Nelson Bay wrote:BHP is an iron ore mining mining operation in the NW part of Australia. Their mines are located in what is called the Pilbara Region. BHP operates their own RR. The locomotive you saw is part of a 14 unit SD70ACE/lr order from EMD. This model is a low clearance version of the EMD SD70AC. The units will be the first EMD AC's operating in the region. The locomotives are powered by 16-710 engines, traction horsepower is 4300.
actually this unit, EMDX #1001, is from the second order of BHP SD70ACe's for 10 units. The initial 14 unit order was already delivered and in service. The second order differs from the first in that the units are equiped with the Isolated cab, which was previously discontinued from the SD70ACe and SD70M-2 models, this the BHP units will be the first such units equiped. This unit was built ahead of the rest of the units so that it could undergo testing and it has been testing at the AAR test track recently. It is currently on BNSF with the EMD test car.
Bryan Jones
Brooks,KY