Seems like a rather strange incident going on at Southport stations! https://twitter.com/SandgrounderDAB/status/1389255442518396933?s=19
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Suspected Fire at Southport Station (03/05/21)
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ExRes
Established Member
What's a 'loud and bright' incident?
Sorry, was distracted by something else and accidnetly posted before I finished.
I don't really know how to explain it, but the video shows a lot of noise, and possibly what appears to be fire.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
I'd click the Twitter link, you can see it. It looks like a serious electrical incident. Failing third rail insulator perhaps?
Now apparently reported as a fire, but unconfirmed: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/new...pdates-after-incident-southport-20517974.amp?
FrodshamJnct
Established Member
Definitley sounds and looks electrical.
FrodshamJnct
Established Member
That same Twitter account (@SandgrounderDAB) is reporting that Merseyside Fire & Rescue have confirmed a track fire.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
NRE describe it as an "Operational Incident" with estimated Clear by 1900
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Most likely a failed insulator causing a discharge to earth, but not enough of one to take the breaker out.
WatcherZero
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Direct link to the video of the fire from the local radio station.
The same link as post 1?
ASharpe
Member
Watching that certainly made me think electrical rather than fire but I've a few questions not specific to this I'm hoping someone can help me understand.
Does this sort of thing actually cause any damage - or is it just cut power briefly and swap out a fairly cheap insulator and up and running again?
Am I right in thinking there was no actual fire and just some discharging?
I used to work with high voltage but low current kit (Geiger tubes) and had to take precautions with cleanliness and shape to avoid coronal discharge, is it the same with third rail or a distances between conductors/ground big enough?
Does this sort of thing actually cause any damage - or is it just cut power briefly and swap out a fairly cheap insulator and up and running again?
Am I right in thinking there was no actual fire and just some discharging?
I used to work with high voltage but low current kit (Geiger tubes) and had to take precautions with cleanliness and shape to avoid coronal discharge, is it the same with third rail or a distances between conductors/ground big enough?
I've no railway experience, other than we used to live next to an SR electrified line. One morning, a platelayer triggered a short circuit, presumably with his hammer. There was no apparent fire, but the running (I think, it's over 50 years ago) rail was buckled. A very low speed limit was in force for a few days until the rail was replaced.
As Southport is a terminus, a speed limit should have minimal effect, especially if an alternative platform can be used.
I would expect the insulators to be designed for some surface contamination. Such contamination would increase the risk of a fire.
As Southport is a terminus, a speed limit should have minimal effect, especially if an alternative platform can be used.
I would expect the insulators to be designed for some surface contamination. Such contamination would increase the risk of a fire.
I've just come back from Birkdale on the 15:14, and found on arrival at Southport that if I hadn't already heard about this incident, I would never have suspected it. My train ran into platform 1, and both platforms 2 and 3 were in use and occupied, so I couldn't see the track; but as it was in use, the damage must have been quickly repaired. There were no signs of a fire to be seen - no scorch or smoke marks, and no cracked roof glazing.
It's probably not related, but last Sunday and the Sunday before NR employees were spraying the sleepers on the Northern side of the station with a white liquid, presumably a solvent to remove oil deposits. I didn't see them working on the electric side of the station (wall siding and platforms 1 to 3).
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Added on 5.5.21: It's reported in today's (Wednesday)local paper the Champion, that the cause of the fire was that strong winds blew a tree branch on to the live rail on platform 1
It's probably not related, but last Sunday and the Sunday before NR employees were spraying the sleepers on the Northern side of the station with a white liquid, presumably a solvent to remove oil deposits. I didn't see them working on the electric side of the station (wall siding and platforms 1 to 3).
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Added on 5.5.21: It's reported in today's (Wednesday)local paper the Champion, that the cause of the fire was that strong winds blew a tree branch on to the live rail on platform 1
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