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Title: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: bobm on August 08, 2016, 21:31:08 A fire involving gas cylinders has been reported close to St Erth station.
The 17:03 from Paddington has been terminated at Liskeard. The 20:18 Penzance to Plymouth has been sent back to Penzance. Suspect the sleeper will also be delayed. The St Ives branch has been suspended and the signalbox at St Erth has been evacuated. Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: phile on August 08, 2016, 21:53:36 The Sleeper starting from Camborne worked by an HST off 1C86 1506 ex Paddington which has terminated at Camborne
Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: bobm on August 08, 2016, 22:02:58 From Twitter
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CpXMBw-WIAAhDjk?format=jpg&name=large) Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: plymothian on August 09, 2016, 02:22:17 As of 00.50, there needs to be an inspection of the infrastructure - especially signalling equipment and electrical supply.
The St Ives branch is likely to remain closed, with St Erth box switched out; the main line is top priority. Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: grahame on August 09, 2016, 07:19:15 Quote Firefighters are this morning still at the scene of a huge fire which broke out at the site of a tyre recycling plant in St Erth. The fire forced the closure of main rail line from Penzance to London, the branch line from St Erth to St Ives and the A30. A plume of thick black smoke could be seen for miles across Cornwall as the blaze took hold of the tyres and spread to neighbouring buildings. From The West Briton (http://www.westbriton.co.uk/watch-firefighters-battle-st-erth-fire-which-shut-a30-and-rail-lines-and-brought-down-power-cables/story-29599806-detail/story.html) ... article continues with more pictures and detail. Quote Mr Barrett said he hoped the main train line could be reopened for the first train from Penzance to London at 5.50am this morning, but that they would be reviewing the situation overnight. He said he expected the St Ives branch line and the A30 - which was originally shut for a serious car accident several hours prior to the fire - to remain closed into the morning. As ever, a bit over-optimistic on the reopening front ;) Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: bobm on August 09, 2016, 08:12:27 Not least because the first scheduled train was at 05:05 and not 05:50. ???
Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: TonyK on August 09, 2016, 08:44:29 As ever, a bit over-optimistic on the reopening front ;) Indeed - RTT shows everything cancelled from Penzance before the 1000 PAD service. The first (as yet) uncancelled train into St Ives is from Lelant Saltings to form the 1233 service to SER. Does that mean the unit was stuck on the branch line overnight, or is Lelant Saltings a normal stable? Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: LiskeardRich on August 09, 2016, 11:45:48 As ever, a bit over-optimistic on the reopening front ;) Indeed - RTT shows everything cancelled from Penzance before the 1000 PAD service. The first (as yet) uncancelled train into St Ives is from Lelant Saltings to form the 1233 service to SER. Does that mean the unit was stuck on the branch line overnight, or is Lelant Saltings a normal stable? The unit would I imagine have been stuck on the branch as the line runs between signal box and fire. The smoke could be seen in Helston, a friend posted on Facebook a video of the smoke from their house in Helston! Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: The Tall Controller on August 09, 2016, 15:05:55 The St Ives unit is stuck on the branch but in the bay platform at St Erth.
Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: grahame on August 09, 2016, 17:59:04 From the GWR web site / Journey check at 17:50 Quote A fire at a tyre recycling plant close to the railway line at St Erth has meant that we had been unable to run any train services through the station. Fire Brigade crews have now made the site safe and we are now in a position to make arrangements for train services to resume train services on the main line between Penzance and Truro. However, owing to constraints on resources already put in place due to this incident means that the first trains through to and from Penzance should be 17:55 Plymouth to Penzance, 15:06 London Paddington to Penzance and 20:18 Penzance to Plymouth. No trains will be able to call at St Erth station and we are still unable to run any services between St Erth and St Ives. Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: rower40 on August 09, 2016, 21:17:11 As ever, a bit over-optimistic on the reopening front ;) Indeed - RTT shows everything cancelled from Penzance before the 1000 PAD service. The first (as yet) uncancelled train into St Ives is from Lelant Saltings to form the 1233 service to SER. Does that mean the unit was stuck on the branch line overnight, or is Lelant Saltings a normal stable? Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: bobm on August 10, 2016, 02:20:00 Seems the fire has flared up again.
