Comments on: Just seven minutes after CN 576 showed up and five minutes after I called the fire department, the scene at Keppel has changed dramatically! The fires would spread all the way up to highway 14 and across it, shutting it down due to near zero visibility. At least one house (unoccupied) was consumed by the fires. 576 made it to Lenny before stopping where the crew attempted to extinguish some of the line side fires. It would take two fire departments the next four hours to get the situation under control. The train started dozens of fires between Newton and Lenny, and the 40+ km/h winds didn’t help things at all.

By: SD70Dude

SD70Dude — Thu, 21 May 2020 02:25:56 +0000

That dry grass and stubble really lights up quick!

By: Driver8666

Driver8666 — Sun, 17 May 2020 21:21:04 +0000

Surreal.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Sun, 17 May 2020 19:51:21 +0000

At this time of year train crews are always reminded by TGBO or DOB to restrict their use of certain braking procedures to prevent sparks causing fires.

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Sun, 17 May 2020 16:36:01 +0000

Wow, that’s wild. I see why the guys at Great Western were so alarmed when I told them they were throwing some sparks last August.