At 0008 hrs on the morning of November the 17th 1994, coal train EV27 departed Moranbah heading towards Mackay to unload. This train consisted of 4 electric locomotives, an ELRC unit (remote control unit for the locomotives positioned in the middle of the train) and 108 loaded coal wagons. It was approximately 1.7 kilometers in length and had a gross weight of 9,622 tonnes. By all accounts this was a normal run for this type of train in this part of the country.
EV27 had run through Hatfield situated near the foot of the range at approximately 0258 hrs doing a speed of 78 kph. By the time it had reached the top of the range it's speed decreased to 63 kph. The permitted speed for this section of track was 40 kph.
On board locomotive recorders indicated that train EV27 derailed on Black Mountain at 0303 hrs while descending the range. It's speed during the derailment was approximately 95 kph to 101 kph. Luckily the two person crew escaped injury because the lead locomotive broke away and cleared the wreckage during the derailment. The following photographs are of the damage caused by this derailment.