[modeleng] Re: Sparks

Working on the big railway and at track level most of the time, it is 
amazing how many lineside fires are caused by diesels and electrics, the 
West Coast mainline was closed twice last year because of these. Anyone who 
has seen a loco braking in the dark will know the cast iron brake blocks are 
like a grinding wheel. The sparks catch dead leaves in the cess and it soon 
spreads.

On the SVR, all our locos are fitted with spark arrestors and they work 
really well. However, sparks from the ashpan cause as many fires as what 
comes out of the top, remember this when you are club running in the summer, 
it might save a grass fire.

Dave.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "alan stepney" <alan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 2:33 AM
Subject: [modeleng] Sparks


I know that most clubs now insist on spark arrestrs but tonights news shows
that care is still required.

A spark from a locomotive engine was the cause of a major fire on the North
Yorkshire moors.
It took fire crews about six hours to extinguish the blaze between Pickering
and Goathland, which covered seven acres of moorland close to the tracks.

The railway line had to be closed so crews could move equipment nearer the
fire in a bid to stop it spreading.

Manager of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Philip Benham said they did
what they could to prevent fires.

Dry conditions

He praised the firefighters involved for their good humour in dealing with
the situation.

"It is a problem that we do experience from time to time," he said.

"The locomotives do have devices on them that are designed to minimise and
prevent sparks being thrown out and normally this works reasonably well.

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