Reports are it has spread to another wall of tyres and forced the closure of the line again. There are now concerns it may affect some railway infrastructure including a relay room. There are currently five GWR sets and two Cross Country Voyagers trapped at Long Rock depot as a result of the new line closure. Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: grahame on August 10, 2016, 03:38:50 Seems the fire has flared up again. Reports are it has spread to another wall of tyres and forced the closure of the line again. There are now concerns it may affect some railway infrastructure including a relay room. There are currently five GWR sets and two Cross Country Voyagers trapped at Long Rock depot as a result of the new line closure. Oops. Judging by the lack of cancellations due to train shortage yesterday, GWR seems to have fortunately few trains tied up in Long Rock the first time around. From the West Briton (http://www.westbriton.co.uk/a30-re-opens-after-st-erth-fire-but-why-was-it-shut-for-so-long/story-29600058-detail/story.html): Quote A30 reopens after St Erth fire - but why was it shut for so long? Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: bobm on August 10, 2016, 10:59:06 I think Monday night's initial closure came early enough to prevent the majority of HSTs reaching Penzance. Last night the flare-up occurred almost at the end of service.
The good news is the main line has re-opened in the last hour with trains allowed past the site at slow speed with all windows closed and air-con turned off to prevent smoke being sucked in. I am not sure how easy it is to isolate the air-con on an HST. Trains still not calling at St Erth and the St Ives branch remains closed. Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: LiskeardRich on August 10, 2016, 12:59:38 Seems the fire has flared up again. Reports are it has spread to another wall of tyres and forced the closure of the line again. There are now concerns it may affect some railway infrastructure including a relay room. There are currently five GWR sets and two Cross Country Voyagers trapped at Long Rock depot as a result of the new line closure. Oops. Judging by the lack of cancellations due to train shortage yesterday, GWR seems to have fortunately few trains tied up in Long Rock the first time around. From the West Briton (http://www.westbriton.co.uk/a30-re-opens-after-st-erth-fire-but-why-was-it-shut-for-so-long/story-29600058-detail/story.html): Quote A30 reopens after St Erth fire - but why was it shut for so long? Another forum suggested 5 GWR sets dmu/hst not specified, the sleeper set and a voyager. 2 fuel tanks ruptured in the early hours of the morning Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: bobm on August 10, 2016, 13:07:36 The Up sleeper ran - it passed St Erth before the line was closed for the second time.
The stock from the previous night's Down sleeper was terminated at Plymouth early on Tuesday morning and ran as ECS from Laira in the early evening straight to platform 1 at London Paddington. Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: Chris from Nailsea on August 10, 2016, 15:58:28 A detailed update on the fire, from the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-37031392):
Quote Fire in St Erth blazes into third day A fire that broke out at a recycling centre has continued to blaze into its third day. Cornwall Fire and Rescue said the fire at St Erth, near Hayle in Cornwall, started at about 20:15 BST on Monday and more than 70 firefighters were called to fight it. Ruptured fuel tanks have caused the fire to spread with another bursting on Wednesday morning, firefighters said. No one has been injured but the yard owners' turtle was killed in the fire. Owners Kathy and Mark Bailey said all the usual safety checks were completed the night the fire started. (http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/14EEF/production/_90734758_tolvaddonstation.jpg) Crews have been working at the scene with aerial ladder platforms since the early hours of Wednesday "We are devastated for our employees who have worked so loyally for us for over 12 years and devastated to have lost not only our livelihood but many personal effects," they said on their Facebook page. They said these included "our daughter's dear little Turtle 'Alfie' who had become a loved company mascot", as well as items that once belonged to Ms Bailey's late parents, diaries dating back to 1884, photo albums spanning 90 years and a vintage car. The pair thanked the emergency services and sent their thoughts to the residents of St Erth who "bore the brunt of the smoke". Fran, a resident who lives in St Erth said her house was "full of awful fumes". (http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/E31E/production/_90724185_fire3.jpg) The fire is an "ongoing incident", firefighters have said "I had the most dreadful headache and I'm asthmatic and it's just been really horrible", she said. Public Health England said people living near to the fire were not likely to suffer any long-term health effects, but residents with asthma and chronic respiratory problems should stay indoors. There have been no reports of water pollution but soil samples from areas affected by firewater run-off would be collected for inspection, the Environment Agency said. Great Western Railway said lines through St Erth station would be closed for a second day on Wednesday because the fire had