The Driverless Iron Ore Trains Of Rio Tinto Australia

Rio Tinto has spent a lot of money to run their iron ore trains without drivers , watch as these huge trains move the ore without a single person in the cab , also see trains running side by side as they climb the Chichester range , an awesome sight

[@ianisaacs2340]

As someone who lives in the U.S. it is weird to the point of creepy seeing the locomotives with the windshield blanked out and no one on board. It’s almost as if the locomotives are coming to life.

[@ShawnCalay-hi6gy]

Those are shades, they use them in Brasil when the sun is shining and it's over 120 degrees ....they are not blanked out

[@josephcooksley3219]

Did you not know that .... Thomas the Tank Engine without the Belching Steam ...

[@AdjeteEmmanuel]

Salut frère , j'aime se travail

[@marioxerxescastelancastro8019]

Very nice to see the trains running perfectly synchronized as far as the eye can see.

[@johnphillips592]

Yes they run with very close headways

[@1canstuntman]

Funny what pops up in my feed.... right now Im typing this at Tea tree camp on the Rio Rail mainline at 176kp. I am part of the construction crew currently replacing turn outs and replacing whole sections of rail and formation arounf the floodway bridges etc. Some of this line is untouched since when it was laid around 40 something years ago so its a "little overdue" for a refit. We work up to 3 meteres from any live track and having these things coming past at up to 80kph was super intimidating at first! Each train is carrying ore worth around 4 million Australian dollars and we see around 30 something a day pass by heading to the port. Great video Ive captured loads of footage myself and will put something together for the huge amounts of people commenting positively on this video. Cheers

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks for that , I worked for Rio Tinto for a while back in the nineties on their loco simulators .

[@MegaPatricklee]

Currently in ti tree 😂

[@CEO100able]

Pretty mind-blowing to see autonomous freight trains in Australia! The locomotives look and sound a lot like the ones seen in my home country, the USA. Great catches! Greetings from the United States!

[@reginald2004]

GE AC 4400s, pretty standard for NA.

[@johnphillips592]

The locos are fully imported from the US , they are the same locos as used there .

[@Hugo5t1gl1tz]

@@johnphillips592 is all of your track the same gauge or just places like this? In other words, could any US train run any AUS track?

[@johnphillips592]

@@Hugo5t1gl1tz All states are now connected by standard gauge but we don't have the loading gauge to import U.S. locos , check out studio.kzbin.infoVnwEeyFties/edit for examples of our diesels .

[@MrWilsonbw]

Sooner or later we'll be seeing more trains like this in the U.S.

[@james_shepherd254]

I watched many train videos for entertainment and to learn about freight trains and railroading in general. I've watched lots and lots of them. I vote the shot from 10:51 to 13:04 the best shot I have ever seen!

[@johnphillips592]

Thank you , glad you enjoyed it

[@robertcowan9385]

Thanks John, Excellent footage - loved the parallel running too.

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks mate , yes lucky to get that , needed to wait five hours to get it though , don't know how many games of Freecell I played while waiting

[@narkelnaru2710]

@@johnphillips592 Thank you for taking the trouble on behalf of everyone who has watched and enjoyed the whole reporting. It was lovely. You should divide the number of games of Freecell played by the number of people who have watched the video. It think the ratio will _definitely_ be less than one ! ✊🏼🤘🏼🤗

[@RodgerMcCutcheon]

On a ton per mile bases, the drivers income would be so minimal per ton because of the huge productivity of these huge trains, yet we do away with the driver. We are all doing what we are doing on our amazing planet so that people have work, to feed families and live a reasonable life, but huge corporates do have no regard for that, they say they do, but its just BS. Why not do away with top end executives on huge incomes, and keep the frontline team employed and everyone benefits along the way.

[@j.m.youngquist419]

Here Here !

[@Jabba.Da.Hutt_]

You’re 💯 correct

[@marioxerxescastelancastro8019]

It is not railways’ obligation to give money to people for doing things that are not needed.

[@Waylo2k16]

@@marioxerxescastelancastro8019 so,, driving a train,, is unnecessary?

[@Tivis7]

Pretty much, though to be fair automation would allow us to work on other things. This is why everyone should be given a base pay to live, without the costly cancer that is the owners and execs. Machines do our work, and we all live better (but only if we get rid of the top).

[@kokobwild2413]

The fact that corporations spend billions so as they don't have to pay a driver enough to feed a driver and his family is a nauseating.

[@JohnCramer-io7dn]

Thanks for the upload, it brings back lots of memorys of when i was machining ore car wheels at Port Hedland for Mt Newman mining in the lathe pit, very enjoyable times.

