Peak Rail steam engine trips suspended after two fires

A heritage railway service has paused its steam engine trips after two fires, one of which was “most likely” caused by a passing train.

Two blazes broke out on Thursday – the UK’s hottest day of the year so far – near Normanhurst Park in Darley Dale at 16:21 BST, and near Church Road in Derbyshire.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said the first fire spanned a grassland area of roughly 100m by five metres, while the second fire – involving vegetation at the side of railway track – was found to have likely been caused by sparks from the passing train.

Peak Rail, which run services on the Midland Railway line, said the withdrawal of steam-hauled trains would continue “until further notice”.

Peak Rail plans to continue running its weekly events, but will use diesel engines instead of steam until there is a significant change in the weather, it said.

Due to the unprecedented hot and dry weather, Peak Rail said it took safety precautions by driving at a reduced speed and installing spark arresters on its locomotives to stop sparks going up the chimney.

However, on Thursday, during the county’s fifth heatwave of the year, these precautionary measures were not enough and the operator suspended services immediately.