I just received word from the Grand Canyon Railway that tomorrow's monthly scheduled steam operation to the South Rim and back with 4960 has been cancelled due to extreme fire danger and high temperatures across Northern Arizona. Yes, even though it's an oil burner. Safer than coal, but not 100% safe.

I presume both trains scheduled tomorrow will run with F40PH diesels.

It's a fact, Mr Mitchell. When I worked for Texas State RR, we had to be very careful not to get too generous with the firing valve, because all it takes is a little bit of burning fuel on the pine needles that cover the roadbed. Those photo runbys with phony, thick, gagging smoke almost always start a fire somewhere.

Years ago, TVRM ran a special for some Civil War re-enactors on the old Central of Georgia. Typical dry summer and high fire danger. We were met at the state line by the fire marshal and a tanker engine. We informed the fire marshal of our preparations and, after looking things over, he approved of the setup and released the tanker to return to the firehouse.

We had figured in the fire danger and ran as far as the state line as one train. Consist was 610, two flatcars, 1829, a maintenance of way car with a pump and fire hose, water tender and coaches trailing. 610 ran as first section and 1829 as the second section. Chattooga and Chickamauga trainmaster was in contact with us by radio, alerting us to potential hot spots. We ran 15 minutes behind and did additional fire spotting. The coach attendants were also instructed to scan the right of way for any hot spots that we might somehow miss. We stopped several times to attend to hot spots.

That said, I certainly recognize the fire dangers that steam locomotives can create. Things here in Arizona are getting worse every year-several communities cancelled their fireworks displays last week. The drought here continues to worsen and it might be that GCN will have to eventually go all diesel in the near future. What's really worrying us is the very possibility that Lake Meade will hit dead pool in the next year or so. That means that everyone loses Colorado River water-nothing more will be released. That will have a very significant impact on the produce farmers in Arizona and California.

Lest we not forget --- diesels can start fires, too.

Charleston Chapter NRHS used to have a 44-ton Porter diesel. The stacks on that thing looked like bagasse-fired steam when it was under load at night!

Funny enough, Grand Canyon Railway has a GP7 that was nicknamed "The Forest Fire Flyer" when it was operating. 2134 is, to my knowledge, still sitting on shop trucks on the museum track behind the shop, so there's no threat at this time from this known offender.

Oh yeah, it's really nice to have around for that. Back when I worked for GCRY, I used 1105 several times on ballast trains and was called in more than once to grab that locomotive and head north with it to rescue the regular train. The emergency brake valve on the conductor's side has a mark on it that I may or may not be responsible for...

That photo might have been posted on Facebook July 8th, but it is an old photo. 1105 has been down for months to replace piston rings.

Eric Hadder