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Fire Risk

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Oswald T Wistle, May 9, 2025.

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  1. thb17

    thb17 Member

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    There must be something someone can invent? Maybe something that sprays a mist of water over the chimney or something??
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2026 at 11:05 PM
    thb17, Jul 27, 2026 at 8:22 PM
    #421
  2. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Ships have funnels, locomotives have chimneys!

    I don't think there is a magic bullet. Minimising risk will come from a combination of control measures, including - but not limited to:
    • Spark arrestors in smokeboxes
    • Proper maintenance of ashpans and ashpan doors
    • Ashpan sprays
    • Defensive driving
    • Control and clearance of line side vegetation
    • Carrying of adequate fire-fighting gear so that crews can (within safe limits) tackle fires they discover
    Note that that list contains actions on loco crews, workshop maintenance staff; loco overhaul groups and lineside / pway staff; it's a collective effort.

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, Jul 27, 2026 at 9:09 PM
    #422
    Aberdare, Big Al, Chris86 and 3 others like this.
  3. Chris86

    Chris86 Well-Known Member

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    A number of industrial locos and also road steam machines have an additional basket type device on the chimney, does anyone have any experience of how effective they are as an addition?


    Ta in advance
    Chris
     
    Chris86, Jul 27, 2026 at 10:22 PM
    #423
  4. Alex Productions

    Alex Productions Member

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    Interesting to note on the Clan Line website, the diary dates have been updated to show the Pullman trips for 2027. After early May there are no trips with the Pullmans listed until end of September currently. I can only assume after the last few years of very hot weather in the Summer, Belmond are taking the safe option and not doing steam in the summer, saving it for spring and autumn when they can definitely run as advertised with steam.
     
    Alex Productions, Jul 28, 2026 at 7:01 AM
    #424
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  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Nail hit firmly on the head there Tom. I have already said that there is an uncomfortable truth that some loco owners really have to acknowledge even if there may be little that can be done about it, namely that all steam locomotives are not the same. Some are more risky than others as potential fire raisers and it's not as simple as saying that the noisier they are the more risky they can be.

    In really tricky weather, maybe a heritage railway can decide that one or two locos should remain on shed but for most that's probably not a luxury that will work, so diesel has to be the option. On the main line, the same applies but, for example, between Fort William and Mallaig, there is little choice of locomotive type, so the decisions are more obvious.

    As for the lineside, Network Rail could learn a lot from the heritage sector but even so, that is no guarantee. A good start would be to create a clear fire break of several metres around all lineside installations including relay cabinets and the like.

    As @Jamessquared correctly points out, it is a wake-up call for a number of different sectors of the railway.
     
    Big Al, Jul 28, 2026 at 8:18 AM
    #425
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