Gone The Other Way Now!

With all the recent flooding/landslide/line closure issues, things have now taken a different turn. Given the current weather conditions (bone dry, constant sun/no cloud & temps in the high 20's) I think the dreaded fire risk scenario will start to raise it's ugly head again, with all the issues it brings involving boxes pushing steam ornaments around.

 

I woulden't say it's bone dry just yet, all the water the grounds soaked up recently will take a while to dry up, might be in trouble if we get a fortnight of continous hot sun, but don't think it's time to panic yet.

It's typically bang on schedule mind, im booked on 70000 to Camarthen in about 4/5 weeks, I've already had one steam trip wrecked to great expense this year.

 

Oh no......................more doom!

Enjoy what you can, where and when you can. Better go on a trip before the 'fire risk scenario' begins then.

 

Weather forcast shows it's gonna get wet again in the cheshire area later in the week! So dont get the sun cream out just yet!

 

You seem a bit obsessed with doom Beavis. There's nothing wrong with trying to pre-empt trouble, or indeed be realistic about potential threats to main line steam such as fire risk which like many a risk in this country is often given far more attention than is warrented.

It would be interesting to get some kind of facts on the whole fire risk thing. For example, how long does it actually take for a stretch of lineside vegetation, field etc, already soaked by weeks of rain to become "tinder dry" and prone to catching fire from sparks emitted by steam locomotive. I know it hasn't taken long for the lawn in my back garden to dry out from being wet so on that basis those railtours booked to run this week and the weekend of 28/29 July could well end up with some kind of restriction on them. That's not being a voice of doom but a voice of realism based on years of experience.

 

The voice of doom replys.
So, what would you do if you were running a tour this weekend? It is now Tuesday so to 'pre-empt' trouble and inconvenience to passengers, are you suggesting that tour organisers cancel trains?
I am travelling Sunday and will enjoy every minute.

 

Tell you what, lets wait for the ugly head to put in an appearance eh, We can't do anything about the weather.
We've got steam running, lets enjoy it.

 

Too right! Well said.

Cheers,

Bryan

 

Victor, when I saw you posting in "Gone the Other Way Now", I thought you'd come out. (shock).

But reading the first sentence I see you are just playing with fire with the missus again. (wink).

 

Really NR needs to start tackling lineside vegetation on a huge scale again as it's becoming a menace, it Autumn at some places it is really becoming a menace to service trains by affecting the ability to brake safely as well as scratching paintwork, indeed a TOC has recently been fined for a 2 mile overshoot, though the root cause (pun not intended) of the overshoot seems to have been overlooked in the inquiry, instead focusing on how much sand is availible for emergencies, indeed sand should be for emegencies, not seeing it's use becoming more regular due to poor railhead conditions which are avoidable.

As a by product of vegetation control there would be less for stray sparks for steam to set light to, I know there was some moaning by the locals near me when a few years ago when NR cut down some lineside tree's, it's a multi million pound tranpsort system, not the Forrestry Commision, don't compromise safety for the sake of a bit of pretty nature.

 

Panic over, weather forecast I've seen suggests the jetstream is moving back south over the weekend with the crap weather to follow, nothing to see here.

 

Up here in Scotland we haven't seen any dry/warm period this year and there isn't one on the horizon, so count yourself lucky that you're actually getting summer weather. Enjoy the steam on the main line whilst you can.

Steven

 

Yes, I've seen that too, just in time for the Olympics. Timing at it's best !

 

Yes, it makes you feel proud to be British, blimey, nearly typed English.

 

Apart from the NW of Scotland including the Outer Hebrides, I am told. Been a drought there until recently.

Cheers,

Bryan

 

Yep. Move along. Collect wellies and bailing buckets from that table over there.


Bryan - my web feet are growing nicely thank you - B

 

Yes, I wonder what the chances are of tours w/c Friday 3 April being caped as a result of landslides caused by flooding and storm damage !