Rail disruption after old locomotive catches fire

THERE was major disruption to train services after a vintage locomotive pulling a train full of daytrippers caught fire.

The emergency services were alerted to the incident at around 11.30am on Wednesday when there were reports of a fire in a diesel locomotive’s engine bay in Martins Yard, off Spencer Bridge Road, Northampton.

It was reported seven fire appliances attended the scene and 40 firefighters tackled the blaze.

The worst hit services were those operated by London Midland between Rugby and Northampton but there were knock-on effects north and south of both towns leading to widespread disruption.

At one point road transport was running between Rugby, Northampton and Milton Keynes Central, calling at all stations affected.

The specially chartered train, thought to be carrying around 300 passengers, was being operated by West Coast Railways, based in Carnforth, Lancashire, a specialist firm running excursions around the UK using vintage trains and rolling stock.

Passengers travelling on the West Coast Railways had paid anything up to £200 for the day trip from Holyhead to Windsor.

A standard adult ticket cost £69 while a premium dining package would have set people back £199, with a first class ticket costing £129.

The train left Holyhead at 6.52am, stopping at Llanfairpwll, Bangor, Llandudno Junction, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Flint and Chester.

Its final stop-off was at Crewe at 8.40am and it had been scheduled to reach Windsor & Eton Riverside just before 1pm.

It was around 5.30pm before services were again running as normal.