Actually, thermal sensors on outriggers could be hung on a track car following the train. It would be a very lightweight design (looking for all the world like an oversize weed sprayer) but could detect hot spots upward of 25 feet from the track centerline (or more, depending on sensor capability).

Might be a worth while project for the C&TS or any steam road in the West.

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

Margaret - A drone would be cheaper, and probably more efficient. Don't know a heck of a lot about them, but they seem to be doing a lot of different things these days.


Les

I was actually thinking that drones could be used for that, but AFA*I*K they have a rather limited amount of time they can be flown before their battery dies, but that problem could be solved by having a one-car train follow every passenger train, with people in that short train flying drones on both sides of the tracks. Those drones would be equipped with both high-res videocameas and thermal sensors, and that short train would have a number of charging stations for the drones, as well as extra batteries that are fully charged at the start of each day.

The fire department in my area has one drone they use for thermal imagine -- flyit above a burning structure and it gets and sends thermal mages to the firefighters on the ground, so they can know where the hot spots are without risking the lives of the people in their crews.

So, yes, drones could certainly be very useful and effective for fire patrols on the Silverton -- and on other RRs that operate steam locomotives in areas where fires can easily start.

Some fan trips have used a baggage car with open doors (and safety rails or chains) as the hanger and charging station for a fleet of chase drones. Not all of them air in the air at once.

What about following in the Heeber Valley Railroad's footsteps and have a couple tank cars fitted with sprayers, either in train or following train, that spray down a large are of the ROW following the steam engine's passing? Seems most logical....45 miles would take a couple tank cars to really give a good dousing....but I'm sure it would be cheaper than potential law suits or shutting operations down for weeks/months at a time.

Sorry if this has been mentioned already.

History repeats itself, from 1996…

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mawve_3NSj4

A Monday, June 18, 2018 Durango Herald article: D&SNG to offer bus service between Durango and Silverton

One of the problems with the water cars is that they actually promote growth of the fuels that help start the fire.

There is a press release circulating that says the D&SNG will start "three daily diesel locomotive excursions to multiple locations, starting Fri. June 22 and continuing through Tues., July 3."

The press release also says the D&SNG is planning to resume "traditional summer season steam train passenger service to Silverton on Wed., July 4".

Link: D&SNGRR Launches Diesel Locomotive Passenger Service to Multiple Locations Starting Fri., June 22

A June 21 Durango Herald article, with several informative quotes from the Harpers:
Durango train to offer limited service beginning Friday