Australian order

[Allen Hazen]

The "Weekend Australian" for 11-12 December 2004 reports that BHP-Billiton has contracted with CDI for design and construction of 13 locomotives for service on their West Australian iron ore railroads. CDI is the corporate successor of Clyde Engineering, the long-time Australian licensee of EMD.

[Bryanjones]

This order is for 13 SD70ACe's to come in mid to late 2005. The order was announced back in October or early November.

Bryan Jones

[Allen Hazen]

Thanks, Bryan Jones, for the backstory. If they are domestic-style SD70ACe (most track in Australia wouldn't accommodate locomotives of the weight of U.S. domestic ones, but the Pilbara region iron ore railroads are an exception), the "design" work EDI has contracted to do is probably restricted to cab details: Australian expectations about cab comfort are higher than American.
===
And-- I was distracted yesterday. The Australian company is E.D.I., as in today's post, NOT C.D.I. as I had it yesterday.

[Bryanjones]

Actually EDI will likely work on clearance modifications that will need to be made. This will likely involve the cab sides and the radiator flares and possibly rooftop fans. The BHP AC6000CW's have similar modifications as do other units in the fleet. They may be involved on the cab interior as well though due to the number of creature comforts that the Aussie units are loaded with.

Bryan Jones

[Phil Hom]

BHP Orders Electro-Motive SD70ACe Locomotives
High Traction Locomotives for Iron Ore Mining Operations in Australia

LaGrange, Illinois / General Motors Electro-Motive Division today announced
that BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty. Ltd. will take delivery in 2005 of thirteen
SD70ACe locomotives for use in mining operations in northwest Australia.

Electro-Motive's SD70ACe model, which meets the 2005 U.S. EPA
(Environmental Protection Agency) emissions standards, has been developed
for the North American freight locomotive market as well as other heavy
haul railways around the world. This model uses the highly reliable 710
Series diesel engine and is rated at 4300 traction horsepower. The SD70ACe
employs an AC (Alternating Current) traction system to develop high
wheel-rail traction for heavy haul service.

According to Frank Ward, Director of International Sales for
Electro-Motive, "We are very pleased that BHP has chosen the
energy-efficient, low-emissions SD70ACe locomotive for their operations.
We are also proud that these will be the first Electro-Motive AC traction
locomotives going into the Australian Pilbara iron ore mining region."

The locomotives will be built by Electro-Motive in London, Ontario. EDI
Rail, a division of Downer EDI Limited, sold the locomotives and will
support them in service. EDI Rail represents Electro-Motive in Australia
and also manufactures and maintains locomotives with Electro-Motive
technology.