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

Not all TOC's have 25 year old managers. In fact, from the TOC's that I have experience of, there is a wealth of experience and far far more than some of those who come from the pro steam side....

 

I applied for a Graduate Management Trainee scheme on a TOC recently, didn't get through to interview despite having a degree a grade higher than specified, a tick in the box (admittedly in my opinion) for all their other specifications, and nearly three years volunteer experience on a well established heritage railway in customer service and signalling.

I don't think being a railwayman quite cuts it in managerial positions in their opinion anymore, but I'm a little bitter and biased at the moment

Anyways, back on topic...

 

Have to agree there Frank, this incident proves the point impeccably.

 

Have the true facts actually been released as to why the locomotive caused the fires?

Was it human error or did a fault occur en route or other reasons?

Stan

 

Im not tarring all TOC's with the same brush, there are those out there like for example Chiltern who appear to use Railway knowledge to their advantage quite successfully, to be honest i had one West Coast based TOC firmley in mind when making the statement...

 

Oh dear. An ECT service has failed on Welwyn Viaduct with resulting chaos. Wonder how ECT will be able to blame steam for this. Perhaps Class 91s should be banned from the ECML on weekdays.

 

Everyone's blaming the toc... Isn't it not the NR charter unit the one floating on thin ice right now.. After all it's sitting on a 7 figure fine right now due to the fires, and in these days of government cut backs, a niche department, with 7 figures of red ink, for a small business unit that's very specialist would surely be one for scrutiny ?..
After all if it went away, some government official could claim to have made cutbacks without affecting core services..

I know if it were my job on the line, through events out of my control I'd be micro managing every task right now, and reducing risk wherever possible.

 

ECML or any other mainline fires are serious and will cause major problems and major repercussions to the steam movement.

But please, what was the reasons for 30777"s pyrotechnics?

Stan

 

Stan the Man.
Quoting from Heritage Railway, issue 155, page 56.

"As to what caused the lineside fires, reports have claimed the N15's damper door had been opened in order 'bring the fire round' but, as a result, unburned coal in the ashpan had burned fiercely, destroying the ashpan grill and depositing burning coals and hot ash, as the 4-6-0 travelled down the line"

Where Heritage Railway got the above from and how accurate it may be, I know not.

Regards, Oddsocks.

 

I've heard the same.

 

Seems about right

 

Many thanks for the info.

Stan

 

You're welcome.

 

Chaos on ECML near Peterborough this afternoon due to, wait for it..............a line side fire!

No steam around today, I hope! I am not sure whether to feel smug or whether it reinforces NR's decision to ban steam albeit during the midweek.

Just imagine for one moment if a steam tour over this weekend on the ECML - outside of the NR ban - caused a lineside fire. That really would be a serious nail in the coffin.

Summing up, it really does underline how fragile the current situation is. Perhaps when this amazing Indian Summer is over and we get the Winter Rain (and snow) we can all breath a sigh of relief.

But we are not there yet!

Nick

 

.....

 

The locals trying to set fire to the bridge over the Nene I heard?

 

Quite a few burning their bridges with East Coast.

My taxi's on it's way...

 

Off topic, but had to reply. I applied for one, too. I think that my voluntary activities on my local railway are seen as more of a hindrance than a help (I can imagine it'll be an "oh, no, here's another railway nut who thinks he's going to revert motive power back to steam" etc.), although I think the TOC I applied to must've considered my application very carefully, as it took them four months to get back to me. Don't be downcast, try again next year. I certainly will, although I'll probably fail the assessment centre (I always do).