2650 at Zonderwater on 070908

[Barend Botha]

2650 Climbing the hill at Zonderwater on 07-09-2008.

[John Ashworth]

Nice shots!

[Gabor Kovacs]

Barend, nicely taken. Execellent Boet!

Also shows how dry the enviromental conditions are currently, on the approach to Cullinan!
I hope a fire-truck follows the train, because if this long grass catches a-light, I think it will quickly spread and difficult to contain!

[John Ashworth]

Gabor, the local fire crew had been alerted in advance. I didn't actually see them during the trip on Saturday 6th September - I don't know if they were visible on Sunday 7th? But they knew of our trip and presumably they were on stand-by.

[Dylan Knott]

At what Fire Danger Index rating are you not able to run steam?

If that grass catches alight in spring, winter, summer or autumn best of luck trying to put it out!

How would it have been maintained in days of regular steam?

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

That headboard should be lost!

Otherwise, nice atmospheric pics!

[Gabor Kovacs]

Dylan,

In my opinion, if we use a simple scale of 10, then the conditions out at Zonderwater currently can set at about 8, and 10 would be a non-steam runner.

It's up to operators to submit ERAs' (Environmental Risk Assessments) to TFR when applications are submitted to request YQs', as per clauses agreed apon in Access Agreements.
These clauses may vary vastly from Railway Region to Railway Region, ie; Northern Transvaal vs Western Cape.

The responsiblity remains squarely on operators' shoulders whether operate steam traction or not in dry conditions, however TFR reserves the right to restrict or even cancel any steam operations if there is a extremely high risk of starting fires.

[John Ashworth]

The discussion on headboards has been moved into the members' locker room at http://www.friendsoftherail.com/phpBB2/ ... =20&t=3096

Please note only paid up FOTR members, not general forum members, can access this link.