It is very surprising that there are very few photos from Mauritania on Railpictures.net yet, although diesel locomotives from the USA have been in service there for over 40 years. Let's start with a documentation of these operations. The SDL40-2 CC # 118 built by EMD in 1997 pulls the about 2 kilometer long loaded ore train of the SNIM (Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière) from Zouérat to Nouadhibou at line kilometer 407 between Choum and Ben Amira, together with the SD70ACS CC # 127 from 2012 and the SDL40-2 CC # 113 from 1993. The 650-kilometre-long standard-gauge, single-track railroad line through the Mauritanian desert was built between 1960 and 1963 to develop the ore deposits around Zouérat. The SD70ACS is a 4,500 horsepower (3,400 kW) AC variant for heavy haul freight, used in desert environments. The first 25 units were ordered for Saudi Railway Company in April 2009 and assembled in the London, Ontario, plant for delivery in the second half of 2010. Special features include a pulse filtration system, movable sand plows, EM2000 control system and FIRE display system.
Mauritania's Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière placed a contract for six SD70ACS locomotives in October 2010. Note the loaded donkey on the third car, on top of the iron ore.
