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« on: March 15, 2024, 08:13:33 PM »
Steve I appreciate your thoughts and don’t disagree that this material is fire ready regardless, but having studied our fire situation for some time I can attest that our principal cause for concern is from ashpan-induced fires more so than stack fires. This is from paying careful attention to tue likely starting point of fires and noting it is usually on pine needles within 3’ of the track centerline. This is especially true for locomotive 9 as noted over the past 7 years or so. The notable exception was Monson 3; that difference was directly attributable to a known difference in spark arresting apparatus.
This doesn’t mean a stack-induced lineside fire can’t happen, but it has historically proven less likely.
If we look at our choices in mitigation: blowing leaves and pine needles off the track is significantly less effort than collecting for mulch. I would estimate that it’s orders of magnitude less effort to blow leaves than collect and mulch- I used to do take part in a collect-and-mulch operation annually at another local maine narrow gauge railroad due to the propensity for stack-induced fires as well as the desired aesthetic- the effort took a crew of 5 a full week each spring to handle about 1/4 mile in the woods.
So while we may choose to undertake the more difficult option, we still have every reason, in my opinion, to blow the leaves both because it is relatively little effort and will have the greatest mitigation effect given that our principal concern are fires that start within the track width.
It was with this background and specific knowledge of our circumstance that we chose to purchase the high powered leaf blower.
As such I don’t believe we should diminish the value of our volunteers’ efforts to blow leaves this spring.
I hope that clarifies the reasons for the current approach.
Thanks
Jason
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