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 | | From: | Greg Rudd | | Subject: | ABC - Trains accused of sparking bushfires | | Date: | Fri, 21 Jan 2005 14:45:53 +1100 |
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 | Trains accused of sparking bushfires
There are concern in the New South Wales's south-west that the Australian
Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is failing to carry out adequate hazard
reduction to prevent bushfires.
Three fires began along the path of the main railway line near Cootamundra
last week and burnt out more than 600 hectares of farmland.
Landholders believe sparks from trains started the fires. The Rural Fire
Service says it is still investigating the cause.
Farmer John Holihan says in the past, when State Rail ran the system,
hazard reduction was done once a year.
"It has not happened for years and you've only got to see along the railway
line, the materials there now," he said.
"If we had have had that on our properties people, would be screaming blue
murder, but it seems the rail, they get away with it."
The ARTC which leases the lines has declined to comment.
--
Spam Bait
john.howard@aph.gov.au
minister@transport.nsw.gov.au
alanjones@2gb.com
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| | From: | Nathan & Rebecca Cox | | Subject: | Re: ABC - Trains accused of sparking bushfires | | Date: | Fri, 21 Jan 2005 21:49:51 +1100 |
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"Greg Rudd" wrote in message
news:csptv0$3o7$1@spacebar.ucc.usyd.edu.au...
> Trains accused of sparking bushfires
>
>
> There are concern in the New South Wales's south-west that the Australian
> Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is failing to carry out adequate hazard
> reduction to prevent bushfires.
>
>
> Three fires began along the path of the main railway line near
Cootamundra
> last week and burnt out more than 600 hectares of farmland.
>
>
> Landholders believe sparks from trains started the fires. The Rural Fire
> Service says it is still investigating the cause.
>
>
> Farmer John Holihan says in the past, when State Rail ran the system,
> hazard reduction was done once a year.
>
>
> "It has not happened for years and you've only got to see along the
railway
> line, the materials there now," he said.
>
>
> "If we had have had that on our properties people, would be screaming
blue
> murder, but it seems the rail, they get away with it."
>
>
> The ARTC which leases the lines has declined to comment.
I remember the old NSW 421 class were good fire lighters.
Nathan
> --
> Spam Bait
>
> john.howard@aph.gov.au
> minister@transport.nsw.gov.au
> alanjones@2gb.com
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| | From: | David Bromage | | Subject: | Re: ABC - Trains accused of sparking bushfires | | Date: | Sat, 22 Jan 2005 12:29:54 +1100 |
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| Nathan & Rebecca Cox wrote:
> I remember the old NSW 421 class were good fire lighters.
Didn't that turn out to be a couple of farmers starting the fires
whenever they saw a 421 pass?
Cheers
David
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| | From: | SIN CITY | | Subject: | Re: ABC - Trains accused of sparking bushfires | | Date: | Fri, 21 Jan 2005 17:23:36 +1100 |
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| Looks like someones in the hot seat!
"Greg Rudd" wrote in message
news:csptv0$3o7$1@spacebar.ucc.usyd.edu.au...
> Trains accused of sparking bushfires
>
>
> There are concern in the New South Wales's south-west that the Australian
> Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is failing to carry out adequate hazard
> reduction to prevent bushfires.
>
>
> Three fires began along the path of the main railway line near Cootamundra
> last week and burnt out more than 600 hectares of farmland.
>
>
> Landholders believe sparks from trains started the fires. The Rural Fire
> Service says it is still investigating the cause.
>
>
> Farmer John Holihan says in the past, when State Rail ran the system,
> hazard reduction was done once a year.
>
>
> "It has not happened for years and you've only got to see along the
> railway
> line, the materials there now," he said.
>
>
> "If we had have had that on our properties people, would be screaming blue
> murder, but it seems the rail, they get away with it."
>
>
> The ARTC which leases the lines has declined to comment.
> --
> Spam Bait
>
> john.howard@aph.gov.au
> minister@transport.nsw.gov.au
> alanjones@2gb.com
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| | From: | Paul Blair | | Subject: | Re: ABC - Trains accused of sparking bushfires | | Date: | Sat, 22 Jan 2005 15:12:55 +1100 |
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| Greg Rudd wrote:
> Trains accused of sparking bushfires
>
>
> There are concern in the New South Wales's south-west that the Australian
> Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is failing to carry out adequate hazard
> reduction to prevent bushfires.
>
>
> Three fires began along the path of the main railway line near Cootamundra
> last week and burnt out more than 600 hectares of farmland.
>
>
> Landholders believe sparks from trains started the fires. The Rural Fire
> Service says it is still investigating the cause.
>
>
> Farmer John Holihan says in the past, when State Rail ran the system,
> hazard reduction was done once a year.
>
>
> "It has not happened for years and you've only got to see along the railway
> line, the materials there now," he said.
>
>
> "If we had have had that on our properties people, would be screaming blue
> murder, but it seems the rail, they get away with it."
>
>
> The ARTC which leases the lines has declined to comment.
Back last century (the early 60s) a bumper wheat crop in Victoria saw VR
rehab some stored R-class steam back into service. Not that a lot was
done to them, like re-fixing spark arresters.
So the arresters didn't, and there were quite a number of trackside
fires. This introduced the "watch the trains go by" cult among farmers
(and media folk, too), so the worst of the R's went in for service.
Replaced by diesels, the spate of fires lessened but didn't go away. VR
rarely switched diesels off, so the exhausts were full of particulate
matter. Open a throttle, heat the particles, then blow them into the
paddocks. Any Clyde product did much the same (the non-switch off was in
the warranty docs).
It was a tough summer...
Paul Blair
Canberra
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