You notice the water is not aimed at the rails because the water is to put out sparks that could ignite ties and dried grass. In very dry country they used to run a motor car behind trains that passed, because the danger of setting fire was high. The motor car would follow a train as far as it could keep up with the train, then set off and on the rails when a train went into the opposite direction. The driver was armed with a water pump and tank. They used them a lot in the old Northern Pacific. All gandys were instructed to watch for fire after a train passed!
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Maybe a silly question, but why aren't the jets aimed at the rails? Would it create too much vapour?
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Very informative- many thanks! :-)
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