Steam Ban Nationwide

From memory the BB use to have line side water butts in case of line side fires. I take it they still have them can’t remember seeing any other railway placing water buts along the line side. Did seem like a good idea to me.

 

I believe there still are; there are also beaters at every quarter mile post. I suspect they are of more use to the p/way gangs though who might serendipitously come across a fire while walking the line: if you are on a loco, you have a ready source of water immediately where required, whereas even with butts every quarter mile, the nearest water and beaters might be 200 yards away. I believe guards carry beaters as part of their equipment.

Tom

 

It is welcoming to know that some steam operated lines take the fire risk and how to deal with any outbreaks, seriously.
Those old enough may remember how during the pre-nationalization and BR steam days line side vegetation and embankments were well maintained and cut back. In fact I remember PW folk deliberately burning back overgrown grass embankments most years. (GWR line - don't know about the others ).

 

In the days when I had a lineside pass (and lived nearer) I often extinguished a small fire using either water (as most butts seemed to have some container in them like a cut away plastic 5 litre bottle) or attacking it with a beater.

 

There’s one at Sharpthorne by the foot crossing.
I used it recently to extinguish a cigarette.

 

They were even in BR days in the 70s - I remember a cutting near me well maintained enough for me to sit on during the summer months. It was during the era of Railtrack that they were allowed to become overgrown - Railtrack said it was creating a nature reserve!

 

I believe the butts disappeared quite some time ago - a big problem was the fact some photographers took an intense dislike to them 'ruining' there pictures and pushed them over then rolled them down the bank. The other issue is that they need to be kept topped up with water due to evaporation in periods of hot weather which is a time consuming task (assuming its done by sending a loco up the line to stop at each one).

 

What happened to The Bluebell Railway Fire Service? And don't some other lines such as the SVR have their own fire engines?

 

I found this on the forum.
https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/what-happened-to-the-bluebells-fire-train.458030/

 

Given the national network status, I wonder what the insurance implications would be if they set stuff on fire. I hope they have a watertight fully documented risk assessment, mitigation plan and safety case.

 

I am sure it as all been been thought about and risk assessed. Not quite sure what national network status has to do with a Heritage Railway though.

 

precedence and guidance.

 

Travelling on the Swanage a few days ago, I did spot a fairly large burnt-out stretch of lineside at one point.

 

Large fire near Corfe Castle and Swanage railway suspended
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-44710634

 

I thought it might be useful to have a thread, on how services are being affected due to the weather, at present my local line (Welshpool & Llanfair) is still running but with diesel traction, which might make Saturdays vintage trains a bit different!
Also, no service of any kind on the Vale of Rheidol, until next Monday (9th.)
I will say these plans may change due to changing conditions

 

I am surprised that the NYMR does not simply use the diesels (assuming it has enough), and make a virtue out of its responsibility not to start fires. One would have thought that the punters would understand the reasons.

 

After a successful claim is made then it is probable that others may follow suit. Complacency recently cost the South Devon dearly, I believe steam operated lines should not relax vigilance with fire risks.

 

My photo of the S15 just past Caseford Bridge on the Bluebell Railway this morning, where I and the rest of the Wednesday Lineside Gang were busy cutting, raking and burning the very combustible vegetation! Evidence of the Gang's work in recent weeks is visible.

 

Seems all steam services from Wolsztyn have been cancelled for the month as well, but not the railtours. Not just the UK that's affected by the dry weather.