How do steam railways tackle lineside fire risks?

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[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

How do steam railways tackle lineside fire risks?

[Image from here is not available to guests]
The Watercress Line is operating its Canadian Pacific loco to reduce the risk of fires - Image © Peter Trimming

Prolonged dry weather has led to a temporary ban on steam trains on the national rail network but the rules do not apply to independent heritage lines.

Swanage Railway in Dorset and the Watercress Line in Hampshire are among the attractions still running steam locomotives when it is deemed safe to do so.

So how do operators decide when it is safe, and how do they mitigate the risk?

Safety measures include devices that prevent embers from escaping, choosing bigger locomotives to pull the trains, and assessing the strength and direction of the wind.

Watercress Line chief executive Rebecca Dalley said: "We do have to be very careful but there are lots of things we can do.  There is a wonderful device called a spark arrester.  They've got very fine mesh so almost nothing can escape, so you are only getting smoke coming out of the top and a bit of steam."

Dalley said screens were also fitted to the dampers that let the air in beneath the fire so there is "no means of escape".

"We check the condition of our ash pans that collect the embers from the firebox and we fit water sprays to dampen everything down," she said.

(BBC article continues)

[grahame]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

A heritage railway service has paused its steam engine trips after two fires, one of which was "most likely" caused by a passing train.

Two blazes broke out on Thursday - the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)'s hottest day of the year so far - near Normanhurst Park in Darley Dale at 16:21 BST, and near Church Road in Derbyshire.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said the first fire spanned a grassland area of roughly 100m by five metres, while the second fire - involving vegetation at the side of railway track - was found to have likely been caused by sparks from the passing train.

Peak Rail, which run services on the Midland Railway line, said the withdrawal of steam-hauled trains would continue "until further notice".

The main (Network Rail) network in England has suspended steam operation as have some heritage lines - Peak Rail, and the Bluebell (outside station areas), for example.