Fire Safety Summary
Fire Safety agreement with ODF:
An annual fire safety agreement will be generated between the railway and ODF. This agreement will be similar to the agreements that are currently used between the Sumpter Valley Railway and ODF. See a draft copy of the agreement by CLICKING HERE.
LINKS
Car Shop
Engine House
RAILWAY DESIGN PLANS
TRAINING
LINKS
Copyright 2020 by the Southern Oregon Railway Historical Society & the Town of Butte Falls, Oregon
Official project website of the Southern Oregon Railway Historical Society & the Town of Butte Falls, Oregon
Easement Access
Existing access roads will not be removed or blocked. Access for equipment crossing the tracks will be implemented as needed. Public access in the easement areas will be limited to passengers riding on the train. Passengers will be allowed to disembark from the train in an easement area only in an emergency.
The land owners and all emergency vehicles will have unlimited access to the easement areas.
Easements:
Easements in the forest areas will be 50 feet wide for single track and 65 feet wide at sidings. Easement agreement will be developed between the Railway and the land owners. See drawing below.
Fire safety is a very important aspect of railway operations. First of all the Southern Oregon Railway Historical Society will be working closely with the land owners, the Town of Butte Falls fire department, and ODF to create comprehensive fire plans that focus on fire prevention, identification and suppression.
Risk Factors
The probability of fire from this proposed tourist railroad operation is almost near zero. The Medco No. 4 steam locomotive is oil fired and, unlike wood or coal fired locomotives, will not produce burning embers which could be a possible source of ignition. Both the Sumpter Valley Railroad (Baker County in eastern Oregon) and the Yreka Western Railroad (Siskiyou County in northern California) have operated oil-fired steam locomotives in areas of high risk fuels for almost 20 years without having those locomotives ever cause a fire. Neither of these oil-fired locomotives were equipped with a spark arrester. The Medco No. 4 locomotive will be equipped with a spark arrestor during fire seasons. This is the same spark arrestor that was used when the No. 4 was actively logging in the Butte Falls area.
There is also no risk of fire caused by the overheating of brakes. Due to the short distances traveled, light trains, slow speeds, and almost no slope to proposed right-of-way, there will be no opportunity for the brakes to get hot.
Fire Prevention and Protection Plan
Smoking or vaping will NOT be allowed on the train or while working on the railway.
Potential fuels within the proposed Right-of-Way will be actively managed to reduce fire risk.
All trees overhanging the right-of-way will be either removed or overhanging limbs will be trimmed to a height of 30 feet above the rail head.
Both the diesel locomotive and the steam locomotive will be equipped with spark arrestors during fire season.
A fire train will patrol during train operations during fire season. This fire train will consist of a motor car and trailer. As a minimum this fire train will carry 150 gallons of water and will be equipped with a fire pump and hose and an assortment of fire hand tools. Train operations through forest lands will require an operating permit from the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the ODF will specify the minimum fire train equipment requirements. All appropriate fire contact information will be included within the operating permit. We will also work with the landowner & the Town of Butte Falls to coordinate, communicate, and gain approval for all fire prevention and suppression procedures. We will also work with the landowner & the Town of Butte Falls to coordinate, communicate, and gain approval for all fire prevention and suppression procedures.