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks , glad it brought back happy memories

[@batmanlives6456]

Hi I used to work on this rail line back in the 90’s Great times I could still identify many locations Been up and down that track many times Thanks for the memories I remember when those locos were brand new We watched them being unloaded at the dock and taken to seven mile workshops for the bogie installation… Cheers

[@johnphillips592]

@@batmanlives6456 Thanks , glad it brought back some memories for you .

[@butchkaminsky9470]

One bucked rail will suprise that robot! 😮😅

[@jobot]

These precision side by side shots are amazing. What a unique operation. Thanks for sharing and glad to stumble upon this video.

[@johnphillips592]

Glad you enjoyed it , please check out my other videos some more iron ore trains as well as others , thank you .

[@t3chman_]

Truly awesome! Really unique to see parallel trains running like that too. Sounds scary, being driverless, but quite safe in the grand scheme, considering the location and that even with human operators, trains of that size will never stop quickly and they legally have the right-of-way in most if not all countries. Trains are already one of the most routine transports, being on rail and completely controlled by signals when not in yards. Even with a human in the seat, it's quite procedural, something perfect for computers to handle, when you're willing to trust them haha. Even collision detection could be far quicker performed by sensors and a computer (same reason we see it in pretty much all modern cars). Thanks for the fantastic video! I'm sure it took quite a bit of effort to get out there :)

[@johnphillips592]

Thank you , glad you enjoyed it , yes it was a long trip to get there but worth it .

[@vijayanchomatil8413]

I'm guessing that these rail lines are exclusively Rio Tinto so they can have it all automated without any issues. I don't think you would be able to do that on US mainlines.

[@johnphillips592]

@@vijayanchomatil8413 Yes , only Rio Tinto iron ore trains use this line .

[@RyanHatterer-Ryanns999]

I disagree for us here in America, I want a human in the seat. Rio Tinto has very little crossings and what people are track side are workers, a random railfan that's it. This line is perfect for computers to run on, set train length each weighs more or less the same, with no towns. in America our trains are never the same every time. Rio Tinto and a guy on youtube (David Rayner) made great videos how the system works. But for other parts of the world this is not going to work as well, too many variables.

[@andrewblake2254]

I know a driver up ther who got a six month contract to drive ten years ago "while they did the transition" to remote operation. He is still there driving locos there ten years later. I would like to point out that BHP had a runaway train a few years back which had no driver. The accident cost the better part of a billion dollars what with destroyed track, wrecked wagons and locos and most expensive of all a few weeks lost production of iron ore while the line was closed. Still all that aside a great video and stunning scenery. These places are really remote and a permit is needed to drive there, truck tyres being essential.

[@gjlwpl]

The driver was off the train checking something and brakes were not set properly due to air fault. Train moved off and with down gradient all the way to coast could not be stopped. It was deliberately derailed.

[@renniks1975]

@@gjlwpl So, in other words, another reason for the automation of the trains

[@andrewblake2254]

Not really. Since the driver was inspecting a fault, if the train was unmanned they would still have had to send a crew out by road. This would probably take hours out there. It is not a simple economic equation.

[@plasot]

@@andrewblake2254 Any malfunction on automatic train while en route costs you more money than in train with driver - assuming that driver is skilled enough to repair it by himself. It means that more pressure is put on service crews and more money is spent on maintentance in depot. Same discussions are running in my industry - how much would it cost if crewless ships would brake down in the middle of the ocean?

[@andrewblake2254]

Yes at least the onboard driver can do some diagnostic work. And failing that have a walk round to look. @@plasot

[@OsLuSeMa]

"Río Tinto" ("Red River") is a company that was born in Spain (specifically, in the province of Huelva, in western Andalusia), since the river of said name ("Tinto") carries the colored waters red, due to the copper that is in the place where it is born, and that was exploited by said company until 1954.

[@CarlosAlberto-ii1li]

I know it well.

[@martinc.720]

0k

[@leopardtiger1022]

Copper metal cannot be it. It has to copper compound which usually have green colour like copper suphate. Copper ores have green colour blue colour like malachite. If Rio Tonto in span was coloured red then it was because of iron ore like Hematite of Limonite.

[@BeKindToBirds]

@@leopardtiger1022 You are a very knowledgeable bot.

[@scotabot7826]

One of only a few countries where this is possible because of the unihabited open vastness!!

[@johnphillips592]

True , not much out there .

[@johnnywarbo]

Great video John and with all the money they save not paying drivers they could spend some refreshing the paint on their locos as they look appalling. Thanks again for the nice video.

