Hi RTFQ I have spent some time in the Westport area lately. Each...

Hi RTFQ
I have spent some time in the Westport area lately.
Each train I counted had 30 wagons with capacity of either 50 tonnes or 53 tonnes, giving 1,500 tonnes per train load.
An earlier post today also refers to 3-5 loads per day which marries well with the 80,000 two Handymax ship loads per month departing Lyttleton.
I don't think a 4,500 tonne load would easily climb the Otira Incline, even with the 5 DX locomotives (when you visit Wesport, please catch the Trans Alpine and the engineering of the Otira tunnel will be explained in detail).
My posting yesterday was sent before I proof-read.
The load schedule is currently 3-5 trains daily, giving about 80-90,000 tonnes per month.
Some coal going over the Otira line through to Lytttleton will belong to Roa Energy mining east of Westport (I presume Roa's volume is also exported).
A good website to track the Handy-max ships loading at Lyttleton is marinetraffic.com. It allows you to work ship size and destination. The coal handling facility is situated to the north of the port. A road visit to Lyttleton will be disappointing as the road above the coal port area is closed for post-earthquake rock blasting.