Fire Risk

Indeed so - I will be surprised if steam is even present, given the scorching weather.

 

Which calls into question the usefulness/point of a blanket banner like that, when conditions were obviously inappropriate for steam over quite a wide area.

 

Posted about this on the Steam Dreams thread but relevant here also. Nunney Castle has set fire to the lineside between Newton Abbot and Torre. Trains are delayed by more then 20 minutes at Paignton while the fire is being dealt with.

 

So predictable, which is the shame of it. We all want steam to run, but it does more harm than good when it does so in the obviously wrong conditions and fires are the result.

 

I agree. When I saw that fire by the lineside and then got to Paignton to see trains stuck in the station while the announcements went up about what was happening just makes you think about the consequences that come of steam railtours in the summer.

As much as I love seeing steam on the mainline, I can't help feel bad for the people who have sort these messes out what things go wrong as a result of steam locomotives.

 

Not to mention who compensates farmers for lost crops.

 

I'd of been very much happy just to have the 57s was surprised 5029 was allowed out to play.

Its a beautiful evening now just enjoying the last of the long evenings.

Great day as usual on board.
Couldn't recommend it enough.

 

They will claim on their insurance in the first instance who will then make a claim from NR. Timings will be carefully examined, I remember a case I the north where I think SNG was the culprit but analysis of the the passing times and the 999 call showed that the call was made about 4 minutes before the train passed!

 

Probably time to think about some oil firing on the mainline to be honest.

 

But given what seems (to me, at least) to be a declining number of main line steam tours now, even allowing for the increasing frequency of weather events such as we are now experiencing, would it be financially viable for the owner? Some more mainline-capable Type 4 diesels in earlier BR liveries may be a better bet. Double-headed 40s (for example) would have me reaching for the credit card!

 

Or do tour promotors try and make more of the shoulders of the year?

I think this year has been exceptionally bad though.

I had to wear a woolly hat for an evening walk Fathers Day last June (16th) it was that cold!

 

I think that 10 years from now most mainline steam tours will only happen in Winter. It will be a shame but I think it will be inevitable if these scorching heatwaves continue as they are. It was 32 in Worcester yesterday where I am!

 

The risk is from sparks, oil firing eliminates that. Climate change might well force change in this respect.
Clear chimneys and no sparks is good PR for the industry. Will be interesting to see how the NYMR gets on with its conversions, I think it will almost certainly lead to change.

 

Combination of prolonged dry weather, warm temperatures, rubbish quality coal and vegetation being allowed to grow.

 

Oil fired locos in America are not noted for clear chimneys.

 

It would need to be state of the art burners and high quality fuel, not the old pans burning HFO of the 40s and 50s. I imagine a company like that Swiss one (name escapes me, DLM or SLM? ) would be a possible source of technology.

 

From what is happening at Robertsbridge I get the feeling that there is still 'big money' around for major steam projects that include infrastructure for main line steam, on top of projects that need a very good deal of enthusiast funding to get them off the ground. So maybe one of the big players will soon come forward with a oil fired class 8 loco as a means of keeping steam operations on the main line as we look to see more and more very hot summers. Maybe one is already working on that?

Not just because of my own obsession, but surely there is a Merchant Navy pacific that could be overhauled back to main line standard as an oil fired loco if one of the big players decides to invest now for the future. Even if the initial return on investment may be patchy. I say a MN because they are a class 8, look to have quite good route availability, and there are such as 35022, 35025 and 35027 and possibly others around and out of use at present. Others here will know better than me situation re those three MNs, although I am aware that progress continues with the overhaul of 35025. And maybe the Lottery would consider funding assistance to future proof this important part of our railway heritage if it included a move towards a more environmentally friendly bio fuel.

I don't know how much expertise there still is in Germany re oil fired locos, and I'm not sure if oil fired 012 066-7 is still operational.

But my experience behind those fabulous German Pacifics in 1971-1975 and behind 012 100-4 in the heritage era was outstanding. Albeit using 'standard' oil and not any form of bio fuel in the modern heritage era.

It was oil fired 012 pacifics in the 1970s on the Munster -Nordeich line that got me my only ever out and back even time run (start to stop 60 mph or more average). ie Brother @gricerdon and I travelled from Rheine to Leer on a non-stop express covering the 71 miles in some way under 71 minutes. We crossed platforms and made a very tight conection with a southbound express which got us back to Rheine in some way under 71 minutes. Where the combined journey times plus the time crossing platforms at Leer in minutes was still under the total out an back mileage of 142 miles!

Bryan

 

I still remember the occasion many years ago when SNG set fire to the lineside near Abbott's Ripton and the train manager of the regular service train I was held on laid a great emphasis on the fact that the delays were caused by "...a vintage steam train setting fire to the lineside".

 

I admire your confidence that steam tours will still be running on the mainline in ten years.

 

I remember Dick Hardy saying we shouldn’t expect ML steam to be around after 1995 yet here we are. Swap your half empty glass for one that’s half full!