[@johnphillips592]

Agreed , some are a bit grotty ,

[@marioxerxescastelancastro8019]

It is more because of dirt than deterioration of the paint. They should wash the locomotives.

[@ShortArmOfGod]

Because western Australia has people lining up to look at the things.

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

Pilbara trains have always looked gritty. It is beautiful.

[@hoofie2002]

The environment is harsh - lots of dust and strong sun. It's not a place tourists go

[@FurryFailure]

It's mind blowing how far technology has come, I asked about Autonomous Trains no-less than 4 years ago during an imaginative stupor while writing, I was told by a few people that it was either stupid, impossible, unsafe, and completely unnecessary, while others said it'd be for special types of trains, or for Japan's High-Speed network, yet, here we are automating Iron, in Australia of all places.

[@strnbrg59]

I don't know why you're impressed. Of all vehicles, a train is the simplest to automate. It moves in a one-dimensional world (vs 2 for automobiles and 3 for airplanes), with guaranteed rights of way.

[@FurryFailure]

@@strnbrg59 Because I really like trains and I think this is cool?

[@CrabappleKing]

@@FurryFailure driverless trains have been around for decades

[@unitedrail-mainchannel8991]

@@strnbrg59 Just because its the "simplest" doesnt mean its "simple". These are different words. There is still a shit load of programming when it comes to automating trains.

[@Larynx_the_Changeling]

What up, my fellow fur?

[@paulflak2823]

This level of Tech can now been seen in the ELK Valley in British Columbia, thanks to CP Rail cutting jobs while increasing the hazards to the general public. The sensors may give the remote operator all of the real time data about the train's operation, but not the forest and grass fires that are started by the trains, something that a pair of mark 1 eyes balls do from the cab.

[@Mikishots]

There is no "remote operator" in this level of tech. It's remotely monitored, in this case 1500 miles away. Night and day difference.

[@paulm1365]

Good luck trying to find a forest in that part of Australia.

[@thegenericguy8309]

@@Mikishots Yeah it's kind of hard to see something go wrong with the train by eye from 1500 miles away. but hey, as long as it hurts the rail unions it's worth it (assuming you're a rail exec)

[@richardhasler6718]

Well I think it would be unlikely that a driver of such a train could witness a spark flying from a 500 ft train, landing in some grass and smouldering into a fire, while driving a train at the same time but perhaps the Canadian train drivers have superior vision. In the UK. it's just a relief when the drivers are actually in the train and not on strike.

[@paulm1365]

@@richardhasler6718 those trains average about 2.4km in length with the record being 7.3km. A human driver can’t even see the end of the train they are driving. And even if they see an obstruction on the rail ahead of them they can’t stop in time. Hence the dependence on remote sensors - which can be monitored 1,500 miles away from the Pilbara in a central facility in Perth.

[@trailwayt9H337]

Thankyou mr. John Phillips videos. Very different views of passing of two trains running through two railway tracks into one direction in parallel as twins single lines. Thankyou for this very good surprise. Carry-on your greate efforts.

[@johnphillips592]

Thank you , it's an interesting railway

[@trailwayt9H337]

@@johnphillips592 ❤️

[@ericbleasel5907]

Miss those days,Rio Tinto and BHPIO,first it was two men then one now none,when you spend so much time in the early days with one other person in the cab you just have to get on with each other,not dissimilar to a marriage.You have done a marvellous job John,i can nearly smell the spinifex.

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks for this great comment Eric much appreciated .

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

Did you practice lots of marriage formalities?

[@ericbleasel5907]

@@MilwaukeeF40C yes had turns cooking and washing up,if things went wrong,hot wheels,bearings,emergency application, the driver did the walking, otherwise possible seperation.

[@mabamabam]

better than smelling the other bloke in the cab

[@simonallen6427]

I'd be interested to find out how the automated system works and how it avoids failures, collisions etc?

[@sadiqmohamed681]

This might help. It's a video about the system from Hitachi, and includes shots of the Perth control room - kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKrIk2t3hs6aadk - the trains have lots of safety features including collision avoidance and real time video. And this is a driver setting up a train at the port to return to the mining area - kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHXFl3eLprWgbqc . It seems that the trains run up to the designated mine under full auto, get loaded and return. The only place with real drivers is at the port.

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

I am sure it is loaded with computerized electronics but it was possible 100 years ago with standard railroad signal track circuits and electromechanical devices.

[@hoofie2002]

This is an iron ore system and is connected to anything else. No passenger trains so it's easier to automate.

