Freight train on fire at Castlethorpe nr Milton Keynes

[142094]

BBC News getting reports of a freight train on fire near Milton Keynes and the line is shut. No further info at this time.

 

[stuartmoss]

A bit more now: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-14716154

 

[ChrisCooper]

86 or 90 decided to cook itself probably.

 

[DarloRich]

virgin trains stacking at MKC

 

[87015]

90042 on 4L89.
Burn, burn, burn...

 

[DarloRich]

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.html

A broken down freight train is causing disruption near Wolverton.

Because of this, there are delays of up to 60 minutes between Rugby / Northampton and Milton Keynes Central. These delays are expected to last until approximately 13:00.

Virgin Trains passengers may use Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands and East Coast services.


From the NR site

EDIT - Virgin Thunderbird sat platform 3 at MKC - potential international rescue service? Thunderbirds are go! @ 11:59

 

[graham43404]

With delays at Northallerton today up to 45 mins on East Coast due to emergency track work and now this with the WCML it's not a great day to get down to the capital from the North of England.

I can imagine the chaos at Kings Cross and especially Euston at the moment.

 

[ChrisCooper]

Hopefully it won't have damaged the OHLE or else it will take even longer to sort out. Train "fires" can range from fairly minor with more smoke than anything to pretty serious, although thankfully total burnouts are very rare.

 

[GB]

90042 is the loco involved.

 

[60maniac]

Thunderbird sited heading south from longsight..

 

[ChrisCooper]

Probably getting as many Thunderbirds as possible to the area incase the fasts are re-opened but power can't be restored straight away.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

Is it the loco that's set on fire or something it was hauling? Looks quite serious as fire crews have got it under control at the moment. So was it minor or major?

 

[allticketspls]

According to a source, 90042 still sat between Hanslope Jct and Castlethorpe . No visible damage on the near side,scorched rear bodyside grill on the offside.

 

[DarloRich]

57304 has just left MKC heading north so perhaps this will move the striken train out of the way
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
trains seem to be moving again. (at least the station is now clear)

 

[allticketspls]

According to Bucks Fire Service they have given the thumbs up for two lines to be reopened as at 13:00

 

[DarloRich]

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/ldbboard/dep/MKC/EUS/To

some VERY large delays here!

 

[Scud]

Thunderbird 1Z99 recently arrived in Bay 4 at Rugby..

 

[DarloRich]

avec mobile bbq?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Virgin Voyager is the first train through south bound and has just left mkc

 

[Scud]

Nope, BBQ on the move towards Wolverton with a different Thunderbird. Closely followed by LM Class 323 323211 for Wolverton works.

 

[sonic2009]

Coming to a Station Near you :

Freightliner Barbecues

 

[DarloRich]

57304 & 90042 ( mobile BBQ) south through MKC at 13:45

The damage didnt look too bad. (at least non the left hand side in the direction of travel) It wasnt all blackend and scorched

 

[allticketspls]

From Bucks Fire & Rescue Website:

Tuesday 30 August, 9.34am: Fire in traction unit of a freight train, on the West Coast main line, near Shades Bridge, Castlethorpe, Milton Keynes. One appliance and crew from Newport Pagnell (call sign FJC 14P1), two from Great Holm (call signs FJC 11P1 and FJC 11P4), one from Bletchley (call sign FJC 12PW2), the Specialist Equipment Vehicle from Aylesbury (call sign FJC 21S61) and the Operational Support Unit from Broughton (FJC 13S6) attended, along with Station Manager Paul McShane and Station Manager Steve Wells. Firefighters arranged for electricity to be isolated to the line while they used four sets of breathing apparatus, one hose reel and a dry powder extinguisher.

 

[DarloRich]

90042 in goods loop at bletchley with FL 66 attached
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Departed heading south at 1635

 

[graham43404]

It really has been a rotten day for travel between the North and London as now East Coast between York and Doncaster are being delayed for up to 120 mins due to a person being hit by a train, add to that the 14:00 Kings Cross to Aberdeen service has left Edinburgh 97 late due to "earlier vandalism".

I think Virgin and East coast will be happy to get to tomorrow.

 

[NightatLaira]

Any ideas on what they'll do with the 90 now? Repair? Cannibalism? Aren't there quite a few other freight geared 90s in warm storage?

 

[graham43404]

If the damage is too bad to it I think today may have been the last working for it and it will be used for parts.

 

[NightatLaira]

90s don't have a lot of luck with fires do they? What exactly causes an electric loco to catch fire anyway? What is there to actually contribute to the fire load inside one?

 

[BestWestern]

90s don't have a lot of luck with fires do they? What exactly causes an electric loco to catch fire anyway? What is there to actually contribute to the fire load inside one?

Could be any of a number of things; traction motors overheating, transformers and electrical supply gear cooking, general train electrical system frying, brakes/hotbox issues, etc etc. Have to wait and see if any explanantion makes it's way into the railway mags I'd imagine.

 

[Whistler40145]

Does Freightliner have a good maintenance program for their 86/90 fleet?

Is it my impression that both Classes 86 & 90 aren't as reliable & more prone to catching fire?

 

[NightatLaira]

Could be any of a number of things; traction motors overheating, transformers and electrical supply gear cooking, general train electrical system frying, brakes/hotbox issues, etc etc. Have to wait and see if any explanantion makes it's way into the railway mags I'd imagine.

Sure, but do any of these things contain particularly large quantities of combustible parts?

I was under the impression that other than a bit of cable sheathing, most of what's in an electric loco is metal?