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Fire Risk and Preserved Lines

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by johnofwessex, May 11, 2025.

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  1. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    This summer has really brought home the perils of operating a heritage railway through beautiful countryside, or worse, a National Park as with the NYMR. I've mentioned it elsewhere at some point this year, but it seems to me that the railways that operate services where trains pass any specific location at regular intervals, in either direction, do have the benefit of being able to spot a lineside fire quickly and for the next service to deal with it before it gets out of hand.
     
    Big Al, Aug 29, 2025
    #121
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  2. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    Last edited: Aug 29, 2025
    Sheff, Aug 29, 2025
    #122
  3. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

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    The Green Howards, Aug 29, 2025
    #123
  4. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    Oops I never finished that post, got distracted by warring grandkids …. It was the comments that were of interest - now edited
     
    Sheff, Aug 29, 2025
    #124
  5. Respite

    Respite Member

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    Is the Churnet Valley still operating steam as normal during the dry weather?
     
    Respite, Aug 30, 2025
    #125
  6. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    I was on the Bluebell yesterday (Fri 29th) and noted that Camelot had a petrol water pump and fire hose on the rear of the tender by the filler
     
    johnofwessex, Aug 30, 2025
    #126
  7. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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    IIRC, the fire was in a cottage upwind of the line given the prevailing conditions. The occupants were preparing for a wedding so numerous electrical appliances were in use such as hairdryers etc. I think "not proven" is a fair assessment.
     
    Snifter, Aug 31, 2025
    #127
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  8. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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    A correction to the above, that fire started after a double headed steam service had passed. One loco worked on 21" vacuum and the other was a 25" vacuum loco. The visiting 21" was working extra hard due to the braking system not being equalised and little evidence was found of the fire propagating upwards.

    I passed the scene of the latest fire yesterday and it was not a pretty sight. I hope that the insurance cover is sufficient and there are no quibbles over sensible precautions not being taken. Whether insurance cover can be renewed at a future date is another question. The finances are not in a healthy state as it is.
     
    Snifter, Sep 1, 2025
    #128
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  9. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    Did no one know they are supposed to pull all the strings when a change of vacuum occurs? The brakes must have been dragging all the way
     
    Johnb, Sep 1, 2025
    #129
  10. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    If they hadn't pulled the strings, they wouldn't have been able to set off at all I wouldn't have thought. Possibly whilst in motion the 25" loco did a bit too much sucking at one point?
     
    flying scotsman123, Sep 1, 2025
    #130
  11. 21B

    21B Part of the furniture

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    I know of a case where the crop near the railway failed for some reason and the shadow of suspicion was thrown on the railway’s weed killer train. Fortunately the wind was a)not more than a breeze that day and b) blowing away from the field.
     
    21B, Sep 4, 2025
    #131
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