[@GORT70]

Avoid failure or collision? They can’t! It would take a few miles to stop, and there’s no way to avoid a breakdown, outside routine maintenance.

[@robyntaylor2101]

Thank you for sharing this video, it is good to see some green foliage in the landscape as well. I do enjoy the drone footage.

[@johnphillips592]

Thank you Robyn , they have had a lot of rain over there in recent months .

[@utube321piotr]

Mighty impressive technical feat. Thanks for sharing, I had no idea of this.

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks ,Yes it's pretty impressive

[@vancepomerening4794]

Outstanding video. Thanks.

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks , glad you enjoyed it .

[@person.X.]

On our mine we have fully autonomous dump trucks driving all over the place. They are a pain in the arse! 😆 But interesting as more complicated than trains as don't run on rails and have to interact with manned vehicles in a constantly changing environment.

[@richremaks5570]

Great video. As a great man once said ‘People make problem, drone better’

[@bw2442]

There are so many things a good mechanic knows from feel, smell, touch and hearing that a computer cannot know and dosent have sensors attached to that this is insulting that someone could possibly think this is a good idea or is saving money. Only a corporation could be this greedy and detached from reality.

[@thomasshepard6030]

MAD MAX FEEL ABOUT THIS SET UP

[@justicelut]

The blue lights on the roof of the cab reminds me of the daleks!

[@johnphillips592]

Agreed , they do look like Dareks .

[@charleschihope7322]

This is a good show, driverless, thats very good. Keep it up.

[@metalinmotion]

That was a great video John!

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks for that , enjoyed making it and glad you enjoyed it

[@cleenlivin]

Pretty amazing to to think a computer program is in charge of these huge ore trains. This takes remote operation of locomotive in switching to a whole different level. I was thinking how could a program take into account the feel and experience of an actual engineer to account for load, track, braking and grades but I guess if you have all these variables (non-variables I guess ) standardized the program can do it’s thing. I can definitely see this being a great option for long, non hazardous cargo in not densely populated isolated territory.

[@dkdanis1340]

Trains that have ptc (not sure if it's that exact system) are pretty much autonomous. Ptc is something like adaptive cruise control. The train will automatically speed up and slow down, compensate for hills etc.

[@anotherfreediver3639]

We've had driverless commuter trains on a light railway in London since the mid-1980s I think. I'm amazed that they aren't more widespread, given the continual push to cut costs.

[@cleenlivin]

@@anotherfreediver3639 I’ve heard some commuter rails in USA cities have the capability but the “optics” of having a driver-less train they feel doesn’t go over well with the public. I think many systems use the approach mentioned where a driver sits at the controls as a back-up in case anything goes wrong. Maybe a lifelike mannequin could suffice? 🤔

[@Quasihamster]

Wait til you learn NASA's rocket flew to the Moon with 1960's computers.

[@cleenlivin]

@@Quasihamster 💩👤 🧌

[@OMG-tq8ty]

Fantastic. Feast for the eyes. I like it. Thanks for the efforts.

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks for your kind comment , glad you enjoyed it .

[@j.m.youngquist419]

Over here in the U.S. we refer to them as engineers

[@jimcrawford5039]

Yes but we know what you mean. Lol.

[@alexjohnward]

At Rio Tinto they call them ballast.

[@Kymthomo6]

Great photography. Well done.

[@jeffcurtis5460]

Excellent drone work, Mr. Phillips! Beautiful dramatic shots.

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks Jeff , it was a long way to get there but worth the effort .

[@TrainsOnGoPro]

Awesome Video!

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks , glad you enjoyed it as much as I did making it .

[@froz3nmindz124]

Very interesting. In case of an accident, how do they get the thing to stop? Do they have sensors that will go off if they detect an impact?

[@Mechknight73]

My understanding is that there is a human supervisor watching them for the whole trip. They can do an emergency stop remotely from a Perth control centre

[@ianmontgomery7534]

@@Mechknight73 Yes - they are driven by humans its just that they are not located in the cabin.

[@jkardez4794]

No doubt that they can stop that train remotely. But if something is going wrong and building up to a potential accident how would they know apart from continous surveillance by camera all along the length of the train .

[@davidrayner9832]

@@ianmontgomery7534 No, they are not driven by humans in Perth. The train controller does nothing more than they used to - operate the signals to tell the train (was once the driver, now the train) when to start and stop. Based on the signals, the train drives itself. Eg; If the signal 20kms ahead is at stop, a driver can choose to keep going at full speed, stop at the signal, and wait for it to clear or he can slow down now and if the signal has cleared before he gets there he won't have to stop, or he can stop anywhere between here and there (say, on a downhill grade rather than the uphill grade the signal is on to make starting off easier) and wait for it to clear (I say 'signal' but it's all in the cab so yes, you can see a signal that's 20 kms away). The train controller nor the program that runs the train can't do that. All the controller can do is set the signal to stop and the train will continue at track speed until it gets to where braking would normally occur to stop at that signal.

