Athearn Genesis FMG 9-44CW model axles.

A quick video of the Athearn Genesis 9-44CW FMG unit on the rolling road showing the rotating bearing caps.

Athearn's model of the FMG 9-44CW units as delivered back in 2007.

Athearn Genesis 2.0 HO scale models of FMG 9-44CW units

Finally got around to 'commissioning' my three FMG 9-44CW Athearn Genesis DCC models and assigning their addresses and testing that the functions work etc.

The Athearn models were released last year, and they did three road numbers for FMG in both DC and DCC being 003, 007 and 014. The DCC models feature a SoundTraxx Tsunami2 decoder and dual sugar cube speakers.

The models are based off of the FMG 9-44CW units as they were delivered, and they sure look nothing like this today! Apart from rust and faded paint, the units have received marker lights, gates in the long hood handrails and raised extensions to the handrails where maintainers need to access the top of the 7FDL-16 prime mover, kickplates along the bottom of the handrails and modified handrails on the cab steps, amongst other minor details.

014 side view, details are crisp and well defined, and paint looks really good.

FMG 003 with the ditch lights, number boards and headlights burning bright, notice the step light directly in line with the headlight beside the cab door just above the walkway.

Overhead roof view of FMG 014 shows the LHS walkway and handrails, radiator grills, inverter cabinet and air conditioning unit.

Roy Hill fuel train at Great Northern Highway.

Roy Hill's fuel train with four locomotives, three ES44ACi RHA class and one CFCLA CM40-8M

Back on the 17th of January 2018 the Roy Hill loaded fuel train with eleven fuel tank waggons was captured running south at the Great Northern Highway crossing behind no fewer than three RHA class ES44ACi units and one CFCLA CD class lease unit CD 4302 'Lord Fury' which was under test during the run.

The locomotives are RHA 1018, RHA 1019, CD 4302 'Lord Fury' and RHA 1013.

FMG AC44C6M units delivered to site.

On the 23rd of February 2023, K+S Heavy Haulage delivered some of FMG's AC44C6M locomotives. A 685 horsepower Mack Titan delivers 125 (from the third batch of rebuilds 123-128) across the BHP Iron Ore Boodarie overpass enroute to FMG's Thomas Yard for placing onto rails.

A total of 16 units were delivered off the heavy lift vessel Miena Desgagnes at Port Hedland on the 4, 5 and 6th of February.

Following quarantine inspection, they were delivered to site during the 22-25 February.

125 was originally BNSF 4788 built in July 1998 as a 9-44CW with serial number 50642 as a DC traction unit.

Rebuilt by Wabtec at their Fort Worth Texas plant the units received new cabs, new hood sections, AC traction and inverter packages and an oil and radiator section very similar to the ES44DCi and ACi units of Rio Tinto and Roy Hill.

G'day from pilbararailways.com.au

Due to some problems with our blog being really outdated and unable to do many functions due to age and being unsupported we have moved the blog over to the popular Blogger site.

New address is here: https://pilbararailways.blogspot.com/

It will also be visible through the original website link of: https://www.pilbararailways.com.au/blog/

The new site allows us to also blog more easier, include more images per post and tie the entire site and social media together.

We look forward to taking you with us.

Over the last couple of days all old posts and comments have been migrated across to this platform.

Thank you,
Pilbara Railways Team, Toad, Roland and the others.

BHP AC6000 6074 at Nelson Point.

Back in happier times on the 9th of September 2003 BHP Iron Ore's General Electric AC6000 unit 6074 'Kalgan' with serial number 51066 waits with a loaded rake for Car Dumper 2 at Nelson Point.

The remaining seven AC6000 units were all subsequently scrapped in October 2014. 6070 was scrapped in May 2011 following a derailment at Turner Siding.

FMG locos change liveries and swap locations.

Both the FMG CM40-8M units that were sent to Fortescue's FFI (Fortescue Future Industries) in Hazelmere, Perth have been repainted into the FMG blue and white livery and renumbered. CD 4301 has been partially renumbered to 801, while, CD 4302 has been renumbered to 802.
In the first week of November 2022, 802 was trucked back up to Thomas Yard in South Hedland. Then one of FMG's former BNSF / GECX units, 4854, was returned on the same float and has been sent to Gemco in Perth and arrived there on the 10th of November 2022.

801 was former CFCLA CD 4301, and former Robe River 9410 with serial number 2160-03 / 96-202.
802 was former CFCLA CD 4302, and former Robe River 9421 with serial number 8297-02 / 93-137.

4854 was former BNSF / GECX with the same road number, serial number 50708 and built in 8/1998. It should be numbered 022 in the 9-44CW road number range of FMG units.

FMG CM40-8M CD 4303 'Warrior'.

FMG has three CM40-8M GE rebuild units purchased from CFCLA / Rail First. While two (CD 4301 and CD 4302) went to Perth to Fortescue Future Industries for trialling with alternative fuels, CD 4303 'Warrior' is located at parent FMG's Thomas Yard in South Hedland.

Here is a side view of CD 4303 'Warrior' serial number 8206-04 / 92-126. This unit history is it started with Robe River having been built by Comeng WA as an ALCo M363 in late 1979 with serial number C6116-1 and order WA112 and road number 9423. This was the final ALCo built new for Robe River. It was delivered by road in February 1980. It was purchased as a replacement for 9417 that was scrapped following a head on collision on 2 February 1979.

9423 was rebuilt from an M636 into the GE CM40-8M in 1992 by Goninan in Perth and was recommissioned by Robe in May 1992.

It ended up in CFCLA ownership in 2012 and was rebuilt by Goninan WA and reclassed and numbered as CD 4303 'Warrior' and wearing the CFCLA livery.

9423 has seen lease periods on both FMG and Roy Hill railways in the Pilbara.

Finally, it was sold to FMG and transferred to Thomas yard Port Hedland in late 2021.

FMG's former BNSF / GECX 9-44CW units hit the rails.

Four of the former BNSF / GECX 9-44CW units have commenced operating in the shafts of triple headed ore trains on the FMG.

Observed just a few days ago were 016 in the yard near the workshops, and on trains in the middle of triple consists were 017, 020 and 023.

The other four are currently stored without full FMG numbers and are 4807, 4833, 4847 and 4854.

Here we see 020 former BNSF / GECX unit 4836 with serial number 50690 between two EMD SD70ACe/LCi units 721 and 713 on an empty train awaiting entry into Thomas Yard, South Hedland.

FMG SD90MAC-H2 units finally scrapped.

The long stored, since 2015, SD90MAC-H2 units owned by FMG have finally been cut up by CD Dodd in Port Hedland. The units involved were the 910 to 917 listed below as:

FMG number, original Union Pacific number, serial number:

• 910, 8538, 976833-17
• 911, 8548, 976833-27
• 912, 8550, 976833-29
• 913, 8557, 976833-36
• 914, 8525, 976833-04
• 915, 8553, 976833-32
• 916, 8543, 976833-22
• 917, 8547, 976833-26