Australia

Iron Duke iron ore empties climbing hard out of Whyalla powered by DE 1302 and DA 902. Having seen this train at Whyalla waiting for a loaded train to clear the line, we headed off up the line and were enjoying a picnic when it finally appeared. It was not moving very fast!

This is one of two electric face shovels seen at Iron Knob and surrounding area. It is a product of the Marion Power Shovel Company, Ohio, and may have worked at the Iron Baron ore mine. Earlier models shovels were first introduced at these mines in 1928 and at one time there were three or four Bucyrus-Erie 120B electric shovels in operation. The other survivor is on top of the spoil tip at Iron Monarch mine. The information panel for this excavator states: "No. 7 Marion all electric shovel commissioned June 1965, cost $38,000. Taken out of service 14 October 1981 after digging more than 24 million tons. Carried own cable of 3300 V. With bucket of 18 tons cap."

The second surviving electric face shovel in the Iron Knob area is in the distance on top of the spoil tip at Iron Monarch mine. Arrium Mining was at this time planning to reopen the mines in this area and in December 2013 the first production began at Iron Knob. The company has stated that the project would include mining operations in the Iron Monarch, Iron Princess East and Iron Princess West pits, as well as the construction of crushing and screening operations and the reinstatement of the rail line.

The Whyalla Steelworks operated by OneSteel is a fully integrated steelworks and the only manufacturer of rail in Australia. It processes iron ore from the Middleback Range. Approximately 1.2 million tonnes of raw steel is produced in the steelworks each year, with about 65% of that transferred by rail to OneSteel's Market Mills as billets for further processing. The balance of the steel is then converted to finished products in the Whyalla Rolling Mill.

Beyer Peacock 4-8-2 W934 heads the morning service from Port August on the road crossing below Woolshed Flat on the Pichi Richi Railway. The line is well suited to car chasing for most of the way to Quorn although a lot of the locals seemed to want to stand right next to the track photographing rivets and buffers! This meant that I had to move my position for this shot due to people appearing and standing close to the line.

Beyer Peacock 4-8-2 W934 with its train for Quorn is dwarfed by the surroundings and background of Port Augusta power station and the head of the Spencer Gulf.

Viterra owned grain silos at Port Pirie on the Spencer Gulf in South Australia. The maximum loading capacity under the spouts is 800 tonnes per hour.

Climbing hard towards Quorn Beyer, Peacock 4-8-2 W934 heads the morning service from Port August on the bank above Woolshed Flat on the Pichi Richi Railway.

Whyalla to Iron Duke iron ore empties setting out from Whyalla with DE 1303 leading.

I don't know much about this building other than it is Iron Knob Uniting Church and still in use. The colour scheme matches the area.

The trade name 'nubrik' is a new product of Australbricks which was established as the Austral Brick Company in 1908 and is now part of the Brickworks Limited group. Seen at Broken Hill, New South Wales.

The grain silos at berth 27 of the inner harbour at Port Adelaide can supply wheat and barley to the ship loaders at up to 700 tonnes per hour. Viterra also has a newer deep water terminal in the outer harbour.

Early morning at the Port Pirie smelter and the telpher and grab were hard at work moving coke from the storage bunkers.

Junction Mine at Broken Hill was developed from 1884 and from 1886 to closure in 1923 the Broken Hill Junction Silver Mining Co. produced ore to the value of £1.2 million. The mine was reworked by North Broken Hill Ltd between 1946 and 1962, and again by South Broken Hill Ltd. until 1972. The wooden headframe is the oldest on the line of lode and was erected at Browne Shaft in the 1890s athough it has been modified several times. The winding enginehouse and ore bins here date from the 1946 reworking.

Empty limestone hoppers waiting for the route out of Port Adelaide after delivering at the Penrice Soda Ash plant.

Another load of coke is under the quenching tower at the Whyalla Steelworks. Operated by OneSteel this is a fully integrated steelworks and the only manufacturer of rail in Australia. It processes iron ore from the Middleback Range. Approximately 1.2 million tonnes of raw steel is produced in the steelworks each year, with about 65% of that transferred by rail to OneSteel's Market Mills as billets for further processing. The balance of the steel is then converted to finished products in the Whyalla Rolling Mill.

When I visited Australia there were a few hours to wait in Sydney before catching the train across the country. The time was spent in walking across the city and viewing a few of the tourist attractions. We started with a proper breakfast in a cafe close to the harbour and then moved on to Circular Quay. This is said to have been the site of the initial landing of the First Fleet in Port Jackson on 26 January 1788. I wonder what those 18th century arrivals would have made of the place today?

Amongst the modern buildings in Whyalla this one stood out. The Masemba Building comprises three premises with a hairdresser & formerly a Laundromat downstairs, a vacant upstairs office that was previously consulting rooms consisting of three rooms, reception area plus a large hall or board room. The estate agent selling this property suggested that conversion of the upstairs to an apartment was a likely outcome.