[@davidrayner9832]

@@jkardez4794 They don't. No one is looking at the view from the camera. The only time they do is when an impact sensor on the loco alarms so they look to see what the train has hit (usually a cow) but whatever it was, they only see it after the event and then decide whether or not to stop the train. There was a time around 2016 while they were still testing it that a driver of an empty train rolling down the hill towards where the Robe train was filmed noticed that a man who had obviously decided to kill himself had laid his neck across the track. The driver slammed on the brakes and stopped before he cut the man's head off but had that been an AutoHaul train, no one would've known until the driver of a Robe train (still manned to this day because Robe will not spend the money to AutoHaul their track) came along and then only if it was daylight.

[@allwelcome7624]

Just watched your video, very well done and informative. It used to be empowering to see a person in charge of all that machinery and to think of what people are capable of. This makes people servants to the machines, fueling and repairing them as needed. Until they can work out how to do that also.

[@oriontheraptor8119]

as long as there is a balance between automation and manned work then I don’t see a problem The problem I have with automation is when company’s abuse it to kick out the middle guy to save a few extra coins

[@FrogandFlangeVideo]

Fantastic footage there, John. Loved it. James.

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks James , glad you enjoyed the footage , cheers

[@FrogandFlangeVideo]

@@johnphillips592 Hi John. Did you travel to Australia specifically in order to film the ore trains ? Absolutely loved the aerials. James.

[@johnphillips592]

@@FrogandFlangeVideo I live in Melbourne and was on a caravan trip around Australia , have visited there several times before , my first KZbin video was on these trains

[@FrogandFlangeVideo]

@@johnphillips592 My brother referred your video to me. Coincidentally I had just weekes ago did a little dive into the rail action in the Pilbara, Cool stuff happening ther. Thanks John. James.

[@danlowe8684]

As a lad (1970's), my neighbor that worked in the Northern MN (USA) iron ore mines told me he ran the trains in the mine area with a remote control that was housed in a backpack he wore. I didn't believe him...

[@johnphillips592]

Nice one , reminds me of the cane trains in Queensland shunting by the driver on the ground with a remote control

[@buffalobob7172]

He was right I worked at a RR USSteel I started in 1973 by late 70’s early 80’s off come the backpack a box about 10 to 12 inches wide to 4 inches deep 4 inches tall placed on a belt rite in front of your belly he would stand on the ground and could see some lights on one of the four corners of the engine and the roe of different colors lights would tell him what the engine was about to do stop,reverse,forward or pumping air. He would throw switches and sometimes he would have another person on the other end of train with a radio telling him what to do

[@danlowe8684]

@@buffalobob7172 Thank you for the info!!!

[@dereksmallsuk]

Great to see train drivers being unemployed and obsolete!! Well done corporate agendas!!

[@ednorton47]

They can always learn to code.

[@mccoy79productions66]

cool video!

[@andrewblake2254]

These trains have bankers to get them over the hills so they can then roll down to the coast. These are manned as I know a driver. He tells me that these "unmanned" trains often carry a driver even if they are controlled remotely.

[@ShawnCalay-hi6gy]

Wrong, the driver sets everything up at the mine....he dismounts about a minute before the train departs

[@4n2earth22]

Sounds like the rails were freshly ground in most of those shots. Cool stuff! On long runs like that, the biggest hazard is boredom and sensory hypnosis. I have witnessed napping engineers more than once. I gave up the ass callouses many years ago for less boring, dangerous and terrifying jobs. Ever been in a train wreck? I have, several. They are really loud.

[@OregonCrow]

you done?

[@tylerrose5232]

@@OregonCrowno

[@Shaggy.242]

I worked on the two perma nent line camps and just to see the rail grinder at work during the night in winter with ahalf moon was mind blowing, i called the scene the lonely Dragon serpent, the pilbara has always been a magical place for me.

[@tractorsmachinesro1405]

Great work 💖💖

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks , glad you enjoyed it .

[@brucelamberton8819]

Now that's some loooong trains!

[@walter9724]

Ive flown my drone over the tain ans had gotten some aweome videos and photos. When i drove darwin to cairns i had left my car unattended for 5 mins. And in that time my drone and camera that were on the back seat were stolen. If i ever see my videos uploaded onto youtube ill be going after whoever uploaded them.

