On 12 October 1978, "Pendennis Castle" and two former New South Wales Government Railways S type passenger cars were named "Rio Fe" ("River of Iron") by Lady Turner, wife of Sir Mark Turner, chairman of Rio Tinto - Zinc Corporation, one of the major investors in Hamersley Iron. A brass plaque bearing the name "Rio Fe" was fitted above the locomotive's smokebox door. "Pendennis Castle's" first passenger carrying journey in Western Australia was a return trip from Dampier to Dugite on 7 November 1978, with the locomotive hauling two passenger cars.