In 2013 I was commissioned by Rio Tinto to produce a major coffee table book documenting the visual and oral histories of the people working in their Pilbara Rail business — timed to coincide with 50 years of rail operations in the Pilbara.

A key focus was to recognise the contributions of the longest serving employees, many of whom would soon see their roles transformed as the business transitioned to driverless trains. The book was intended as a permanent historical marker — for the Pilbara, for the company, and for the people who built it.

I have always loved working with so-called old-timers. Almost without exception they carry a tremendous sense of pride in their work — something increasingly rare in any walk of life. The people of Rio Tinto's rail business were no different. Legendary, every one of them.

Over three years I worked across the entire rail network — documenting the lives and work of train drivers, maintenance crews and signals operators. Climbing high signal towers. Photographing trains under the stars.

These photos show a selection of employees in a mix of their work clobber and private gear. I wanted to show the personalities of the people and not just a book of people in high vis clothing.

The work we produced together is some of the most memorable of my career. Here is a selection.