[@dunodisko2217]

My factorio senses are tingling

[@frankherrick1892]

Looking forward to visiting Australia and meeting my relations in Campbelltown NSW.

[@ndavid42]

"driverless trains are not so friendly" :'))

[@brucewhite4422]

Amount of money these companies make suppling a few drivers some jobs would be the right thing to do

[@happyjoyjoy6976]

amazing what pops up in your Yt feed, i had no idea these existed. greetings from the insane asylum formerly known as Queensland.

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks , glad you enjoyed it , feel free to view more of my videos

[@tonymckeage1028]

Great Video, I know this area is isolated, but surely there are some risks to people and property with driverless trains, thanks for sharing

[@margarita8442]

yes

[@johnphillips592]

Driver or not , if you get in the way of these trains they wont stop in a hurry .

[@steveanderson9290]

I suspect that having a hazardous encounter with a driverless train is way, way, down on the list of things that can kill you in that locale.

[@tonyromano6220]

Looks hot AF! What beautiful country. 12:38 amazing!

[@roadtrain_]

This is every factorio player's biggest dream or worst nightmare.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Absolutely insane. Suppose there's an obstruction on the track? One of those old GE clunkers catches fire? How long until a Rapid Response Team could get out to it?

[@ShawnCalay-hi6gy]

5 weeks

[@Occasion77]

Quick question - at about 13:00 mark you can see what looks like rail that is laid inside of the actual rail the trains are running on - is that some sort of derail prevention? Thanks and great video!

[@johnphillips592]

That is new rail ready to be installed on the curve

[@bain5872]

In America, there is no iron mining. There is refining as there is more than we need. I can only guess that this ore is going to the ones who need it, China. Amazing footage. Thanks for sharing it. I truly enjoyed it.

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks , glad you enjoyed it , yes , most of the iron ore is shipped overseas .

[@t3chman_]

That's not true, though iron mining is certainly waning in the US with mines continuing to shutdown (this has been the pattern with every type of ore). But there are still a handful in operation, producing millions of tons annually. Not just refining, but actual mining. Though there are also reclamation efforts from tailings, that might be what you're referring to.

[@dogyerf21]

What is the fumoth verses the singfolding? How many kibbards would it take on any special jack time for us?

[@JimNichols]

I wonder if they are running Cattron or Control Chief systems? I worked on installs for Cattron and was a CMO for years with short line rail. Them 2% grades are making those ladies sweat a little :) I am so fortunate to have been a composite mechanic and a working CMO for the years I did that and I am so fortunate to not do it still, I miss it but it was some hard work. Thanks for the vids bro, made me smile and have good memories!

[@susie154]

WOW that's a heavy haul !!

[@scottstocking6935]

INTRAMOTIV in St Louis, MO is currently working on autonomous self powered rail cars. The cars are battery powered and when connected together in a train they all work together forming a "locomotiveless" train. Still in development but targeting this very market.

[@franzbrunner499]

once a train is loaded and ready to go, who initializes the loco to start moving? control center like with a drone?

[@johnphillips592]

It is set to auto by an employee on the ground then the control centre in Perth takes over .

[@Highland_Moo]

David Rayner has a video showing how it’s done - he’s obviously one of the drivers or was one. He set it all up, locked the loco cab, radioed up the control folks and they sent the train on its merry little way. Unto about half an hour ago I had no idea such a system existed - I’m from Scotland and we have nothing similar. It’s amazing to see such a massive train trundle away on its own!

[@davidrayner9832]

@@Highland_Moo Yes, I retired in Dec 2019 after 10 years at Cape Lambert. BTW, I was in Scotland in 2018 went the system went 'live'. Absolutely beautiful place. On my last shift before I went, I drove a train from Tom Price to Cape Lambert and when I came back 6 weeks later, I was told I'd never go there again and I didn't. Spent my final year in the yard and on the Robe line. At least we at Cape Lambert had the Robe line. No other depot still drives on the main line at all. Very sad.

[@artmchugh5644]

What have I become???? Watching videos of unmand LOOOOOOONG ASS trains in the outback!!! 😊😊😊😊😊😊 I need to get a grip!!

[@ThePaulv12]

That was fun. I wonder why they sat there for 5 hours with the engines running? Perhaps they could've aired up the consist 45 mins before departure or switched off two engines and left one engine running to maintain brake pipe pressure. I dunno seems like a waste of fuel but who am I but a KZbin nobody with just another opinion?

[@johnphillips592]

I thought the same , maybe something to do with keeping the air up , they have no one to put the hand brakes on .

