It happens on the preserved lines too!

This was the 13.15 departure from Loughborough earlier this month, delayed while the crew dealt with an outbreak caused by the loco on Driver Experience duties. At least the Diners would be able to enjoy their soup without spilling it.

Regards, 62440.

Maybe they need skirts down the sides to stop sparks coming off the brake blocks - I know thats a problem on shunters where there is vegetation close by the lineside. It doesnt take much to set it off because I have been caught up in it first hand.

I wouldn't expect sparks off break blocks in "normal use!"

Best wishes,

John H-T.

fireworks
 

When I was working on N7s at Enfield the fire sometimes needed cleaning at the end of a run. So before reaching our destination, if the fire was too big, firemen would ask the driver to knock it about a bit. He would then work the engine very hard only nicking up the reverser just a bit. At night the result of this was a grand fireworks display,
The engine would then emit huge showers of sparks chucking the unwanted fire out through the chimney. This was ok in London where we worked, but if you did this out in the sticks there was a good chance of catching the fields alight.:)

Have you ever seen the sparks flying off a CL47 when braking a heavy train from 60 mph?

All steam trains running on between Goathland and Levisham on the NYMR at the moment are either piloted or propelled by diesel traction because of the high fire risk on that part of the line. There's still steam loco's on the trains, but they make sure that the work is at least shared by the two loco's so there isn't excessive smoke coming out of the steamer.

Even so, there's still been a couple of small fires, one of which I helped put out between Levisham and Pickering on Monday. On Tuesday I worked as second man on the Dry Weather loco, coupling and uncoupling at Goathland and Levisham all day and pottering up and down between the two, using a Class 25.

Here's a pic I took of the Class 25 just after we'd piloted the 9F from Goathland to Levisham.

No, must watch out for one.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

I have seen plenty of sparks coming out of the exhausts of crompton 33's and class 25's when working hard so it isnt just steamers to blame!!

It still boils down to what I said in an earlier post that line side vegetation is not kept under control a good as it used to be.

These limitations are now in place until there is "significant rainfall".
Today's Cathedrals express is a good example of what may be the norm for a while.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1aQCR7o7gY watch and be amazed! :mad: