Is there a steam ban on the Main Line

[STEVIEBOY1]

Good morning,

Is there a steam ban on the Main Line at the moment,? I went on a railtour a couple of days ago in the west country and diesel traction was used more than steam owing to what we were told was an incident some where in Eastern England where a main line steam loco had caused line side fire and damaged electrical equipment the previous day, however I can not see anything on various media sites about this and according to uksteam info, forthcoming steam trips all seem to be ok, apart from a couple cancelled on 29 June and a short holiday in the west country again.

Tks.

 

[fireftrm]

No............there isn't

 

[Dhassell]

Probably precautionary then, DB probably don't want to ruin their reputation due to a avoidable fires.

 

[DarloRich]

No there isnt. Tornado worked back from the west country last weekend but was piloted by a 66 on the way down

That wont stop the usual conspiracy theory kettleistas spouting their wibble.......................................

 

[37038]

There were lineside fires after 60009 headed south on Saturday gone. There was a steam ban implemented on LNE region which is probably now not in effect due to last nights rain.

Scarborough Spa runs tomorrow and if Galatea is on it then the ban has been lifted.

 

[richw]

No there isnt. Tornado worked back from the west country last weekend but was piloted by a 66 on the way down

That wont stop the usual conspiracy theory kettleistas spouting their wibble.......................................

The 66 did all the work on the return leg from the videos I've seen, despite the tornado being on the front.

 

[Deepgreen]

No ban, but local/regional restrictions may be imposed if fire risk is deemed high. 60009 ran unassisted on the heavy Belmond Pullman rake yesterday evening from Victoria via the Surrey Hills, with no apparent problem.

 

[blackfive460]

Scarborough Spa runs tomorrow and if Galatea is on it then the ban has been lifted.

Seems likely as 45699 is in steam outside the NRM this afternoon.

 

[ilkestonian]

The reason for the diesel hauled Torbay last weekend was that the day before, there had been an incident on the ECML with 60009 and several lineside fires. Bad coal and problems with red hot brake block residue has been suggested as the cause but I don't know if either of these were the case.

It would seem that the initial reaction to this from whoever in Network Rail was in charge at the weekend was to insist on the diesel assistance whereas a more considered response in the days which followed allowed the normal situation to continue.

The greatest risk tends to be in the autumn when dying grass and other dry vegetation abounds.

Whilst there might be some risk at this time of year, it tends to be less as the vegetation is green and more moist.