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The Blackwater railway system is located in Central Queensland and services the
QR National. Retrieved on 13 May 2012. The Blackwater Coal Chain services 15 mines, operated by BMA, Xstrata, Rio Tinto, Curragh, Ensham, Felix, and Jellinbah. Haulage is expected to progressively increase in the Blackwater system as haulage contracts, combined with enquiries from coal companies for additional haulage capacity (domestic and export), exceeds 80 Mpta by 2008–09. The Blackwater system consists of 994 km of track, of which approximately 160 km is duplicated. 823 km of track is electrified. Callemondah and Bluff yards are used to provision train services. The system is operated from the Rockhampton Control Centre utilising two safe working systems - Remote Control Signalling (RCS) and Direct Traffic Control (DTC).
Map of Central Queensland Rail Coal Network
1925 map of the Queensland railway system
Aurizon website
{{Australian rail Railway lines in Queensland Mining railways in Australia Buildings and structures in Central Queensland 3 ft 6 in gauge railways in Australia 1967 establishments in Australia Railway lines opened in 1967 Coal mining in Queensland
The Blackwater railway system is located in Central Queensland and services the coal mining
Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from ...
area of the Bowen Basin. It carries coal, as well as products, to other destinations by way of connections to the North Coast Line at Rocklands and the Goonyella Line via Gregory coal mine to Oaky Creek. Together with the Moura line the two railway systems are known as the Capricornia Coal Chain.
The Blackwater system is narrow gauge and electrified using 25 kV 50 Hz
Railway electrification systems using alternating current (AC) at are used worldwide, especially for high-speed rail. It is usually supplied at the standard utility frequency (typically 50 or 60Hz), which simplifies traction substations. The dev ...
. The system is used by both electric and diesel locomotive
A locomotive or engine is a rail transport vehicle that provides the Power (physics), motive power for a train. If a locomotive is capable of carrying a payload, it is usually rather referred to as a multiple unit, Motor coach (rail), motor ...
s.
The Blackwater system has the largest route length of the four coal systems and carries the second highest tonnages on the QR network, after the Goonyella system. It is located in Central Queensland, and services the Bowen Basin. Coal is carried to the two export terminals at the Port of Gladstone; RG Tanna Coal Terminal, and Wiggins Island Coal Terminal. The Blackwater system also services a number of domestic users including Gladstone Power Station, Stanwell Power Station
Stanwell Power Station is a coal-fired power generation station located in Stanwell, south-west of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. At the time of construction, it was one of the largest industrial developments undertaken in Queensland. W ...
, and QCL Fisherman's Landing.Network SystemsQR National. Retrieved on 13 May 2012. The Blackwater Coal Chain services 15 mines, operated by BMA, Xstrata, Rio Tinto, Curragh, Ensham, Felix, and Jellinbah. Haulage is expected to progressively increase in the Blackwater system as haulage contracts, combined with enquiries from coal companies for additional haulage capacity (domestic and export), exceeds 80 Mpta by 2008–09. The Blackwater system consists of 994 km of track, of which approximately 160 km is duplicated. 823 km of track is electrified. Callemondah and Bluff yards are used to provision train services. The system is operated from the Rockhampton Control Centre utilising two safe working systems - Remote Control Signalling (RCS) and Direct Traffic Control (DTC).
See also
* Rail transport in QueenslandReferences
External links
Map of Central Queensland Rail Coal Network
1925 map of the Queensland railway system
Aurizon website
{{Australian rail Railway lines in Queensland Mining railways in Australia Buildings and structures in Central Queensland 3 ft 6 in gauge railways in Australia 1967 establishments in Australia Railway lines opened in 1967 Coal mining in Queensland