FOLLOWING the takeover of the Koolyanobbing iron ore mine (195km west of the gold mining city of Kalgoorlie) by Mineral Resources in 2018 rail traffic has increased substantially, and now sees multiple freight operators all working for one customer, often together.
Mineral Resources exports the ore via the port at Esperance, on the south-east coast of Western Australia, and initially rail transport was undertaken by national freight operator Pacific National using Class NR diesel locos (GE C44aci), plus Mineral Resources' own MRL locomotives (also GE C44aci) hauling mineral resourcesowned iron ore wagons.
Mineral Resources decided to increase ore production and Pacific National had to lease additional locomotives from Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia (CFCLA) - also GE C44aci (their'CF' class).