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Trains News Wire EXCLUSIVE: Railroads battle massive wildfires in the Pacific Northwest
If you do a Google search on BNSF Fire Train, lots of links appear for selection
G. Benson
SP stationed fire trains near the snow sheds of the “mountain,” from the turn of the 19th century
Sierra Nevada, mainline…in Oregon, too I think.
Pictures, wish I could help…some book…a Steinheimer…
M of W paint on half a dozen or so tank cars connected as one by large hoses to a turn-of-the century 2-8-0 fitted with a plumber’s nightmare of a smoke-box mounted steam powered water pump and distribution piping to hoses with fire fighting nozzles…
Hope that helps a lil’ bit./
I would be interested to know what a “fire train” looks like. I guess it has tank cars filled with water and some way to spray that water on the ground near the tracks. Fighting a fire near the tracks would be just as dramatic as clearing snow with a rotary snow plow, I would think.
There are photos of the S.P. fire trains in the book “Donner Pass” by John R. Signor, published by Golden West Books in 1985. (out of print?)
Pages 49, 101 (fighting a fire), and 173. Alibris has a couple of copies for sale. Or try your local library.
YouTube “BNSF Fire Train” … shows one rolling through Monument, CO
Here’s a good look at BNSF’s equipment, https://www.friendsofbnsf.com/content/bnsfs-firefighting-railcar.