At least we know the autopilot works …
 

"BHP has suspended all rail operations in Western Australia after a runaway train laden with iron ore travelled 92km with no one on board before it was deliberately derailed. The driver of the 2km-long BHP-operated train stepped out of the locomotive early on Monday to inspect an issue with one of its 268 wagons and it took off without him. It hurtled along the company’s Newman to Port Hedland line in the remote Pilbara region for about 50 minutes until it was deliberately derailed at a set of points near Turner, about 120km south of the port town. The action was taken by a remote control centre more than 1,500km away in Perth."

Hmm. I could use a way like that, to turn off my (insert name here).

No automated trains at BHP. The train was manually operated by its Driver, with their train control center in Perth, same as Rio Tinto's is - though Rio does run unattended, automatic trains now..

If you've ever travelled on the Indian Pacific or the Ghan, the ARTC controllers are based in Newcastle and Adelaide so it isn't that different from ASA's Bris/Mel Center concept...

. . and as per Milo Minderbender standard ops, this event has increased BHPs share price (because price of ore increased, because of expected shortages) . . .

You just have to marvel at how the brakes released themselves, how the throttles were nearly fully opened and why the driver couldn't have reboarded the train, as it took off like a tired snail. It covered 120 KM in about 50 Mins, at an average speed of 110kmh.

The question to ask with the BHP train is what happened with the dead man system. The Devonport train was remotely controlled - no onboard driver.

Where was Denzel Washington when they needed him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unstoppable_(2010_film)

The end result: https ://www.facebook.com/abcnorthwestwa/videos/494946997656395/ :eek:

(apparently links to facebook aren't allowed? :confused:)

I would make no assumptions about this, but it certainly will raise questions for the investigating team.
The driver may have been 50 wagons back when it started to move. It would be heroic to try boarding at that point.
BHP may need to look at some less dramatic means to stop a runaway train.

What makes you think that the throttles were wide open? Was that reported?
Seems highly unlikely for that to occur unless commanded.

It will buff out.

Tut,tut, OH & S would never allow it. :=Instead of single driver, how about two. Cost of crash could have paid the salary of a second driver for a few thousand years probably.

SOPS
 

Did you jump off for a smoko SOPS?

Seriously though do you get a briefing on the cause of this?

Folks,
Have you seen the pics in today's papers, over 200 wagons.
It is going to be a big cleanup, and BHP is going to run out of stockpiled ore at Port Hedland long before it is up and running again.
This is big enough that there will be a blip in the balance of payments due to export interruption.
And the message for "single pilot" freighters is???
Tootle pip!!

gordonetc,
Cinic!!
Tootle pip!!