PAGE 2 OF
AND THE AUSTRALIAN ROADTRAINS
(Click on photos to enlarge)
The Western Australia Police covers the largest single police jurisdiction in the world (except national police forces), an area of 2.5 million square kilometres. These cruisers are often referred to as candy cars, and it would be a waste of time for a truck to try and outrun them.
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(Centre Photo Above) Riding your bike in the basin, is not a good way to travel.
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(Left Photo) We met this Western Star on the 90 mile straight between Caiguna & Balladonia, Western Australia. (Right Photo) This is one of the roadtrains we frequently meet. it would be nice to have a little more road width. |
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(Lower Left Photo) Just another load we met. (Lower Centre Photo) Caiguna Roadhouse for a well deserved break. (Lower Right Photo) A wide load heading west about 25 km from the border. As you can see we had to get off the road for him.
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This is a new Caterpillar machine heading to the mines in Western Australia. |
Our final change of driver takes place at Yellowdine Truck stop. We arrive here at approximately 11pm and make a fresh cuppa (Tea/Coffee) and toasted sandwich, quick chat to the girls and our final 4.5 hr run into Perth.
Upon reaching Perth we head for the Shell truck stop and fuel up the truck and belly tanks.
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This unique extra fuel tank, known as the belly tank is mounted under and behind the goose neck of the lead trailer between the frame rails. The location of the tank provides a strong surrounded protection from any road hazards one may encounter, while at the same time extending the traveling range of the truck considerably. The (Centre Photo) Shows the loading connection on the head of the trailer to the side of the air glad hands.
For those curious to know how you transfer the fuel from the spare trailer fuel tanks safely to the tractor; this is the procedure...............
First we hook up the hoses between the B-trailer & the A-trailer. We take the main air feed to the trailer and connect it to a separate line which feeds into the belly tank. Where the hose connects into the A-trailer there is a tap which we turn on, and one on the belly tank where the fuel line exits at the bottom (refer to photo of belly tank). There is a tap which we turn off under the side of the trailer, which we use to drain air out of the tank when job is completed. We have an exit point at the front of the A-Trailer for fuel discharge. You can see the hose resting on the checker plate. This hose is the one that goes into the fuel tanks. We don't use glad hands over here, we use a push on hose fitting. --- H J Moreland
NOTE, Fuel is transferred under air pressure. With no moving parts, it is the safest system.
After this job is done we take the short drive to the Depot, unlock the gates And drop the trailers in the specified parking bay in the shed.
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We leave the paperwork with the trailers, lock the gates and head for the Motel 10 kilometres away. JOB DONE. |
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We arrive at the motel at around 5am Monday morning and leave at around 5pm Tuesday afternoon. We Spend our time in Perth doing the touristy thing or just relaxing at the motel sinking a few stubbies.
At times, this comet can be seen from the motel. (Left Photo) It may be difficult to see, but if you enlarge photo you will see the Comet passing over the Perth skyline. (Right Photo) A closer view of comet over Australia.
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On August 7, 2006, Australian comet-hunter Robert McNaught announced a potential new comet. He imaged it from his observatory in New South Wales. Officially dubbed C/2006 P1 (McNaught), the comet now hangs low in the western evening sky after sunset. |
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The trip above describes his latest dedicated run. There have been side trips as well, and they will be displayed here on page 2 in random order.
TRIPS TO THE DARWIN AREA CAN BE JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN CERTAIN SEASONS, NOTHING TO GET UPSET ABOUT, OTHER THAN THE ODD ROAD HAZARD.
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(Left Photo) Ron and Kris Pawlowski were
one of the only husband & wife crocodile shooting teams. |
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To this day she’s in the Guinness Book of records for shooting the largest ever recorded crocodile - 28ft 4in (or better than 8.6 metres today) – shot in the Gulf in 1957.
(Right Photo) Another crock has picked up a full grown pig for his lunch. These over grown lizards can be a real road hazard at times.
These are the trains that Henry drove before taking on the dedicated express run to Perth.
