore is put in the cars when loaded,this especially applies to the Yandi and Mac trains and with each car weighing approx 20-21 tonnes,this would be pretty close to a 40 tonne axle load.The BHP cars are approx 10.5 metres long,Rio/Hamersley cars back when i worked there were approx 9.3 metres long and were pushing a 34 tonne axle load especially with the wet fines trains,they may be running higher axle loads now as their newer ore cars are higher capacity.No matter the difference in axle loads between BHP,Rio and FMG, the heaviest trains are on the BHP network,counting total train weight and also the longest,approx 3.7 kms long for a 336 car train,and we also have the heaviest high horespower locos between the 3 railroads,the AC6000 at approx 199 tonnes.

3foot6 · Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 8:08 pm

QRNational Coal operates the longest/heaviest Coal Trains in Australia (and possibly the Southern Hemisphere).

For example the consist may be, two 3700 Class Locomotives, 60 (108 tonne) Coal Wagons, one 3700 Class Locomotive, 60 (90 tonne) Coal Wagons. I will have to check the wagon codes ...

These Narrow Gauge Locomotives have 4080kW (5471HP), weigh 126 tonnes, and have an axle load of 21 tonnes.

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bingley hall · Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 9:52 pm

SP_Rules · Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:11 pm

What about the Leigh Creek coal trains in Sth Aus? The info I found states they have 160 wagons for around 16000 tonnes.

EFVM in Brazil regularly runs coal and mineral trains with up to 320 eighty tonne wagons on 1000mm gauge. Some of their locos are off the shelf US models sitting on span bolstered Bo-Bo+Bo-Bo bogies for the GE models http://www.tsfr.org/~efbrazil/efvm-9.html and Do-Do bogies under the DDM-45 http://www.tsfr.org/~efbrazil/g16_ddm.html Note the height difference between the DDM and the EMD Export G-16.

3foot6 · Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:41 pm

More on the QRNational Coal Trains ...
Goonyella System 3700 + 3700 + 60 x 106t Coal Wagons + 3700 + 60 x 106t Coal Wagons (Total: 13,098 tonnes)

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YM-Mundrabilla · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:36 am

3foot6 · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:06 am

I'm not sure ... I just did a direct copy.

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YM-Mundrabilla · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:06 am

KRviator · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:46 am

The Leigh Creek train is the longest & heaviest head end only powered train in the world, as I understand.

Our trains in the Hunter are 91x120T gross for a touch under 11,000 tonnes, not counting the loco's. And only come in around 1,500m long.

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