Newman to Port Hedland railway

The typical 208 car iron ore train rumbles away from Newman, where it had picked up its 26 000 ton load of iron ore. 

The eight locomotives throughout the train pull the train through the scenes of deserts, scrubland, hills and wide open plains. The brown-red soil and the small trees and bushes show the ruggedness of the land.

The train continues 426 kilometers north towards Port Hedland - where the iron ore will be loaded onto ships to be transported.

This trip will typically take 8 hours, with 9 loaded trains operating every day. The climate is very hot in Newman, with averages in summer being at just under 40 degrees celsius every day. This map here gives you an idea of the distance train has to travel from Port Hedland to Newman:

History of Newman

Newman was built in the 1960's by the Mount Newman Mining Company, because the discovery of rich iron deposits in Mount Whale back nearby. There is one shopping centre in the company town, two shopping plazas, three hotels, three bar/restaurants, a public swimming pool, and an airport - all for Newman's population of 8000.

The mine Mt Whaleback is currently owned 85% by BHP Billiton and was actually discovered in 1957 by Stan Hilditch but was not publicised until 1960 when the government allowed iron ore exports and the mine was opened in 1968, and soon became the biggest singe-pit open-pit iron ore mine in the world.