Emma Pritchard

A locomotive on a Melbourne bound freight train caught fire at Nana Glen this week.

Shortly before 2am on Monday February 7, the Nana Glen Rural Fire Brigade responded to a call-out at Morrows Road.

Upon arrival, they found the battery underneath Pacific National locomotive AN11 had caught alight.

The two drivers, who did not sustain any injuries as a result of the incident, acted promptly in separating AN11 from the leading and adjoining locomotives and freight.

Glenn Locke, Senior Deputy Captain of the Nana Glen Rural Fire Brigade, said the freight train was stationary in the loop line when the fire occurred and was first reported by the drivers of a passing northbound train.

“There was a lot of heat and smoke coming from the locomotive,” he said.

“The drivers had tried to extinguish the blaze with dry powder, but that hadn’t worked.

“We got hoses across the line and cooled the locomotive down while we waited for HAZMAT crews to arrive.

“The drivers did well to separate the locomotive and there was no further damage reported.”

Fire and Rescue crews and HAZMAT teams from Coramba, Woolgoolga and Coffs Harbour also attended the scene.

Deputy Captain Locke said it took two and a half hours in total for the scene to be cleared.

The train was allowed to depart following an assessment and services on the North Coast line resumed shortly afterwards.