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These trains are piloted by H. J. Moreland, running double with Ken Trost at the time, on a dedicated run between Brisbane, Queensland & Darwin, Northern Territory. The express run is a 6,700 km round trip, in 4 days. |
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Every country has it's specialty trucking systems. With Australia's vast outback and lower population, no railroad could compete with this type of professional driving service.
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When the boss tells you that this is a HOT load, and gotta go, ask him what he means by HOT. Do you really expect to find a handy fire hydrant, on the side of the road in the vast outback? |
OR --- IF IT'S TOO DRY FOR YOU, JUST WAIT FOR THE SEASON TO CHANGE.
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A couple of the boys drove through 1.2 metres of water (4 feet). At that depth you have to guess where the road is. Here is a photo of one of the times (1999), that Jim had to drive through the wet. It was 30 kilometers long, or approximately 19 miles. Jim was driving a Mack Superliner back then. This photo was taken up in crocodile country. NOTICE THE WAVES IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR |
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The accident picture below is from my last Darwin run.
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This photo of the accident was approx 90 km east of the Barkley homestead in the Northern territory. It had a drilling machine on the lead trailer which came off about 50 metres after leaving the road. The black car in the photo was part of the load, it was on racks above the land cruiser utes ( small utility trucks--- just in case you are not sure what a ute is ). The whole lot did a broadside and stopped in that position. |
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I did a delivery out to one of the mines a while back in the Northern Territory called Macarthur River Mine. One of Hampton transports oversize Roadtrains had a wheel bearing fire. I have been trying to get a photo of one every time I go out there but so far I have been unlucky, until now; I have a photo of what is left of this one. These trucks run from the mine 60 km's to Borroloola in the Gulf to the port for loading onto ships. They run 24 hrs a day. |
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The photos below are of the road back from Macarthur river mine.
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When we are on our way home we sometimes have to go out to the mine to make a delivery. It is only just wide enough for one truck. Oncoming traffic has to get off the road when we are coming. If we meet another truck you both get off far enough to be able to pass each other.
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The (Right Photo) is of a Mack that carts ore from the Cannington mine to the rail siding. It is called the icon, 6 trailers and a gross load of 220 tons. The other 3 (Photos Above) are of the road we travel on to get to Macarthur River Mine. |
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(The 3 Photo's Above) are just some of the trucks that we see on a regular basis. (Lower Photos) Never pass up a person to person chit-chat to help break the routine. |
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I received Diesel Gypsy's parcel when I got home the other night. It was nearly enough to make a grown man cry when you see the prices on that stuff in Canada and the USA. A brand new Roadtrain spec truck here, 904 Kenworth 18 spd, 6 rod suspension, 52" sleeper, icepack, Alcoa wheels, bulbar, fridge, bull lights, all radios, will set you back the small sum of approx $370,000. to set up a triple Roadtrain with say fridge (reefer) vans, $15,000 each for dolly's, 2 required, Maxi cube vans will set you back approx $190,000 each, 3 required. So for around a million dollars (Australian $) you too could own one.
It is not much fun owing the bank that much money. Some years ago my brain slipped out of gear and I went and bought one. I had a Mack Superliner V8 and flattops. Now the headaches I got out of that debt left me with a grey patch on my head, lucky I only bought one or I would have been all grey, Ha Ha. 68 tyres including spares.
I once did a trip to a place called Karumba which is a little fishing town, had 9 blowouts and 2 busted spring packs on the way up. I had to re-pack the last trailer by hand on the side of the road as the beer cartons were moving off the pallets ( that was a lot of fun in 38 C or 100.4 F + temps. ) I must be a glutton for punishment as I always said I would not buy another truck, But I keep going in and specing one up, just can't bring myself to sign on the dotted line yet.
Perhaps one of Diesel Gypsy's notes should be considered at this point.................. Ha-ha,
--- TO BE OR NOT TO BE; AN OWNER/OPERATOR --- Click and go direct......