[@RyanHatterer-Ryanns999]

@@johnphillips592 The lead locomotive is the one responsible for the air brakes, both in controlling them and building air. The second two are only there to assist in power and braking. Now it might be different in autohaul but I doubt it. I don't know if these are setup with auto start/stop systems on them I would guess yes. They would shutdown base on water temp air temp etc. The problem I see with that and this might be the reason why they are left running is Autohaul can't predict when they will be on the move again, some guy or girl clicks start on the computer at the dispatch office and the train goes, so there be no time to start the second two. From what I have seen the engines are setup to go at any moment. If you list to the clips in your video John like at 5:25 these ES44DCi's are not in low idle (happens when you put the reverser in neutral to save fuel and start the auto start/stop system) they are in high idle ready to go. at 15:20 when the sun is shirring through the cab and no one is in it that to me... just scary reminds me of the movie Unstoppable.

[@xbgtfella]

I remember in NZ on the seventies NZ Railways instituted the use of radios in shunt operations and the union furore that followed. On a lengthy goods train at the marshalling yard suddenly a ground shunt staff of 3 or 4 replaced by 1 guy with a radio. But that's just the start. Next it was single man train crews losing the loco assistant. Elimination of the rear guards van staff (read caboose) And then lose of the single ground shunt man when the driver escaped the shunt loco controls for a remote hand set on the ground. Bring back memories people's? That's how big business rolls with the how can we squeeze the last ounce from that bottom dollar. Chime in peeps from around the world..

[@nathanmurphy5]

Great footage. Would love to head up there one day. At 11:35, was that a Rio Tinto bloke telling you off?

[@johnphillips592]

Yes , he didn't like me parking where I did but he was quite friendly about it, and you will notice I went back there again later but parked in a different place

[@j.m.youngquist419]

Great camera skills

[@greatnorthernrailwaytother4711]

Great footage John, are they running DCC 😂, thanks. Peter.

[@johnphillips592]

Might have been a lot cheaper ,lol

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

I think it is technically possible.

[@timvandiepen8373]

Cool

[@patrickbryant5224]

Driverless ore trains! Fascinating!

[@ALien851]

Good morning Good afternoon Good night. Gained another follower here in Brazil. Your videos are fantastic, very beautiful places. Congratulations. Hugs. Cesar

[@johnphillips592]

Hello Cesar , thank you , glad you enjoy my videos and thanks for the comment .

[@tvm73836]

I am the director of operations at Rio Tinto Australia and I can assure you that while this video is genuine the captions are completely misleading. Our trains have one of the best safety records anywhere in the world, including Japan. And if you consider the tonnage we are the #1 in the world. In our country, it is completely illegal to operate trains without an operator. All of these have 2 operators functioning in a fail-safe mode. Further more, these locomotives also have dual and triple redundant controls.

[@johnfenn]

What does that mean? Where are the dirivers? Are they in Perth? Or are they on the train? Or are the working from home?

[@3sierra15]

If the trains have operators, why are the insides of the windshields covered?

[@voidjavelin23]

​@@3sierra15 its a literal shade that protects from the outback scrotching sun

[@voidjavelin23]

​​@@johnfenn yes there is a control facillity where these trains are controlled

[@ReinaldoRauch]

There is more explanation on how this system works?

[@magikjoe3789]

If Francis Bourgeois were trackside his reaction may well bring about the end of life on this planet 😂

[@oakcreekrailroadproduction3907]

Im sure these driverless train is just another accident waiting to happen

[@Jabba.Da.Hutt_]

Even though I’m very much against remote operating machinery and I don’t like big corporations not wanting to pay people there worth. I don’t think any major accidents will happen with these. Since there is literally nothing out there but the “outback”. But over here in North America this “remotely operated trains” will probably never happen. One because large amounts of track run through towns and city’s with people… and a lot of trains Run hazardous chemicals and fuels… and putting those things together = a major disaster waiting to happen. Basically a remote controlled bomb

[@renniks1975]

@@Jabba.Da.Hutt_ and the track can be in poor condition also

[@Jabba.Da.Hutt_]

@@renniks1975 Very true, and in the case of the US. There is alot of track that is severely worn out and sometimes almost 100 years old or older depending on where you are. I also don’t see these freight companies in the US wanting to spend any extra money they don’t have to unless something is literally falling apart and needs repairs. That’s why a lot of track in the US is in really bad shape in many places. This autonomous driving ore trains in Australia are really just the perfect set of circumstances for that type of technology. Even tho I hate it with a passion

[@VerilyVerbatim]

7:48 Two very long trains, just sitting there for 5 hours, because Rio Tinto thinks somehow that this is cheaper? That's 5 lost hours, for each train... but with people in control, they could have called ahead, at least to find out if they can move under caution? Also - people can predict and react to the unexpected - computers can only respond if what has happened is in the programming, to begin with?

