Dr.Nikon wrote:
I own the Honolulu Airport Passenger Baggage Storage And once stored luggage for a Australian road train driver who worked for a mining company Way up in the Northwest ..., in talking to him ., he said he has an additional tractor in line and when I asked if he hits any kangaroos .., he replied “we hit about 9 Roos a run “
He said when I asked about stopping after hitting them ..m .. he said only when a bone punctures a tire ...then we have to pull the whole thing over and it is a real bugger ...
I watched a special on tv about the famous road trains of Australia ..., quite fascinating ...thnx for sharing the pics ..I enjoyed them ...
I own the Honolulu Airport Passenger Baggage Stora... (
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Thanks for looking in Dr.Nikon. Everything connected with mining in the Northwest of Western Australia is done on a large scale and the road trains the Australian driver was referring to are no exception although they are restricted to designated mine roads rather than public highways. I have attached a photo of a self powered trailer similar to what the driver was most likely talking about. The power trailer unit usually sits in the middle of a combined six trailer road train and is operated remotely by the driver from the cabin of his prime mover. Overall length of prime mover and six trailers is 97 metres (318 feet), with a gross weight of over 400 tonnes, (441 US tons). The power trailer below was in transit from a mine to an interstate workshop.
Power trailer unit note the engine mounted under the middle of the trailer that drives the three axles at the rear. Note also the radiator unit for engine cooling mounted on the rear of the power trailer.
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This is the type of prime mover that is used to haul a total of six trailers including the power trailer unit above. This prime mover is larger than the standard on-highway vehicle and as such is restricted to use on designated mine roads only.
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OK, I can see the skill it takes to move one of these behemoths down the road - but what happens when you need to back up???
Stash
Loc: South Central Massachusetts
I've never seen three and four unit rigs. Can't imagine driving something like that.
Very good series, Thorny.
These are unbelievable and look really dangerous with the potential for a really bad wreck if one of them flipped over or lost several tires all at once. Wow.....they sure are interesting though.
My outtake is that reverse is a swear word. Thanks for showing.
Every so often shipping companies press for more trailers on US trucks, but
it's universally acknowledges that the other US drivers will create too many hazards.
Thorny Devil wrote:
Last year I posted some photos of Australian trucks which seemed be of interest to some UHH members so here are some more, some that I captured near where I live and others that I have seen during my travels.
Netflix has a show..Outback truckers. Great show about the men and women that are behind the wheel of these behemoths. I started watching it with my boyfriend and really got hooked.
samantha90 wrote:
Netflix has a show..Outback truckers. Great show about the men and women that are behind the wheel of these behemoths. I started watching it with my boyfriend and really got hooked.
It takes an Enormous amount of skill to handle these Trains especially if things are Not Going Well and hats-off to those folks who risk it all when they firer-em-up and roll-em-out !
JCam
Loc: MD Eastern Shore
How big are the individual unit tankers? We had up to 10,000 US gal. when I was in the US Army Transportation Corps in the early 60's and thought they were big. I can't imagine having to wrestle those monsters around our city streets and highways!
jpgto
Loc: North East Tennessee
WOW, although there are multi-trailer units on our roads they are nothing compared
to what you shared with us. Nice series of photos, thanks for posting.
Really enjoyed this Mr Thorny, thanks. Do you know: is a single driver able to assemble/dis-assemble one of these trains?. Guessing he would probably have to .........
Hey Thorny, in the States, were call those trains! LOL! Never have I seen that many trailers behind a tractor. Thanks for sharing.
GOOD GOD, DON'T SHOW ANY MORE PHOTOS, SOME DIM BULB FROM THE US CONGRESS WILL TRY TO OK THAT HERE IN THE STATES'
Dalek
Loc: Detroit, Miami, Goffstown
How fast do they drive and what sort of engine do they have? Is there more than one driver?
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