Railways and Tramways of Australia
SD70ACe Class
SD70ACe unit 4353, Warman (left,) and GE CM40-8M unit 5652, Villaneuva (right), at the Boodarie depot on the Goldsworthy railway, near Port Hedland, Western Australia. Photo: Bahnfrend, Wikimedia Commons.
Road numbers:
4324–33, 4347–55
Operator:
BHP
Gauge:
1435 mm
Year of entry into service:
2008
Number built:
19
Model:
SD70ACe
Manufacturer:
Electro-Motive Diesel
Manufacturing location:
London, Ontario, Canada
Engine:
EMD 710G3C-T2
Traction power:
3207 kW
Wheel arrangement:
Co-Co
Weight:
185.0 t
Length:
21.4 m
BHP Billiton (now BHP) obtained ten surplus SD70ACe units for its Pilbara operations in 2008. They had been intended for service with BNSF Railway in the United States. A further nine locomotives were ordered shortly afterwards to meet growing traffic demands. All members of the class remain in service.