Overview
- A trackside fire near Winsford last Saturday is believed to have been linked to the privately owned Black Five No.44871, prompting Network Rail to open an investigation into the blaze's exact cause.
- Network Rail has asked charter operators to substitute diesel traction for steam on Network Rail–managed lines in line with its colour-coded steam fire-risk policy, effectively pausing steam haulage across the national network while risk remains high.
- The instruction has forced heritage excursions to cancel or run behind diesel locomotives, produced timetable changes and refunds or compensation offers, and left many passengers and families disappointed at short notice.
- Independent heritage lines that run on private infrastructure are not bound by Network Rail's request but say they are operating on high alert and will use vintage diesel locomotives or extra precautions if conditions require.
- Officials cite weeks of hot, dry weather that has left trackside vegetation tinder-dry and say restrictions will stay until fire risk eases, with industry estimates suggesting the measures could last about a week but ultimately depend on weather and investigators' findings.