Something a bit different for a model departmental train...

[EtchedPixels]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-22727410

[James C]

How on earth did it start? I know you can get hot bearings, but that sort of train isn't likely to be hauling combustible items that would catch from an overheated bearing are they?

[James C]

Ahh, that makes sense!

Well I guess if you're going to model it, it's a good way of getting rid of old items you don't want

[dodger]

There's a quantity of oil for the hydraulic system and fuel for the engine on each wagon. The conveyors are hydraulically driven.

However as the train was in transit mode the engine should have been stopped which means the hydraulic system is depressurised.

Hydraulic oil is hard to ignite unless under pressure when it is as bad as petrol. other photos I have seen reveal that the bottom conveyor has been destroyed emptying the spoil onto the mainframe.

At present RAIB have not issued anything on there website, but the are many possibilities for the cause of the fire, e.g. draggiing brake, hotbox, electical fault, etc,etc.

Dodger

[Agrippa]

You're only supposed to blow the b***** doors off!