Trains on fire – Pennsylvania Railroad 1955 – “What in Blazes” – Historic Trains in America
A safety film produced by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1955 that discusses fighting fires on locomotives and teaches railroad employees about the type of fires they are likely to face and the equipment that is available to fight the fires. PRR diesel & electric locomotives feature throughout the film including some interesting trackside and in cab film of trains on fire. Many different locomotives of the PRR are seen including GG1's. The Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The PRR was the largest railroad by traffic and revenue in the US throughout the first two-thirds of the twentieth century and was at one time the largest publicly traded corporation in the world. At its peak, it controlled about 10000 miles (16000 km) of rail line; in the 1920s it carried about three times the traffic (measured by ton-miles of freight) as other railroads of comparable length, such as Union Pacific or Santa Fe. The only rival was New York Central, which carried around three-quarters of PRR's ton-miles.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
November 27th, 2011 - 04:10
It’s funny how they describe the complicated use of the inbuilt CO2 system first, then notify about the most convenient portable extinguishers. It is assumed, perhaps, that the complicated system should be tried first, but when in doubt, “pull them all.” Wouldn’t more portable extinguishers work better?
November 27th, 2011 - 04:40
it’s funny how they’re like “oh, the engine’s on fire” and then the guy just walks over to the engine room so calmly…
November 27th, 2011 - 05:37
Nice video, but I keep instinctively expecting a rifftrax of it like
Narrator: “The fireman had to bale in a lot of coal, to keep the old girl hot!”
Mike Nelson: “His wife’s a lifelong anthracite fetishist”
November 27th, 2011 - 06:05
I want the Pennsy back!!!!!
November 27th, 2011 - 06:08
“Road delay, slight; physical damage: negligible; financial loss: none” Oh and personal injury none, too. Yea, there’s that. Of course.
November 27th, 2011 - 06:28
Was it really on fire? That would be a waste of such a beauty!
November 27th, 2011 - 06:40
When I operate GEEP units and F units the emergency release valve during inspection is horrible. WHEN YOU TURN IT COVER YOUR EARS!!!! It is loud as the train horn!
November 27th, 2011 - 07:37
If that was a hollywood movie, The locomotives would have blown up
November 27th, 2011 - 08:29
Is I a in-jun-ear now?
November 27th, 2011 - 09:14
@furyiiiplate I kept waiting for George Reeves to show up and blow out the fire.
November 27th, 2011 - 09:44
The Old “Superman” series dramatic music makes this even cooler than it would be on it’s own.
November 27th, 2011 - 10:01
@scobrown1
Musta been a helluva 4th! Glad you got out ok because like you said, they can replace an engine not people, (can you imagine the lawsuits?) CSX I love them. I was just at the hobby store and they have REALLY NICE MTH, Lionel and a few other CSX’s available. Not affordable to me, (I get stuff used. 1957 Lionel was given to me, the Conrail loco. I bought for $55.00) But yes, I see CSX around Station Square in Pgh. Well stay safe in the big trains! We’ll be praying for you!
November 27th, 2011 - 10:12
@Showgirl7able I’m an engineer for CSX. July 4th last year I burnt up a UP engine on a coal train. Call out the fire department. They came and I said let it burn. Burned up the entire engine compartment clear to the alternator. We have PK powder extinguishers on board. We only used them to exit the locomotive not to put out or fight the fire. As I stated before the company can replace an engine. They can’t replace me.
November 27th, 2011 - 10:42
@scobrown1 Hi! I am wondering about that too. I am sure there are still Fire Safety Equipment on board just in case, but in a worst case scenario, it’s better to get off the thing than stay on. I guess you have to consider just how bad is it. Is it just a little spark that made a little flame, or is it…OMG! IT’S GONNA BLOW! What rail company are you from and have you had a lot of experience with this before? Locomotives look pretty safe but I know there are things to worry about.
November 27th, 2011 - 11:19
@bmomjian UP tells their train crews only to use the fire ext. to get out of danger, not to try and put the fire out. That’s the job for the fire department.
November 27th, 2011 - 12:00
There only a fire on board no need to rush or anything
November 27th, 2011 - 12:19
Bad acting… still better than Hugh Jackman though.
November 27th, 2011 - 12:46
Yeah boys, take that water fog nozzle right up in the electrical cabinet….!!!
And lets go into an enclosed space with CO2 all over the place. Yeah right.
November 27th, 2011 - 13:08
“these guys used their equipment and worked fast” lol
November 27th, 2011 - 13:28
@scobrown1 I don’t think I’d want to fight a fire in the engine compartment without firegear and SCBA. Seems like they would have designed a dump system that would dump all the cylinders at once into the engine room.
November 27th, 2011 - 13:54
How could they tell if the Alco was on fire through all that smoke?
November 27th, 2011 - 14:24
I wonder how many people died from going into a enclosed space filled with toxic smoke and spraying CO2 everywhere, because the big bosses told them to.
November 27th, 2011 - 14:41
well there’s your problem…
November 27th, 2011 - 15:15
Gee, you think the engineers were confused about the fire suppression systems? I was confused watching the video. At the end it eventually made sense. But really, it was a confusing design.
November 27th, 2011 - 15:49
i wish i could go back to that time i would not have the net but so what thing wher better than