UK - Loco bush fire terror

[John Ashworth]

1. Loco bush fire terror
By Stuart Taylor
Published: 10 May, 2008

A LOCHABER crofter and landowner is fuming after a privately-chartered steam train left a trail of destruction over his land.

In the midst of this week’s mini heatwave, the train caused devastation to land between Fort William and Spean Bridge, adjacent to the West Highland Line.

One local family have also told how they feared their home was going to be destroyed during the blazes.

At about 1.45pm on Tuesday, after passing through Spean Bridge en route for the Lochaber capital, the double header of Black Five and K2 steam locomotives, with eight carriages in tow, reached the township of Achanabobane.

A diesel unit was attached to the rear of the train to give extra power to the cavalcade in the event of a steam loco breakdown.

In its wake, thanks to the sparks from the steam engines, came four huge trackside fires.

The effect of the flames and smoke closed the adjacent A82 Fort William to Inverness trunk road for a short while.

And, as if that wasn’t enough, the excursion train sparked three further fires at the same spot, on its return journey to Glasgow.

It is understood the train was operated by West Coast Railways and was being privately chartered by Stagegroup, the Scottish transport conglomorate owned by Brian Souter.

On board were believed to be scores of Stagecoach personnel and other passengers.

Stagecoach yesterday refused to comment on the issue, referring all enquiries to West Coast Railways who also operate the hugely popular Jacobite steam train which restarts its excursions between Fort William and Mallaig on May 19.

Yesterday (Wednesday) furious Achnabobane crofter and landowner, Alistair MacGregor, told the Lochaber News: “I’m really angry – I’ve been trying to get answers from Stagecoach, but have been fobbed off by being told I should put everything in writing.

“Fifteen acres of my land have been destroyed, including 25-year-old trees, and almost a thousand young trees. Some of these trees were already being lined up to give to the Caol in Bloom organisation.

“This is complete madness.”

The first fires broke out shortly after 1.30pm, said Mr MacGregor, who added that Army personnel, in the area to assist with the Scottish Six Day Trial, were called in to assist the Fire Brigade in beating down the flames.

Mr MacGregor claims that things were not under control till after 5.30pm when the train was passing by Achnabobane again – and the fires restarted.

“It seems to me that, despite warnings, those involved in this particular excursion have carried on regardless,” he said.

Jill Wallis, who lives just south of Achnabobane, near to the Great Glen Shelter Number Three, told the LN that she and her husband feared their home was going to be destroyed by the flames.

Mrs Wallis said: “It was absolutely terrifying. It was just after tea time when my husband, Richard, shouted 'fire’. I dialed 999 but obviously all the crews were out trying to tackle the blazes. All we could do was watch as the flames came nearer and nearer to our house.

“We put our pets in the car and gathered as many of our important documents as possible. We really thought the house was going to go up, as did our neighbours.

“We are so grateful to the firefighters who did an amazing job. They were exhausted and hot but they battled on and dealt with the matter brilliantly. We can’t praise them enough.”

Martin Haigh, group manager at Fort William Fire Station told the LN that five local appliances attended the four separate fires, with back-up from colleagues at Fort Augustus and Newtonmore.

Mr Haigh said: “We had two appliances from Fort William, two from Kinlochleven and one from Spean Bridge. It was a massive commitment on resources, with more than 40 local firefighters involved. At one point we had four pumps concentrating on one fire.

“We were called out at 2pm and our men finally stood down at 10pm on Tuesday. Luckily there was no wind and luckily the fire did not spread to the nearby forestry.

“The crews did a fantastic job in very challenging circumstances.”

Despite repeated attempts, the LN was unable to contact West Coast Railways for comment.

s.taylor@lochaber-news.co.uk

Lochaber News

2. Steaming Mad

May 8 2008 By Bob Dow

Train Set Fire To My Land Twice And Caused £10k Of Damage, Says Crofter

AN ANGRY crofter claims a passing steam train started a huge blaze on his land.

Alistair MacGregor used his bare hands to beat out the flames he insists were set off by the passing locomotive.

He then watched helplessly as the engine returned almost four hours later - and another fire broke out.

Last night, he was counting the cost of the damage to his 30-acre croft at Achnabobane near Spean Bridge, close to Fort William.

The fires destroyed half of the land and more than 1000 trees.

Alistair, 55, said: "I saw the smoke and flames from my house and ran down and used my bare hands and anything else I could find to beat out the flames.

"The fire brigade were great but I was left with blisters over my hands from beating out the flames."

It took more than two hours to put out the fires but when Alistair went back to the scene later he saw the train returning.

He claimed he watched flames fly from the engine and start another fire, which destroyed another seven acres.

He added: "It was just madness."

More than £10,000 worth of damage was done and Alistair is facing ruin in the croft where he was born and has lived all his life.

He said: "I am not insured for this and I don't know how I am going to pay for all the work now required."

All of Alistair's fencing alongside the rail track was also destroyed in Tuesday afternoon's fires.

At one stage, the main A82 Fort William to Inverness road was closed because of the smoke.

The steam train, which is operated by Lancashire's West Coast Railways, was taking Stagecoach staff on a private outing from Glasgow to Fort William.

West Coast Railways run the popular Jacobite tourist steam train from Fort William to Mallaig and provided the Hogwarts Express used in the Harry Potter films.

The company's boss James Shuttleworth was unavailable for comment last night.

Daily Record