Dozens Evacuated in Channel Tunnel Fire
Travel Blog • Jim Benning • 09.11.08 | 12:36 PM ET
In what must have been a harrowing experience, more than 30 people were evacuated from a freight train today when a fire broke out in the Channel Tunnel between England and France. Officials suspect the fire started when a truck on the train overturned, CNN reports. The evacuees, some reportedly suffering from smoke inhalation, were taken into a service tunnel. Fortunately, no passenger trains were in the tunnel at the time. Tunnel train service has been temporarily suspended.
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Jim Benning is the editor and co-founder of World Hum.
JAMES LYON 10.02.08 | 7:48 PM ET
I am very surprised that there have not been many more fires in the Tunnel. There can be on large vehicles of up to 12 to 24 braking pads on a vehicle. If one fails to return to the normal off position – one or more pads could still be touching the brake drum.
THIS CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE HEAT IN ONE OR MORE OF THE BRAKE DRUMS AND THEY CAN AT TIMES BECOME RED HOT –
IN WET WEATHER THIS WILL BE COOLED DOWN AND STEAM WILL BE EVIDENT FOR ALL TO SEE.
IF IT IS DRY WEATHER THEN NOTHING MIGHT BE SEEN VISABLY.
IF A HEAVY VEHICLE HAS BEEN TRAVELLING FROM MANY MILES ON THE MOTORWAY TO DOVER AND ONE BRAKE PAD IS STICKING OR PARTLY STICKING THE WHEEL WILL STILL TURN AND THE DRIVER WILL NOT NOTICE ANY DRAG ON HIS TRAILER.
IF THE VEHICLE ARRIVES AT THE RAIL TERMINAL AND ENTERS A TRAIN WITHOUT THE BRAKE HUB COOLING DOWN THERE COULD BE AN INNER BRAKE HUB ACTUALLY RED HOT. A FAST PASSAGE THROUGH THE TUNNEL IN AN OPEN CAGE CARRIAGE WITH POSSIBLE PARTICLES OF DUST FLOWING OVER A HOT HUB COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
ONE SOLUTION COULD BE FOR ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES TO PASS THROUGH WATER FILLED PIT, CHALLEL OR TROUGH TO COOL DOWN ANY POTENTIALLY OVERHEATED WHEEL DRUM. THE SECOND SOLUTION COULD BE TO HAVE HEAT SENSORS PRIOR TO LOADING VEHICLES ONTO OPEN CAGES I.E TO DETECT VERY HOT WHEEL DRUMS ON COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.
JUST A THOUGHT FOR THE TUNNEL OPERATOR TO CONSIDER.
JAMES S LYON