spread. (http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/15B6F/production/_90734988_59ed7636-d34e-439b-bb18-fddab89cd5ca.jpg) Alfie the turtle died in the fire Harry Hodgson, who was on a train which pulled into St Erth station on Monday, said the "huge black smog" could be seen from a mile away. "It just erupted and basically took a huge building out within minutes and all of a sudden it was just an uncontrollable inferno, a massive blaze", he said. Mr Hodgson said "the general mood was excitement" because no one had been injured and people were "enjoying the power and the beauty of the fire". People living in the area have been advised to close windows and remain indoors owing to the large plumes of thick, black smoke. (http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/88C4/production/_90721053_mattgraham.jpg) St Erth station has been closed due to the fire (http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/A9EE/production/_90720534_fire.jpg) A diesel and oil tank was caught up in the fire at the recycling centre (http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/C2D9/production/_90718894_wcp_1604.jpg) The blaze appeared to be centred on a stock of vehicle tyres (http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/12C51/production/_90718867_image1.jpg) The smoke could be seen for miles as the sun set Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: RichardB on August 10, 2016, 16:36:54 The St Ives branch line is restarting with a shuttle service between Lelant Saltings and St Ives. It'll be this now until St Erth and the remainder of the branch into the station reopens.
Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: Chris from Nailsea on August 10, 2016, 17:52:39 Thanks for that update, RichardB. :)
Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: rower40 on August 11, 2016, 07:51:01 The St Ives branch line is restarting with a shuttle service between Lelant Saltings and St Ives. It'll be this now until St Erth and the remainder of the branch into the station reopens. Or until the unit runs out of fuel...Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: TaplowGreen on August 11, 2016, 08:22:33 RIP Alfie :(
Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: bobm on August 11, 2016, 08:25:18 Main line trains now calling at St Erth.
The fire brigade blockade on the branch line was lifted temporarily to get a fresh unit onto the line for the shuttle to and from Lelant Saltings yesterday so hopefully it had a full tank of fuel. Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: broadgage on August 11, 2016, 11:55:58 Presumably when a unit is trapped on a branch line, it could be fueled from a drum of diesel in the back of a van transferred by a hose and a small pump ?
55 gallons should last a while. Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: chrisr_75 on August 11, 2016, 13:00:14 Assuming suitable road access, I would think they could refuel from a tanker lorry as they will likely use standard pipe fittings. I would imagine there would be too much risk of a spill by transferring from a drum - in that instance probably simpler just to hire in a couple of coaches/buses to cover the service by road.
Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: rower40 on August 12, 2016, 13:22:54 Assuming suitable road access... From memory of the delightful St Ives line, the only place one could get a road tanker near to the train would be in the platform at St Ives. And the whole point of the park-n-ride service is that driving to St Ives in high summer is a nightmare. AND it would mean taking a tanker full of fuel past the site of ... errm... a great big fire.Could a class 139 be helicoptered in, and a few hamsters to spin up the flywheel? Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: LiskeardRich on August 12, 2016, 16:07:23 Assuming suitable road access... From memory of the delightful St Ives line, the only place one could get a road tanker near to the train would be in the platform at St Ives. And the whole point of the park-n-ride service is that driving to St Ives in high summer is a nightmare. AND it would mean taking a tanker full of fuel past the site of ... errm... a great big fire.Could a class 139 be helicoptered in, and a few hamsters to spin up the flywheel? Lelant saltings I should think to be accessible, as long as some spaces are blocked out of use to allow manuevarbility of a tanker. In fact I would say leant saltings is more accesibile than st Ives. Oops just remembered as I was typing Cornwall council have put a one way system which would mean access to the saltings is now only possible under the low bridge. Google 'Lelant one way' to see the local uproar over the one way system installed! I'm on my phone in poor reception so unable to link myself Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: TonyK on August 12, 2016, 20:54:54 I have trouble linking myself after a couple...
Title: Re: Fire at St Erth - 08 Aug 16 Post by: bobm on August 20, 2016, 20:03:46 Went past the scene of the fire at St Erth this week and more than seven days on you can still smell it as you pass the signalbox at St Erth.
You can see how close it came to damaging the railway. (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/ser2.jpg) (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/ser1.jpg) This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. Views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net |