BHP's Wabtec BEL 9001, a couple of different delivery views

    Another couple of views of the delivery of BHP's brand new battery electric locomotives, this time it is 9001 and it was delivered on Sunday afternoon of November 16, 2025, at Nelson Point.

    9001 is an FXH70C model rated at 3163 kW and tipping the scales at 452,000 lbs for 205 tonnes. It is serial number 66453 and was built at Wabtec's Erie, Pennsylvania plant in the USA back in December 2023.

    A rear view looking down the left hand side of 9001 as it waits at BHP's Gate 9 for entry into site.

    As 9001 sits suspended, at the Nelson Point hard stand area, off the delivery trailer waiting to be placed on rails at Nelson Point, a loaded BHP train passes as it witnesses the future of rail transportation motive power as it proceeds towards the car dumpers behind the BHP standard pairing of EMD SD70ACe/LC locomotives 4344 'Tenacity' and 4342 'Marillana', both of which are from the fourth SD70ACe order and 2008 build year, hauling 135 loaded waggons.

BHP's Wabtec built FLXdrive™ BELs have arrived in the Pilbara.

    At around 0950 hrs on Thursday November 13, 2025, the BBC Chartering heavy lift vessel BBC St Petersburg arrived into Port Hedland harbour and part of the cargo was two Wabtec built FLXdrive™ locomotives for BHP. These battery electric locomotives have been a couple of years in the making.

    And after a number of hours the first of the two Wabtec battery electric locomotives, [BELs], 9002 and built for BHP, was unloaded and transported to the Pilbara Ports Authority 'Gobi' hardstand area on a 128 wheel Tutt-Bryant platform hauled by a Volvo FH16 prime mover a little before 1800 hrs.

    9002 is still gift wrapped in the protective tarpaulin which is also stencilled for LI-ION BATTERIES, as an early Christmas present for BHP's WA Iron Ore division and is seen here early evening, Thursday November 13, 2025, on the rear platform, the front empty platform would collect 9001 the following day.

    These battery electric locomotives were built in December 2023 at Wabtec's Erie, Pennsylvania, USA facility and weigh in at 452,000 pounds or 205 tonnes, with a model designation of FXH70C and a power rating of 4240 horse power or 3162 kW. The two BHP units, numbered 9001 and 9002 carry  the serial numbers 66453 and 66454 respectively.

    On Friday November 14, 2025, the class leader of the two Wabtec FLXdrive™ locomotives for BHP, 9001, was unloaded and is seen here arriving into the Gobi hardstand area on a 128 wheel Tutt-Bryant float being hauled by a Volvo Globetrotter FH700XXL prime mover at 0830 hrs.

    Both units with tarpaulins removed now await the completion of the Loco Lift hardware to be setup at BHP's Nelson Point hard stand trackage so they can be transferred to BHP's rails.

Fortescue - Downer JV BEL walk around.

    Here are some images of each side of the recently delivered Fortescue battery electric locomotive which was built in a collaboration with Downer Group.

    The locomotive used was an imported second hand General Electric 9-44CW which had been leased to BNSF and then returned to GE after the lease. It carried road number BNSF 4854, then GECX 4854 when returned off lease. It was purchased as part of an delivery of eight units from the USA and all came out still in BNSF Heritage II livery.

    GECX 4854 should have been numbered as FMG 022, to fit in with the Dash 9 roster, but it was sent to Gemco's workshops in Forrestfield where it was stripped down to just a frame and cab. It was subsequently fitted out with banks of CATL 306ah battery modules and associated cooling and control systems.

    After a time spent at Gemco the unit was moved to Hazelmere where Fortescue Future Industries had their workshops and had been working on ammonia fuel trials with CM40-8M and SD90 model locomotives.

    It was during this time at Hazelmere it was spotted in a dark, possibly black Fortescue Zero livery with THE POWER OF NOW along the body hood, and Fortescue ZERO on the cab side. This hood appeared to look more like some sort of cover rather than aa actual body shell.

    The locomotive, given the title Engineering Prototype 001 would leave Perth and be road transported back to Thomas Yard after over two and a half years away and transformed into a completely different beast. It arrived at Gemco, Perth back on November 10, 2022. And would return to the Pilbara on June 14, 2025, now in an overall white livery with blue stripes and a green circle representing zero and with Fortescue ZERO on the cab sides.

Fortescue's BEL arrives in the Pilbara.

    FMG's joint collaboration between its' Fortescue Future Industries, later Fortescue Zero, and Downer Group to create a battery electric locomotive, known as a BEL, took a second hand imported General Electric 9-44CW locomotive, in this case it was former BNSF, then GECX lease locomotive numbered 4854, with serial number 50708 and a build date of Aug 1998.

    GECX 4854 was imported into Australia by FMG and arrived in Port Hedland during September 2021 along with seven stable mates all from the same build order.

    Former BNSF now GECX units 4833, on the left and GECX 4854 on the right during their cleaning and quarantine inspections at the Port Hedland port on November 28, 2021, enroute from Norfolk, Virginia [USA] to FMG's Thomas Yard out the back of South Hedland.

    April 13, 2022, 4854 at the dome facility within FMG's Thomas yard as it is prepped for service with FMG. It should have been renumbered as 022 to fit in with the FMG 9-44CW roster, but I am not aware of this unit receiving that number.

    4854 was still seen around Thomas yard in June 2022. It was then transported to Perth and seen at Gemco's Forrestfield shops on November 10, 2022. And later seen dismantled to the frame leaving only the cab and prime mover.

    On August 8, 2024, 4854 was sighted at the FFI facility in Hazelmere wearing a Fortescue Zero livery with THE POWER OF NOW along the body hood, and Fortescue ZERO on the cab side.

    Then on June 14, 2025, and now in a white livery with blue stripe and numbered 001 arrived back in Port Hedland via Mammoet and a 144 wheeled platform.

    Right hand side view of Fortescue Zero's engineering prototype battery electric locomotive 001 as it is hauled on a 144 wheel platform during delivery along the Great Northern Hwy, June 14, 2025.

    Left hand side view of Fortescue Zero's engineering prototype battery electric locomotive 001 as it arrives in South Hedland, near their Thomas yard, June 14, 2025.