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.