Several weeks ago I posted the following on the MR site and received a number of interesting possible explanations for the smokebox fire, but casting some doubt as to whether the engine crew had opened up the smokebox door to deal with the fire. I still haven’t located the photo on-line or the story that went with it. Any similar photos or stories still of interest! 
Quote: Some time ago I found a photo on line showing a loco with the smokebox door open and a roaring inferno inside, which the crew were attempting to quench.
As I recall it was connected with a railfan excursion on the CPR in the late 1950’s, with the engine in service for the last time before retirement after standing dead for some time . I’m trying to find that photo again and the story that went with it.
Any any similar photos or stories would also be of interest.
Thanks y’all! Unquote
I recall seeing photographs of an excursion on the Canadian Pacific around 1960 which was powered by CP 4-4-0 136(?) and a ten wheeler on some branch trackage. I think the photos were in Classic Trains. Anyway, one photo shows the 136 with the lower part of its’ smokebox glowing orange! I’m guessing this engine did not have a self clearing front end, and after a sustained stretch of hard running, the accumilation of cinders in the smoke box was quite large, probably enough to cause drafting problems. Attempting to rectify this problem, the crew would open the smokebox door to clean the cinder screen. I’m sure that nice blast of fresh air was perfect for igniting the unburnt material in the cinder pile. Just my guess.
After discussions with several old timers from the steam era and a not-too-successful on-line search for information on smoke box fires, I decided to write a “Tale from the Grizzly” based on that information, and a large dollop of imagination. So here it is, “A Tale of Fire in the Smokebox”.
I’ve had fun writing the tale, which I recognize won’t win any prizes. Any comments welcomed of course. Kudos in advance to anyone who manages to read the whole story!
http://isambard5935.blogspot.ca/search?updated-min=2013-01-01T00:00:00-05:00&updated-max=2014-01-01T00:00:00-05:00&max-results=2
I don’t know how y’all do things “north of the border” but US practice would use the engine number as part of the identification of an extra train. You created Extra 18 East with engine 5706 and a van; in the US, that would be Extra 5706 East or, on some roads, X5706 East. Other than that, I kind of enjoyed your little story. Reminded me a bit of the Eddie Sands (boomer telegrapher) stories that ran in the old ‘Railroad’ magazines. I wish I could find copies of those stories.
Thanks for your response Chuck.
I was winging it on the numbering/renumbering and have since confirmed that Canadian practice is same as U.S.
The tale is going to need a bit of a retouch.!
Gee, I wonder whether the other stories also need a review for prototypical practice. Perhaps a winter project.