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The Fellsman 2018

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Moylesy98, Feb 17, 2018.

  1. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    We've a while yet, I suspect, and the moment that the risk is identified then it takes a brave decision maker to lift a steam ban without some considerable rainfall but also a reduction in temperatures that can trigger fire events. And as we know steam locos don't keep their fire inside them and are prone to random 'events', no more than sparking brakes on normal services but something to avoid none the less.

    And here is the issue.

    I was on a heritage railway yesterday when the train going in the opposite direction had set a small fire going close to the cess, almost certainly as an 'ashpan incident'. Our train passed in the other direction just a short while later. We stopped and the crew got down to put out the fire before we carried on. Try doing that on the main line without disrupting services!
     
  2. Bodorganboy

    Bodorganboy Member

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  3. Bodorganboy

    Bodorganboy Member

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    Ok I know this is not the Fellsman but this video illustrates how quickly a lineside fire takes hold
     
  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Yes and great presence of mind to continue filming as the conflagration developed but no doubt they were the folk who called the fire brigade so perhaps we shouldn't be too hard on the photographer.

    The wider point is that on the face of it there was no clue as to what from the loco caused the problem given that it was flattish and the Duke was just poodling along.
     
  5. Bodorganboy

    Bodorganboy Member

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    The incident happened alongside RAF Valley. And it was their own firemen who put the fire out
     
  6. sgthompson

    sgthompson Part of the furniture Friend

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    Still started a fire even if it was poodling along hence the steam ban at the moment Al ☹️
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2018
  7. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Absolutely. That's the point I was making. Steam locomotives cannot be relied on to keep the fire inside them and some of the 'earlier models' are a potential nightmare without any post WW2 technology.
     
  8. Bodorganboy

    Bodorganboy Member

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    Don't forget this was filmed in 1990, still in BR days
     
  9. malc

    malc Part of the furniture

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    Here's a question...

    If you were a good law-abiding linesider who never goes the wrong side of the fence and you see a fire starting at place that you can safely access to put it out, but not without trespassing on the railway, what do you do.? What if the fire starts on the opposite side of the line to where you are standing?
     
  10. sycamore

    sycamore Member

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    but if you are lineside, surly you ARE the wrong side of the fence! Personally i would report the incident through the correct channels...
     
  11. 60017

    60017 Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    ...the fire or the trespasser? ;)
     
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  12. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    I lineside often and never go the wrong side of the fence. Even standing on a bridge is linesiding in my book.
     
  13. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Advice these days is to leave fire fighting to the professionals. My organisation is removing fire extinguishers etc, as members of the public don't have training to use them and it is deemed better they focus on getting themselves to safety and calling emergency services, rather than trying to fight a fire.
    Would think same advice would be used in a lineside situation; report it promptly rather than putting yourself or others in danger trying to fight it.
     
  14. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Somewhere in that sound advice is that little bit of common sense that suggests an early non professional intervention can sometimes be appropriate - e.g. no emergency services nearby or arriving anytime soon, something that is in its very early stages etc etc. One has to ask why beaters (tools not people) are sometimes to be found on open land for that very purpose if they are not to be used.
     
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  15. sgthompson

    sgthompson Part of the furniture Friend

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    I remember filming 46115 in July a few years back at Helwith bridge on the S&C and a small lineside fire started but two photters near the foot crossing put it out rightly or wrongly.
     
  16. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Which is the common sense approach.
     
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  17. Sean Emmett

    Sean Emmett Member

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    At Helwith Bridge - Indeed.
    In third rail territory or busy main line - perhaps not.
     
  18. Bodorganboy

    Bodorganboy Member

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    Back in 1984 on Good Friday 60009 started a large number of fires between Sttle Jctn and Ribblehead. Did BR impose a steam ban, NO!!
    On the Saturday 92220 ran north over the the same route and then south on Easter Monday without incident.
    On the Tuesday no.9 ran south and once again started numerous fires. You would by now have expected a ban, but no, no.9 was allowed to run north over the S&C this time without incident. Mind you by then there wàs nothing left to burn.
    Can you see Network Rail allowing that now?
     
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  19. Bodorganboy

    Bodorganboy Member

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    Last bit should have read that 60009 ran north on the following Saturday
     
  20. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    So common sense was applied, and without realising a risk assessment carried out, no third rail, little traffic but keep a lookout, OK let's do it.
     

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