Mainline steam ban

[REVUpminster]

1Z07 Southend - Kingswear did not pick up a steam locomotive at Taunton. Since the heatwave they haven't in recent weeks. Running early.

 

[dk1]

1Z07 Southend - Kingswear did not pick up a steam locomotive at Taunton. Since the heatwave they haven't in recent weeks. Running early.

Yes it was mentioned elsewhere in the week that it would now be diesel hauled throughout. Still had an elongated wait at Taunton and only departed 3 early.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

1Z07 Southend - Kingswear did not pick up a steam locomotive at Taunton. Since the heatwave they haven't in recent weeks.

Isn't there currently a steam ban on National Rail because of fire risk?

It was reported in the Daily Mail

Daytrippers left hot and bothered over nationwide steam train ban

Disappointed families' long-planned trips have been thrown into chaos after Network Rail imposed the ban amid fears of trackside fires during the ongoing heatwave.

www.dailymail.com

 

[SwindonManor]

Isn't there currently a steam ban on National Rail because of fire risk?

It was reported in the Daily Mail

Daytrippers left hot and bothered over nationwide steam train ban

Disappointed families' long-planned trips have been thrown into chaos after Network Rail imposed the ban amid fears of trackside fires during the ongoing heatwave.

www.dailymail.com

Stupid. It only gives bad press about the many fantastic railtours out there, it's still heritage diesel traction. And it's a heatwave so do they just want to put people at risk? There is a mainline steam ban so sadly no "dummy engines" as far as I'm aware (this excludes jacobite and Scotland etc. I think)
But this is really just bad press. People expect something from railtours they aren't going to get too often

 

[Haywain]

Stupid. It only gives bad press about the many fantastic railtours out there, it's still heritage diesel traction. And it's a heatwave so do they just want to put people at risk? There is a mainline steam ban so sadly no "dummy engines" as far as I'm aware (this excludes jacobite and Scotland etc. I think)
But this is really just bad press. People expect something from railtours they aren't going to get too often

Why would you expect the Daily Fail to put a positive spin on anything?

 

[greatkingrat]

Stupid. It only gives bad press about the many fantastic railtours out there, it's still heritage diesel traction. And it's a heatwave so do they just want to put people at risk? There is a mainline steam ban so sadly no "dummy engines" as far as I'm aware (this excludes jacobite and Scotland etc. I think)
But this is really just bad press. People expect something from railtours they aren't going to get too often

As far as Joe Public is concerned, if they book a trip on a steam train, they want a trip on a steam train. They don't care about "heritage diesel traction".

 

[dk1]

As far as Joe Public is concerned, if they book a trip on a steam train, they want a trip on a steam train. They don't care about "heritage diesel traction".

Most who book are experienced and well aware that their day out behind such heritage traction is dependent on several factors.

 

[HertiageFan]

Isn't there currently a steam ban on National Rail because of fire risk?

It was reported in the Daily Mail

Daytrippers left hot and bothered over nationwide steam train ban

Disappointed families' long-planned trips have been thrown into chaos after Network Rail imposed the ban amid fears of trackside fires during the ongoing heatwave.

www.dailymail.com

The article has a few errors such as saying that after 44871 set fires on the West Coast Mainline, it hauled the North Wales Coast Express which was hauled by 2 class 47s (47804 and 47812)

 

[High Dyke]

As far as Joe Public is concerned, if they book a trip on a steam train, they want a trip on a steam train. They don't care about "heritage diesel traction".

Equally, they should be aware of the fire risk during prolonged dry weather. Perhaps they would understand better if they were asked to contribute to fire fighting costs associated with steam loco incidents?

 

[Annetts key]

Point of order, some diesel locos can eject sparks under certain circumstances. I forget which class, but I have seen this at night. Yes, obviously they are lower risk than a coal powered steam locomotive.

It should also be noted that sparks emitted from a train have been causing for vegetation to catch fire for years, even when BR and Railtrack allowed steam locos in the 1990s. I remember a lineside fire between Pilning and Patchway Tunnels.