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Signal Box Fire: SVR Kidderminster:

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by 46118, Mar 2, 2013.

  1. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    Reports elsewhere indicate a fire in the SVR Kidderminster signal box. Further details to follow as extent of damage becomes more clear. SVR trains thought to be not running to Kidderminster at present, with coach service from Bewdley, but will clarify.

    One report says considerable damage to signalbox roof.

    Bad news indeed at the start of the season.

    46118
     
  2. black5

    black5 Well-Known Member

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    From SVR twitter, "We have had a small fire at our signal box in Kidderminster, fire brigade called, minimal damage to structure"
     
  3. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    Sadly not "minimal" at all. Box out of use. Image seen on facebook shows a large burn hole in the box roof above a stovepipe outlet. Emergency roof repairs to make building watertight, and Sunday's services "may" be operated by handcranking points, and pilotman. Still under consideration and before an examination of the signalling equipment in the box, which has no doubt suffered water damage.

    We could have done without this.

    46118
     
  4. Danny252

    Danny252 New Member

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    From the BHStation FB: Timeline Photos | Facebook

    I'd say it does actually look worse than it is - I suspect a lot of the blackening on the floor is just wet ash from the roof. The paint on the levers, crossbeams and lamps is still intact, which implies there isn't any real heat damage. The main worry seems to be damage to the signalling equipment by firefighting water, and the fact the roof "not being watertight" (!).

    Service is planned to continue as normal tomorrow, with pilotman working and points being hand cranked: SVR-Online Forum :: View topic - fire in KR SB
     
  5. Danny252

    Danny252 New Member

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    Photo of the damage: Timeline Photos | Facebook

    It actually looks like the fire damage was quite minimal - none of the paint on the lamps/crossbeams/levers has been damaged, which implies there was very little heat damage, and most of the blackening on the floor seems to be wet ash from the roof.

    Service is to continue as planned tomorrow (with the amendments previously published), with pilotman working and points being hand cranked: http://forum.svra.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2775
     
  6. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    I guess the "unknown quantity" is how the electrics in the locking room have been affected by water ingress.

    Still dont call it "minimal" though...!

    46118
     
  7. Danny252

    Danny252 New Member

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    True - minimal damage would have been no fire! But definitely a lot less than it could have been; I was worried we might find the interior gutted.

    And indeed, water is the main concern from the sounds of it (as well as the box "not being watertight" any more!). S&T are to make an appearance tomorrow to assess the damage.
     
  8. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    Well minimal or not, lets just hope that the damage to the equipment is minimal, so that operations can be resumed asap.

    I guess it could have been worse, a lot worse.

    Report elsewhere indicate that the fire took hold shortly after the first down train had left Kidderminster, and the signalman exited the box, shaken, but thankfully uninjured.

    46118
     
  9. olly5764

    olly5764 Well-Known Member

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    Being looked into tomorrow, but damage to the box is very minimal, restricted to a small area of the roof and some paintwork damage.
     
  10. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    And where did the water go, Olly? Lots of electrics in the locking room I suspect!

    Still, I agree with your sentiment, and hopefully on inspection tomorrow there wont be any water damage to the works, and it is just a cleaning /drying/ testing job.

    Could have been much worse.
     
  11. olly5764

    olly5764 Well-Known Member

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    I belive the power was switched off prior to water being poured in, but there was even talk about the box potentially being operational late tomorrow. On that score I'm not so hopefull, but when you look at some of the other challenges the railway has faced in the last few years, this is not as huge as many of them.
     
  12. Kje7812

    Kje7812 Part of the furniture

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    It's been reported on Bridgnorth station's Facebook page that the equipment has been dried and repaired to the extent the box is operational so pilotmen and handcranking aren't needed.
     
  13. gios

    gios Member

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    Well done and congratulations to SVRs S&T and all those involved.
     
  14. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    In fact, all operations today have been normal - it all worked from the off, not without a lot of effort from a lot of people and more today as the cleaning up job begins - people to which a great deal of thanks is due - my own limited involvement (after being collared for handsignalling if required - obviously it wasn't) was to give the block shelf and lever handles a dust and polish!
     

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