The Karara Mine is 200 km south-east of the port of Geraldton in Western Australia’s Mid West Region, and produces high grade magnetite (a type of iron ore). The mine produces 8 million tonnes of magnetite concentrate per year that is exported, along with other iron ore products, from its 16 million tonne per annum export facility in Geraldton. Karara Mining has also built an 85-kilometre rail line, a 330-kV transmission line and a 140 km water pipeline for the project, which has an expected life of 30 years. The Australian transport company Aurizon is contracted to transport the magnetite concentrate and other products form the mine to Geraldton. We came upon this 90-wagon long Aurizon ore train pulled by three diesel engines returning to the Karara Mine as it passed through a level crossing on the Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road as we headed east towards the small regional town of Mullewa.