[@johnphillips592]

In this case no, they were replacing a bridge girder just up the track , no trains could get through

[@Guillotines_For_Globalists]

How does the train sense an obstruction on the tracks, human, animal, vehicle, machinery, or other debris?

[@johnphillips592]

There are cameras on the locos that are monitored from the control room but these trains are heavy and don't stop easily , maned or not .

[@lenphil9875]

Spent billions to avoid paying a driver thousands. Yep.

[@hoofie2002]

Driver salary is us$100k a year plus cost of flights and accommodation Rio pay for

[@bainsworth8853]

Question, How many coal cars doesit take to have the equivalant amount of metal to buuild one outback?

[@Gfysimpletons]

So half of a hopper would be the engineers pay for the day? Week? Help me understand why man insists on destroying other men for profit.

[@waltercoslovi6404]

Do they have a fail safe, just in case AI goes rogue.

[@johnphillips592]

I'm not clued up with how it works but there is bound to be several safeguards , thanks for the comment .

[@darylcheshire1618]

I didn’t think they were autonomous, just operated by someone sitting at a desk in Perth.

[@robbie8466]

Amazing video! Could be a scene from a J. G. Ballard story

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks , glad you enjoyed it .

[@robbie8466]

@@johnphillips592 subscribed :)

[@johnphillips592]

@@robbie8466 Thanks for that , much appreciated , please feel free to check out my other videos

[@richardorchard3364]

What made the company come up with that idea?

[@voidjavelin23]

having to drive for 2 days in a land of middle of nowhere with no human settlements is quite exhausting especially having to crew change

[@robo113603]

They will continue with driverless locos, till there's a runaway train, or a computer stuffs up, so where's the SAFETY factor in all this

[@jimcrawford5039]

Looks like it’s been wet up there but I suppose everywhere has had good rains the last couple of years. Not for much longer!

[@johnphillips592]

Yes when this was filmed last year there had been a lot of rain in the region

[@timmyfrierson2684]

So you mean to tell me there’s no engineer or conductor on those trains

[@johnphillips592]

None at all

[@stephenmurray9850]

So the engines just sat there idling away for 5 hours ? Glad they have the money to do that. Also when one of the trains went past at least 1 of the wheels was screaming it's head off .. had it locked up or the brake on it needed to be replaced?

[@renniks1975]

Here in Ireland, GM locos in the more remote stations were left idling overnight in case they wouldn't cold start in the morning

[@bainsworth8853]

you have double empty tracts, latch and pull side cea siding to siding

[@deaustin4018]

so do these trains have a dead computer switch?

[@johnphillips592]

Sorry , can't help you there .

[@hitchmille]

😂

[@rossmailman1439]

What happes if the locos suddenly run amuck i know i worked with remote locos when they go rouge watch out and they do

[@eetuandersson4229]

There goes the driver

[@RanexzProductions]

oh that's why the train for me is upside down

[@hitchmille]

🙃 guess where I live.

[@bencordell1965]

Is there any vehicle easier to automate

[@bainsworth8853]

that same train could have pulled both of those lines

[@TristanMorrow]

Don't show this to members of any of the railroad workers labor unions in North America who think that this train should have 3 or 4 crew if it was in the United States lol

[@PetrGladkikh]

Is it autonomous or remote controlled? If the latter I would not trust it without extensive testing in accident-prone situations.

[@johnphillips592]

They refer to it as autonomous but not sure .

[@Hazza4257]

A remote operator (sitting at a desk in a skyscraper in Perth 1300 kms away) tells it where to go. It uses power and braking as needed to follow the speed limit and signals. However I'm not sure if the AutoHaul makes instantaneous decisions based on gradient and speed etc, or whether there is some sort of pre-programming of the power/braking needed to climb or descend down tricky sections of the line. In theory it can detect when a collision has happened and bring the train to a halt. But my understanding is it won't see a car parked on the tracks and apply brakes before a collision - not that it really matters for a train this heavy.

[@MattDavis_BeechingsGhosts]

Greetings from UK where the longest standard freight trains are rarely more than 30 wagons! How long are these things?

[@johnphillips592]

About 240 wagons long , weight varies depending on the loading , fines being heavier .

[@walter9724]

Over a kilometre long if I remember correctly

[@walter9724]

Actually its 2.4 kilometres long