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The roads in Pilbara had shredded a tyre and I stopped to replace it. The midday heat, dust and weight of a large off road tyre made it a fairly challenging task and getting it on and off the roof on my own raised a sweat. Those tasks are always amplified by the elements and it is possible to have a sense of humour failure when a wheel nut gets stuck. Fortunately Devi got the kettle going and I was rewarded with a cup of Chai on successful completion of my task.

Whilst busy with the wheel, a massive iron ore train had pulled up at the lights on the track next to the dirt road and was just sitting there, simmering with the deepest growl. Waiting for the signal that would send it on it’s way again. We do not get trains that size back in South Africa and I was really taken with the double locomotive setup. It just oozed a menacing power, throaty diesels rumbling. We climbed over the track and struck up a conversation with the driver. He invited us up into the cab and gave us a full tour. The impressive payload, dead man’s switches, self driving trains, the economics and logistics of it all.

Fascinating stuff. I forget the specifics but it was well over 200 cars and it seems the mining companies have solved the autonomous braking challenges the driver was telling us about because these trains no longer have drivers and are remotely controlled. So he gets to sleep in his own bed every night, (his main gripe)  they get the ore to where they want it and the matter of a not too small salary is no longer an issue for either of them. Roll on the new order.