RTC 2024

A quote from a member of Wessex Control - "FUCXXXXG steam trains"

 

SWML in tatters, barely anything moving from Southampton - Weymouth now…

 

Well, if NR considered the risk to be too great, they should have acted accordingly. In any case, from what I can deduce from RTT, the Fleet fire was before the steam passed. I could be wrong on that, of course, but trains were certainly significantly delayed there before the steam.

 

Lineside fire burnt through numerous cables in the Hinton Admiral area. Not a good day for steam.

 

Yes, it is clear how a steam train could start fires, but we don't know if that has been the case today. However, I note that NRE is now reporting what they call "muliple fires" (they mean 'several', of course) between Brockenhurst and Bournemouth, a stretch which is bordered by bracken for long stretches, so it does look rather too much of a coincidence. Sadly, I suspect the diesel will be at the front on the return journey, whether blame has been attributed by then or not.

 

Possibly not, but also not a good day for NR, who are responsible for managing both the vegetation and the running of steam in the weather conditions.

 

Yes Al, that is not good, especially for anyone vulnerable to heat ( I am ). I do hope that all on board are ok after an 85 minute late arrival at Swanage.

I've been watching the Swanage web cams and seeing how the Swanage Railway coped with the late arrival. From my study I reckon they did a very good job! The Black five had to wait 15 minutes at Corfe Castle as 34053 had not long left Swanage, and that train had to cross the demu, which then crossed the Black 5 at Corfe Castle. Meanwhile at Swanage 34053 arrived, having left its train outside the station, as the Bulleid needed to take water. The diesel shunter left when 34053 arrived and pulled that train into the bay platform. Then a wait until Sir Keith had quenced his thirst, after which he quickly ran forward and reversed back onto the stock in the bay platform. After which the Black 5 arrived at 14.18. And not long at that 34053 left the bay platorm on what I presume was a service train.

Up to date now at 14.32, the diesel loco has pulled the stock of the main line train out, leaving the Black 5 and support coach at the town end of the station.

I'll say again, I think the Swanage Railway have done a good job with some slick operating - as they did at the Bulleid fest. The only 'delay' at Swanage, was Sir Keith needing a decent drink - something you can't really ignore when Sir K is large steam locomotive!

Bryan B

 

https://x.com/networkrailwssx/status/1805955635520942323?s=46

Footage of one.

 

Photo taken from Network Rail Wessex's Twitter page.

 

With due respect it is very clear what caused most, if not all, the lineside fires

 

I'm not judging either way (although the Fleet one, seemingly before the steam passed, is odd), but the fact remains that NR has control of whether steam is allowed or not, and they allowed it today. I suspect the steam DID cause most of the fires but rushing to blame in the past has proved wrong. To be honest, I am surprised it was allowed today without the diesel either at the front or mandated to do the lion's share of the work.

 

The steam did cause most of the fires.
I suspect, and this is my humble opinion, that it will be diesel hauled back all the way

 

When the Black 5 reversed out with the support coach it did seem to have rather a lot of coal still in its tender. Not sure it that would have looked the same if/when it it had all been brought forward a bit. And with the 47 reversing the stock of the train back into the platform not that long afer the 5 had reversed out, I can't think there was time for the Black 5 to have detached its support coach and gone into Swanage shed to be coaled. But I have taken a PNB or two!

 

No clue but I know if, for example, there was a booked long pathing stop and the train was already running late the RTT schedule would suggest a short stop or no stop at all for the train to get back on time. Normally though this would not be earlier than the scheduled departure time so not sure why it appears that way. I could only imagine it is not aware of the water stop for some reason as RailRecord normally states there is one too but it is not noted on the return.

 

For anyone going out for the return. The five has been grounded at Swanage. The return will run in some form or another but no steam at all.

 

In that case the short stop at Basingstoke on the RTT might end up being true!

 

RTT gets its data directly from NR so the two sets of data should be the same. As I said, this is the first time I have seen this discrepancy, hence my query.

 

Agreed - I suspect NR dropped the ball on fire risk here, with quite severe consequences.