Steam train causes track-side fires
 

http://www.burnham-on-sea.com/news/2...e-28-06-10.php

Crikey!

That's not good news. :(

I hope this does not provide an excuse for limitations on steam traction to be imposed!

These steam engines still run? Steam locomotives in Brazil, the few who rescued are in museums, the rest bitter rust and the time

Back in the steam days this happened almost every day,but less often than one would think considering how many steam locos thee were.
BUT one of the problems today is that track side vegetation is not kept properly under control
At one time the track gangs(Ganger & platelayers)used to cut the grass on their length.

Yes steam Locomotives still run in preservation on enthusiasts specials.
And there are many "private" steam railways (see a couple below)
http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/
http://www.svr.co.uk/

I have known track side fires caused by sparks off a train whilst braking also discarded(litter) glass bottles can also cause fires.

I've seen sites and stayed until half "beast" because in Brazil, the maximum that you can find private railroad railway is used for loading; schist

Maybe spark arresters should be fitted to express locos since the bill for damping down these lineside fires would soon make the trips un-economical!!??

I think the particularly dry weather recently hasn't helped. I don't think this is a common occurrence these days?

Spark arresters are fitted to all mainline registered steam locos. The reason for Bittern's withdrawal from traffic recently was to check that the spark arrester fitted was doing the job after a series of fires on routes she had been on.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

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:

I've seen sparks come out of 37's, 31's, 20's, 47's, 56's and I've even seen flames come out of a 40's exhausts, but I've never known any of them set fire to track sides. You have to remember that the sparks from diesel loco's are miniscule compared to those that can come from a steam loco's chimney or from out of the ashpan.

If you care to look at any of the "Then & Now" series of books it is immediately apparent why there are lineside fires. In steam days, lineside fires were an everyday occurrence, so much so that the grass was kept short and brush and trees never had chance to get established. Travel by train now involves passing down a green canyon with trees brushing the sides of the train, in current dry conditions, a recipe for fiery disaster.

It never ceases to amaze me how much the track side environment has changed since the end of steam.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

There are still a few places where the lineside vegetation is cut back, but its to help with the sighting of signals and to stop leaves getting onto the line rather than trying to avoid lineside fires these days.

Shame the sparks wont clear japanese knot weed.

On the jacobite services in fort william, we have a 'fire watch' team, they follow about 15 mins behind the train, if there are any fires they are big enough to spot but small enough to be put out with fire beaters.

Another story, on a light engine move and we spotted a lineside fire in the distance, driver pulls out camera and takes a few pics as he knew we would be blamed, when he showed them the pics it was found to have be the freight trains brakes in front of us......

Several years ago steam locos had appearances to Skegness but on one trip numerous lineside fires were started along the line round the Boston and Sleaford areas.
The lack of clearance of growth from the lineside contributed to the incidents which caused an uproar from the fire dept. In Lincolnshire most of the crews are part time retained persons which pushed up the payroll.

Maybe if spark arresters are now fitted another trial could be made but I do not hold my breath!

Michael

Spark arrestors have been fitted for quite a while now, and dispite what people may tell you, most sparks come out of the ash pan, not the chimney.