Firefighters and railway staff have prevented a bushfire sparked by a heritage steam train from spreading through Devonport’s Don Reserve this afternoon.
The small blaze ignited just days before the Don River Railway’s landmark 50th anniversary celebrations, which are set to begin this weekend.
A Don River Railway spokesperson told Pulse that their active locomotives are equipped with a fire unit carrying thousands of litres of water, which helped stop the fire.
Tasmania Fire Service crews arrived promptly and are now conducting regular patrols of the affected area to ensure no hotspots remain.
Don River’s 50th anniversary celebration will take place from February 14 to 16 and, according to organisers, will be one of its largest events in history.
Visiting locomotives from across Tasmania will be on display, including the West Coast Wilderness Railway’s ABT3 steam locomotive and the Tasmanian Transport Museum’s C22 steam locomotive
Both Red Water Creek and Wee Georgie Wood steam locomotives will also be only display.
TasRail will showcase two modern diesel locomotives from its operational fleet during the weekend festivities.
Visitors can also look forward to nostalgic trolley rides, displays of vintage buses and trucks and a rare opportunity to view the historic Royal Carriage.
Tickets to the event are available on the Don River Railway website.
