70013 & 30777 ECML lineside fires 02/09/11.

Thanks for the thought Mike. You are quite right. I expect EC will say they are not liable for any consequential loss (Clause 42(c) of NRCofC) and no-one else will accept responsibility, leaving the people down the end of the food chain out-of-pocket. And that then makes me think about all the people that have paid up to go on the ACE tomorrow who might now find it doesn't happen, or maybe not as planned. Hope for their sakes it goes on.

 

I do hope that both the ACE and The Spitfire run steam hauled tomorrow, i would be rather gutted if my first mainline tour was diesel hauled.

 

Fair point too, but I'm not thinking of suing anyone ! I'd just like to be recompensed for a loss that has nothing to do with me. But if you were in NR it would seem to be be easier to reduce the risk of any "previously known hazards" coming into contact with "combustible material" by banning the relatively few known hazards, rather than tackle thousands of miles of combustible material. Wonder what the incidence of this sort of thing was in steam's heyday ? Bet one of you lot knows.

 

5z22 on the move. network rail decide to release 70013 but 30777 stays at Newark. Will report back once its passed peterboro to confirm.

 

Thanks for the update Jason.

Neil.

 

Confirmed. 47.580 + 70013 en route to Southall. 30777 + support coach reported to be still at Newark. <BJ>

 

"Curioser and curioser" as Alice would have said. According to report from people on site, NR staff in attendance refused to allow the convoy to depart but after much talking on the phone, the 47 and 70013 departed leaving 30777 in steam at Newark. Bit of a problem if NR won't let the Arthur move with a fire in it.

 

Particularly if allegedly it was the Brit that caused the problems yesterday according to many of the earlier reports in this thread...... or was it?

Perhaps you have to try and have some understanding of NR's position if not any sympathy - after yesterday's debacle it will be a brave NR manager who allows them to move - I understand the difference between a LE move and a diesel hauled in light steam move but in today's risk averse world it cannot have been an easy call.

We're lucky to have as much steam as we do in my humble opinion.

 

Can't you claim on your travel insurance?.

 

The report on BBC Look North last night seemed to suggest that the problem may have been that the spark arrestor mesh on the ashpan of one of the locos had burnt through. If this was on 30777 and it hasn't been repaired, then things seem to start to make sense as there would still be a fire risk even if being dragged in light steam by a diesel.

 

5z22 passed through Peterboro about 20mins ago. 47, 70013 & 2 coaches. Spoken to member of crew while it was here he says 30777 now waiting to be put onto Lorry and then going to Loughboro for attention.

 

More like an issue where you should be claiming off your travel insurance.......??????????

 

Wow - I'm impressed - BBC London wouldn't know an ashpan spark arrestor from, from, from - well anything really.

 

Track workers used to set fire to the banks passed our house, and let it burn in a controlled manner to avoid this type of problem.

 

Indeed they did. A friend of mine was a ganger for may years and in the days of yore controlling lineside vegetation was part of the job.

 

70013 Has arrived at Southall. Let's see what surprises tomorrow brings!!

Mike M. ( 70c )

 

.....

 

As you say, that would make sense. I assumed that integrity of the mesh would be checked as part of the FTR. If so, then it must have had an excess of hot ash build up on it during the run - seems unlikely unless it dropped a firebar perhaps?

 

To put things into perspective, there has been a signal failure at Hitchin this evening. Delays of up to 90 minutes reported. Wonder what the anti steam brigade will make of that.