Heaviest haul railway

On 8 April 2008, the Fortescue Metals Group (Australia) completed 250 km (155 mi) of single track railway line - from their Cloud Break iron ore mine in Pilbara to Port Hedland - capable of running 2.5 km-long (1.53-mile) trains carrying a total load of about 30,000 tonnes of ore. When fully operational, the fleet of 15 trains will consist of 240 wagons each weighing 23 tonnes and capable of carrying 137 tonnes of ore. Each train will be hauled by two GE Dash 9-4400CW diesel locomotives. The track is 1,435 mm gauge line made from 38,000 tonnes of continuously welded 68-kg/m rail. The entire line was built from scratch in just 18 months.