Rushden Echo, 31^st Mar 1944, transcribed by Kay Collins

Fire Delays Train Two Hours - Hay Load Ablaze Near Raunds

A passenger train from Cambridge to Kettering was held up for about two hours on Tuesday evening owing to fire breaking out in a hay truck on a goods train which was proceeding on the single railway line to Thrapston.

The truck one of several loaded with bales of hay, was noticed by the guard to be on fire when his train was about three-quarters of a mile on the Thrapston side of Raunds Station. Stopping the train he got a message sent from Raunds Station to Thrapston Station whence the N.F.S. at Thrapston were informed. This was shortly after six o’clock and on their arrival at the scene the firemen found the nearest water supply was a farm yard pond half a mile away, necessitating the taking of the hoses over fields and hedgerows. The truck involved was isolated from the rest of the wagons by the splitting up of the train and when it was relieved of its contents the damaged truck was recoupled so that the goods train and the passenger train in turn could proceed on their journeys.

The burning hay which had been removed was extinguished about nine

O’clock and then the firemen had to continue work for another couple of hours in the black-out in collecting the considerable length of hose and other equipment. It is believed that sparks from the engine were the cause of the outbreak.

Company Officer H Taney was in charge of the major pump and a mobile dam unit.